Skills and Qualifications

Financial

Advertising Account Executive

There is no fixed entry to get into advertising. Most new advertising account executives have a degree and you can also get this job through a Higher Level Apprenticeship.  

As a graduate, it's possible to enter advertising with any degree, although some employers may prefer a degree that is more closely related to the industry, for example:

• Advertising
• Marketing
• Statistics or operational research
• Communication and Media studies
• Business or management
• Psychology

Technical

Advertising Media Planner

Most new advertising media planners have a degree. You will also need to show employers that you are genuinely interested in different types of advertising media.

Advertising is a very competitive industry and you may have an advantage if you have a degree in related to one of the following subjects:

• Advertising
• Marketing
• Statistical or operational research
• Communication and Media studies
• Business or management
• Psychology

Editorial

Art Editor

There is no set entry route to become an art editor. It is becoming more common for new art editors to have a degree in an Art-related subject. If you have a broad portfolio of examples of your work and experience, you could still become an art editor without a degree.

If you wish to study towards a degree, relevant subjects include:

• Graphic design
• Illustration
• Fine Art

Creative

Graphic Design

Most professional graphic designers have a foundation degree or a degree in graphic design or other art and design-based subjects.

You will also need a working knowledge of desktop design software such as Illustrator, InDesign and QuarkXPress, as well as image editing packages like PhotoShop. You can do courses on these at colleges and private training providers.

You will need to have an up-to-date portfolio to show potential employers what you can do.

Managerial

Marketing Manager

You will usually need at least five years' experience as a marketing executive before you can progress into management.

Some employers may prefer you to have to a marketing or business-related degree, or a professional marketing qualification such as:

• The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Professional Diploma in Marketing
• Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM) Diploma in Direct and Interactive Marketing

Marketing

Market Research Executive

You may be able to get this job by first becoming a market research assistant, or interviewer, with or without a degree. 

Competition's strong at all levels. To enter as a market research executive, most employers will expect you to have a foundation degree. A number of different subjects are available.

For quantitative work, the following degrees may be useful:

• Maths
• Statistics
• Business/Management
• Economics

For qualitative work, useful degrees include:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Geography
• Social Sciences
• Anthropology

Sales

Sales Representative

Employers will expect a good standard of education. For some sales jobs, such as technical sales, employers may prefer you to have a relevant qualification like a degree.

If you are new to sales, completing an introductory qualification like those offered by the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM) may improve your job prospects. These include:

• Level 1 Award in Sales and Marketing
• Level 2 Certificate in Sales and Marketing

You may also become a sales representative after starting as an administrator in a sales office. Previous experience in a retail or customer service role may help get the job by this route.