UGA Specific Information for Advertising

Advertising educates students about the role of advertising, public relations, and marketing communication in business and in social and economic orders. 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. 



Class of 2021 Career Outcomes for Advertising*

** Includes Self-Employed


Campus Resources


Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations/Considerations

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.
  • Gain practical experience in problem-solving, customer service, marketing, writing, management, and sales. Gain persuasion skills through sales and learn how to sell your ideas.
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm, interpersonal skills, teamwork, integrity, organizational and communication skills, and good judgment.
  • For students interested in the creative side of advertising, develop and strengthen art skills, creativity, and initiative.
  • Gain experience with social media marketing using platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Become proficient in social media analytics by using a program like HootSuite.
  • More students are becoming proficient in online advertising services such as Google AdWords.
  • Get experience with a variety of software programs, including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Photo Mechanic, Apple - Final Cut Pro X, Audacity, and Soundslides. Additionally, Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid, and Fireworks are also very useful in the multimedia industry. LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) is a great, free resource for this.
  • Consider enrolling in New Media Certificate courses to gain understanding and proficiency in digital media such as coding, new technology, and social media.
  • Create a portfolio of writing samples, ad campaigns, marketing strategies, graphics, and ideas. Making an online portfolio is a good way to market your skills for job opportunities by using websites such as Behance, Issuu, SquareSpaceWordPress, Weeblyand Wix. For more information, check out Portfolio Resources on the Career Center website.

Campus Involvement, Domestic Field Study and Study Abroad Opportunities

  • Participate in organizations such as Ad ClubTalking Dog Agency (a student-run, full-service advertising agency), or PawPrint Agency (a student-run advertising agency serving non-profit clients).
  • Take advantage of ADPR trips to Chicago, New York City, and other destinations to visit top advertising employers. In the past, the group has made stops at DDB, Digital Kitchen, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, and McGarry Bowen to name a few.
  • The ADPR department at Grady also offers the NYC Maymester course as a Grady elective. Students spend two weeks in class in Athens, and one week on agency tours in New York. Previous classes have visited Ogilvy & Mather, DDB, Digitas, Translation, and Ignition, among many others.
  • Join the American Marketing Association at UGA to gain knowledge in marketing strategies and research. You will also gain practical experience in applying social and digital marketing techniques with local and national businesses.
  • Students interested in pursuing careers in the creative industry are encouraged to enroll in Summer at the Circus, a partnership between Grady College and The Creative Circus in Atlanta. The Creative Circus is one of the top portfolio schools in the country, offering programs in Art Direction, Copywriting, Design, Image, Interactive Design, and several other areas.
  • Participate in the ADPR Choose China Study Abroad Program, and learn about brand communication in Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong.
  • Consider participating in the UGA Cannes Lions Study Abroad Program, which allows students to attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and witness thousands of ads from around the world being showcased and judged. This opportunity also allows students to network with producers, directors, and actors who have starred in motion pictures.

LinkedIn Groups to Join

  • Advertising and PR at UGA Grady College
  • Internships and Interns
  • PRSSA
  • University of Georgia Alumni Association Group (UGA)
  • University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni
  • Tip: Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest. Need help finding groups? Check out the Groups You May Like link under the Interests/Groups tab. Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined and consider joining them as well.
  • For more information on how to effectively utilize LinkedIn, check out the UGA Career Center's Networking Page.

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.
  • If you’re interested in working or interning for a specific company, visit that company’s website. Job and internship opportunities are usually listed under the “Careers” tab.
  • For a complete list of advertising agencies and PR firms, check out this list compiled by Grady.
  • For information about job salary, company reviews, and job openings, visit Glassdoor and Payscale.com.
  • For a general job search, visit websites such as Indeed, Monster and Simply Hired.

Supplemental Career Research Dashboard

Additional Career Research Resources


Employment Websites


Professional Associations/Resources

Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2021 Advertising majors

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2021 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 Inc. SEO and PPC Analyst
20North Marketing Inc. SEO and PPC Analyst
20North Marketing Inc. SEO and PPC Analyst
20North Marketing Inc. SEO and PPC Analyst
5280 Magazine Editorial Intern
American Geophysical Union Intern
Atlanta Business Chronicle Reporter
Atlanta Journal-Constitution News Intern
Augusta National Golf Club Marketing Communications Intern
Baker Donelson Paralegal
Bally Sports South/Southeast Client Services Coordinator
CNN The Row Researcher
CNN News Associate
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Emerging Leader
Fountain Hills Times Sports and Schools Reporter
Gannet Community Impact Reporter
Henry County Social Media Specialist
Insight Global Recruiter
International Market Centers PR Manager
KUSA-TV, 9News Digital Desk Producer
Learfield IMG College Georgia Bulldogs Host/Reporter
Made to Save Communications Analyst
Mediacom Advertising Associate
Nexus Marketing Copywriter
Oscar Mayer Foods Oscar Mayer Hotdogger
Pain Care Labs Digital Multimedia Content Producer
Pain Care Labs Digital Multimedia Content Producer
Premier Staffing Unlimited Staffing Specialist
Revel Systems Business Development Representative
Savannah Morning News Quality of Life Reporter
Savannah River Site Process Control Engineer
Smith's Olde Bar Assistant Talent Buyer
Smith's Olde Bar Assistant Talent Buyer
Smith's Olde Bar Assistant Talent Buyer
Supreme Court of Georgia Editorial Assistant
Tampa Bay Business Journal Transportation and Growth Reporter
TEGNA Multi-Platform Producer WBIR-TV
The Associated Press News Intern
The Red & Black Publishing Co. Special Publications Coordinator
The Red & Black Publishing Co. Photo Editor
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Communications Coordinator
The State Newspaper South Carolina Gamecocks Reporter
Think 360 Incorporated Administrative/ Marketing Assistant
Thrive Integrative Medicine Front Desk Receptionist
Thrive Integrative Medicine Front Desk Receptionist
United States Senate Staff Assistant
University of Georgia Media Intern
University of Georgia Libraries - Assistant Evening Coordinator
University of Georgia Assistant Director Creative Video
University of Tennessee Martin Jumping Seat Assistant Coach
US Speedskating Communications Coordinator
W&A Engineering Proposal Coordinator
WAFF 48 News Sports Reporter
WERA- Chanel 3 Multimedia Journalist
Westminster Christian Academy Assistant to the Head of Schools
Westrock Sales Representative
WFXG FOX54 Reporter
WMBB-TV Multimedia Journalist
WTVG 13 ABC Reporter
WTVQ Multimedia Journalist and Weekend Reporter
WTVY Producer/MMJ
* denotes no responses received.
*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2021 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.

Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2021 Advertising majors

The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2020 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)
Georgia Institute of Technology Public Policy, MS
Georgia State University Law, JD
Georgia State University Mass Communications, Master's
Georgia State University Law, JD
Georgia State University Law, JD
Mercer University Law, JD
New York University Law, JD
Northwestern University Mental Health Counseling, MA
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Sports Management, MS
University of Georgia Law, JD
University of Georgia Journalism, MA
University of Georgia Social Work, MSW
University of Georgia Journalism, MA
University of Missouri - Columbia Journalism, MA
University of Oxford Theology/Religion, PGDip
University of Virginia McIntire MS in Commerce Program, MS
* denotes no responses received.