What Can I Do With a Major In Advertising?
UGA Specific Information for Advertising
The Advertising program provides students with the core writing, creative, analytical, communication, and management skills required to launch successful careers in advertising, public relations, and strategic communications. The major prepares students to be creative problem-solvers, writers, managers, policy and communication decision-makers, media planners, and analysts in the fields of mass communication, advertising, and public relations.
Source: Department of Advertising and Public Relations
Class of 2024 Career Outcomes for Advertising*
** Includes Self-Employed
Campus Resources
- Ad Club
- American Marketing Association
- Association for Women in Sports Media
- Infusion Magazine
- Pandora Yearbook
- Paw Print Agency
- Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
- Rouge Magazine
- Talking Dog Agency
- The Red and Black
- UGA Mentor Program
- Women in Media
- To find additional clubs and organizations, go to the UGA Involvement Network
- Connect with Your Career Consultant
Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations
Knowledge/Skills Needed in this Industry
- Students interested in the accounts and management side of advertising should consider taking at least one course in marketing, business management, accounting, and/or finance. Try to become proficient in Excel before you graduate.
- Students interested in the creative side of advertising should develop and strengthen art skills, creativity, and initiative.
- Gain practical experience in problem-solving, customer service, marketing, writing, management, and sales through campus involvement, part-time work experience, internships, or freelance work.
- Develop persuasive communication skills to learn how to pitch and "sell" your ideas.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm, interpersonal skills, teamwork, integrity, organizational and communication skills, and good judgment.
- Gain experience with social media marketing (using platforms such as TikTok, X, and Instagram) and social media analytics (using programs like HootSuite, Buffer, or Sprout Social).
- Become proficient in online advertising services such as Google AdWords. Consider enrolling in New Media Certificate courses to gain understanding and proficiency in digital media such as coding, new technology, and social media.
- Learn to use a variety of software programs, such as Canva, the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, etc.), Photo Mechanic, Apple - Final Cut Pro X, Audacity, and Soundslides. Additionally, Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash, Avid, and Fireworks are useful in the multimedia industry. LinkedIn Learning is a great, free resource to learn to use these programs.
- Create a portfolio of writing samples, ad campaigns, marketing strategies, graphics, and ideas. Share your work digitally to market your skills for job opportunities via a curated, professional social media profile (Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Docs, etc) or a website you create using a platform like Canva, Issuu, SquareSpace, WordPress, and Wix.
Campus Involvement, Domestic Field Study and Study Abroad Opportunities
- Participate in organizations such as Ad Club, AMA at UGA, Talking Dog Agency (a student-run, full-service advertising agency), or PawPrint Agency (a student-run advertising agency serving non-profit clients).
- Students interested in pursuing careers in the creative industry are encouraged to enroll in the UGA Summer Studio Creative Portfolio Program, a partnership between Grady College and the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Students participate in a four-week program to formulate ideas, build technical skills, and produce work for their creative portfolios for work in advertising, public relations, graphic design, social media content creation, and related communication industries.
- Participate in a Grady study abroad or field study program to gain experience in your field in the U.S. or internationally. Options include visiting the Cannes Lions Festival and internship programs in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.
Network
Networking is an important part of job searching in the communication industry. You can use resources at UGA to build a professional network.
- Join the UGA Mentor Program and request a mentor
- Attend events with alumni speakers and panelists. You can find events on the UGA Career Center website calendar and the UGA Career Services Grady Career Services Update listserv emails.
- Create a LinkedIn profile and use the Career Insights tool to find UGA alumni in your field. Introduce yourself to them and ask to meet with you for an informational interview.
- Join LinkedIn Groups such as Advertising and PR at UGA Grady College, PRSSA, University of Georgia Alumni Association Group (UGA), University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni, and other groups related to your career interests.
- If you’re interested in working or interning for a specific company, visit that company’s website (open jobs are typically posted on a "Careers" page), follow them on social media, follow their profile on Handshake to see when they visit campus or post an event, and connect with UGA Alumni who work there on LinkedIn.
Additional Internship and Job Search Tips
- For additional information on internships and job opportunities, look out for emails sent every Tuesday on the Grady Career Services Update listserv. If you are not on that listserv, sign up for the Grady job leads listserv here.
- Follow @UGAGradyCareers on Twitter for timely job postings and career advice, run by the Grady College Office of Experiential Learning and the UGA Career Center Grady College Career Consultant.
Additional Career Research Resources
O*NET Online – The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations.
My Next Move – An interactive tool for students and job seekers to learn more about their career options.
Occupational Outlook Handbook – The OOH is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide most of jobs in the United States.
Vault – Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to land that job.
Candid Career – This resource provides you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy-to-use website.
UGA Mentor Program – Connect with a mentor (alumni, faculty, staff) to research and explore industries and careers. Research industries and careers by connecting with a mentor for a quick chat or formal 16-week mentorship through the UGA Mentor Program.
Interstride - Interstride is an interactive tool for both international and domestic students to enhance their international experience and employment potential. The platform consists of job-listings, hiring trends, employer information, self-assessments, and up-to-date immigration guidance.
Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers an inside look at jobs and companies through "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees and job seekers.
Steppingblocks - Research your future career with real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with career and education searches designed to find your best path based on millions of others. It’s data-powered career exploration for doers like you.
Employment Websites
GENERAL:
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Handshake (scroll down to the bottom of the page; login with your UGA MyID and password)
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LinkedIn (this popular networking site also has a job board!)
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Idealist (non-profit jobs)
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USAJobs (federal jobs)
MAJOR/CAREER SPECIFIC:
- Adweek
- Advertising Age
- American Ad Agencies
- American Marketing Association
- Association of National Advertisers
- Creative Pool
- Digital Media Jobs Network
- Entertainment Careers
- J-Jobs
- Journalism Jobs
- Media Bistro
- Media Post
- National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) - Career Center
- Nation Job
- Production Hub
- PR Week Magazine
- Public Relations Society of America (PRSA National) - Job Center
- PRSA/Georgia Chapter - Career Center
- Talent Zoo
- T. Howard Foundation – Diversity in the Media
- WarnerMedia (Formerly Turner Broadcasting)
Professional Associations/Resources
Employers/Position Titles Reported by Class of 2024 Advertising Majors
The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2024 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
Employer | Position Title(s) |
---|---|
20North Marketing | Business Development Representative | 20North Marketing | Business Development Representative | 20North Marketing | Business Development Representative | 20North Marketing | Media Analyst | Abercrombie & Fitch | Assistant Merchant | Accenture | Sales Development Representative | Aiko Brands | Social Media Coordinator | ALKU | Account Manager | Anomaly | Social Strategy Intern | Atlanta Braves | Event Sales Coordinator | BBDO Atlanta | Junior Strategist | Bipper Media | Account Executive | Blue Skies | Event coordinator | Bluevault | Marketing Specialist | BODYARMOR Sports Nutrition | Retail Execution Specialist | BODYARMOR Sports Nutrition | Retail Execution Specialist | Bourne Creatives | A&R | Britannica Home Fashions, Inc. | Marketing Coordinator | Bull Realty | Office Manager | Burson | Social Analyst | Carroll Daniel Construction | Marketing Coordinator | Chandley Communications Inc. | Account Coordinator | Choice Media and Communications | Digital Media Intern | Cox Enterprises | Associate Product Manager | Cox Enterprises | Social Media and Marketing Specialist | CultureSpeed Communications | Account Coordinator | Daikin Comfort | Accelerated Management Program Associate | Deloitte | Tax Technology Consultant | Dick's Sporting Good | Team Lead of Customer Service | Edelman | Assistant Account Executive | Effectv | Account Executive | Effectv | Account Manager | Envida Social | Social Strategist | EverSpark Interactive | Account Manager | EXACT Sports | Digital Marketing Specialist | EXACT Sports | Digital Marketing Specialist | Fitzco | Associate Media Planner | Florida A&M University | Digital Media Coordinator | Gallagher | Client Service Associate | Georgia Baptist Mission Board | Campus Missionary | Get Engaged Media | Celebrity and Brand Partnerships Account Associate | Ginger Howard Selections | E-Commerce Specialist | h2o creative group | Social Media Specialist | Heritage GA | Associate Director of Marketing & Guest Services | Home Accent | Marketing Associate | Insight Global | Recruiter | Insight Global | Recruiter | IPG health | Associate Engagement Strategy | It Is Well Healthcare | Marketing Director & Reception | JetFuel | Creative Coordinator | Joele Frank | Account Associate | Katz Media Group | Sales Coordinator | Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP | Marketing & Business Development Coordinator | Lee & Associates | Marketing Specialist | Legends | Store & Merchandise Supervisor | Locum Tenens | Account Sales Representative | Martin Retail Group | Account Coordinator | Modo Modo Agency | Media Associate | MORE Creative Agency | Chief Executive Officer | MullenLowe | Brand Marketing & Corp Comms Intern | Nebo Agency | Junior Strategist | Nebo Agency | Paid Media Associate | NorX Inc. | Marketing and Sales Representative | On Trend Creative Studio | Content Creator Intern | Origami Risk | Associate Product Marketing Manager | PepsiCo | Sales Management Associate | PulteGroup | Sales Consultant | Rubin Postaer and Associates | Account Coordinator | Sage Path Reply | Project Coordinator | SAP | Digital Data Analyst | Seed Social | Junior Account Manager | Select Model | Model | Self-Employed | Entrepreneur | Summit Risk Advisors | Insurance Producer | Symetra | Regional Sales Associate | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | BucVision Intern | The Classic Center | Event Planner | The Minnesota Star Tribune | Media Operations Coordinator | Third Lens Ministries | Graphic Designer | Unum | Sales Associate | Warner Bros. Discovery | Account Coordinator | Warner Bros. Discovery | Branded Entertainment Coordinator | Worldwide Technologies | Strategic Initiative Coordinator |
Graduate/Professional Schools Attended by Class of 2024 Advertising Majors
The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2024 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.
Graduate School | Program(s) |
---|---|
Boston University | Advertising, MS | University of Georgia | Emerging Media, MA | University of Georgia | Emerging Media, MA | University of Georgia | Marketing Research, MMR | University of Georgia | Journalism and Mass Comm, MA | University of Georgia | Journalism and Mass Comm, MA | University of Georgia | Journalism and Mass Comm, MA | University of Georgia | Journalism and Mass Comm, MA | University of Georgia | Journalism and Mass Comm, MA | University of Georgia | Journalism and Mass Comm, MA | University of Georgia | Urban Planning and Design, MUPD | University of Georgia | Integrated Advertising and Public Relations, MA |