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OxfordGuideToCareers2017
OxfordGuideToCareers2017
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ADVERTISING,<br />
MARKETING + PR<br />
Dynamic, diverse and fast-moving, this sector offers<br />
roles for graduates from all degree disciplines. Some<br />
10,000 agencies make up this sector in the UK,<br />
ranging from full-service multi-nationals operating<br />
<br />
Employers look for creative graduates who have highlevel<br />
communication, analytical and organisational skills<br />
and a keen interest in digital and social media. Different<br />
roles at agencies commonly include Creatives, Account<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
too as the rapidly evolving digital landscape has created<br />
opportunities for people with IT skills and an appreciation<br />
of how ‘big data’ can be used to understand customer<br />
behaviour. The sector offers numerous opportunities for<br />
<br />
User Experience (UX) designers.<br />
Enni-Kukka Tuomala<br />
Strategist, Saatchi & Saatchi<br />
“You can be creative when applying for<br />
jobs; we receive videos, posters and<br />
even cakes with CVs written on them<br />
from people trying to stand out.”<br />
is very helpful, so work experience is important, and<br />
speculative approaches for full-time roles, internships or<br />
work experience are often welcomed as they demonstrate<br />
interest, desire and initiative.<br />
These industries thrive on creativity, so think about making<br />
your speculative approach a little different too: not all<br />
agencies want a traditional CV and creative alternatives can<br />
sometimes be effective, such as an infographic or videographic<br />
CV. Consider building a website/blog to showcase<br />
your skills. And actively use social media – to keep in touch<br />
<br />
opportunities – but remember to manage you own webvisibility<br />
carefully!<br />
ADVERTISING, MARKETING + PR<br />
Fields of operation (and terminology) for agencies in the<br />
sector overlap, but can be broken down as:<br />
+ <br />
motivate people to buy products and services, or to<br />
alter their attitudes.<br />
+ <br />
enhancing reputations (people, products or services),<br />
<br />
press releases to promotional events.<br />
+ <br />
persuading policymakers to adopt particular viewpoints.<br />
+ <br />
management and communications, and provide services<br />
across the range of advertising, market research, media<br />
planning and buying, PR, distribution, sales strategy etc.<br />
+ <br />
preferences to inform product development and/or<br />
marketing campaigns.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
PR consultancies are often international in scope. Many<br />
are part of a larger communications group with a parent<br />
company based in another country.<br />
GETTING IN AND ENTRY POINTS<br />
<br />
come up during the year. Only the largest agencies tend<br />
<br />
programmes) and application deadlines for these start to<br />
close in October or early November.<br />
Competition can be intense for advertised positions,<br />
but there are alternative routes into agencies. This is a<br />
<br />
without being advertised: being visible and known about<br />
Agencies are not your only option however. Marketing and<br />
communication roles are important in all sectors, so look<br />
for graduate programmes with larger companies in brand<br />
management, marketing and market research (consumer<br />
business insight)and general management roles - deadlines<br />
often fall in November and December – or build experience<br />
as an in-house marketing assistant, for example with a<br />
<br />
Management and FMCG.<br />
EXTRA-CURRICULAR IDEAS<br />
+ Get involved in the marketing of an event, fundraiser, or<br />
any aspect of promotion of a student society.<br />
+ Join the Oxford Marketing Project (student society) to<br />
get hands-on experience working with and advising<br />
clients on marketing strategy.<br />
+ <br />
marketing and market research elements: a great way to<br />
gain practical experience and commercial awareness.<br />
+ <br />
+ <br />
such as Marketing Week, Campaign magazine, and The<br />
Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) website.<br />
+ <br />
<br />
+ Keep up-to-date through social media and understand<br />
how companies use them to communicate and engage<br />
<br />
MORE INFORMATION:<br />
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/advertising<br />
/marketing<br />
/public-relations<br />
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