Becoming a media buyer requires a combination of education and experience. A college degree in communications, marketing, or general business is a good starting point, and attending conferences and networking events can be helpful. Field work experience and a broad knowledge of different media channels are also important. Progression to a media buying position usually involves starting in lower-level roles and demonstrating a strong work ethic.
Becoming a media buyer is a process that typically requires a combination of education and experience, and as such is usually not something you can jump into right away. Likewise, it’s something you can prepare yourself for with a combination of schooling and job training. It’s usually a good idea to start with a college degree in a field like communications, marketing, or general business. This will give you the basic and formalized knowledge you need to get started. From there, you’ll want to look for work in the field. Some media companies actively recruit students, but in many cases this part of the process takes a lot of effort on your part; you will need to research employers in your area and be assertive when contacting them. Attending conferences and networking events can be a good way to start. In general, you’ll also need to be willing to start in younger roles, such as a media assistant or consultant, and work with the buyer over time.
formal training
Of course there are some exceptions, but in most cases you will need formal university training to become a media buyer. Most people who enter their studies knowing they want to focus on the media take courses specifically designed for work in the field, although this is not really necessary. For most employers, what’s crucial is that new hires have a college degree in something.
If your degree is in a non-industry discipline like biology or English, you may need to be more creative, but there are usually plenty of options. You could start a company focused on buying media related to school curricula or science classroom activities, for example, or you could present yourself as someone with a keen interest in language and good writing – two essential skills in this line of work. It might also be a good idea to try taking some additional courses without necessarily getting a new degree. Many schools offer courses that can be taken in the evenings, on weekends, or sometimes even online, on topics such as advertising principles, media planning, online and social marketing practices, and basic business accounting. Any or all of these can be a useful way to increase your knowledge and your competitive edge.
Work experience
Getting some sort of field work experience is also often an important part of the equation. Many colleges and universities maintain networked databases of alumni and other employers interested in hiring students and recent graduates, and this can be a good starting point. Contacting businesses in your area can also generate leads. Experience can come in many forms. Attending a part-time internship while you’re in school can often be just as good as a year or more spent working at entry level, as the main idea is to show basic industry knowledge and proficiency.
Considerations about breadth of knowledge
It’s important to keep in mind that buying and media in general is a very broad field with many different specialties. Even if you know the industry you want to work in, it usually makes sense to get a variety of experiences when starting out. This will make you more marketable and more flexible, especially if your interests change as you progress in your career. Experts often advise students and young professionals to learn all they can about print, radio, outdoor, out-of-home, non-traditional, and interactive media channels. Being able to chat across platforms will, in many cases, make you more valuable once you become a media buyer.
Conferences and Networking
In addition to formal education and on-the-job training, attending media-centric conferences and networking events is often one of the best ways to enhance your portfolio and experience. These types of events are particularly useful for people who are trying to break into the media by buying businesses from other, unrelated fields of work. Conferences are held in many major cities on a regular basis and are often a place where many of the field’s leading voices come together to exchange stories, tips and trends. Presentations on cutting-edge tactics are also common. In addition, conferences can also be a good place to meet people who can help you get a job.
progress at work
It is often unusual for a person to be hired straight out of school or directly from another industry for a media buying position. More often, the work is seen as a kind of promotion of other, lower-rated media works. Purchasing assistants and interns are often best suited for this type of advancement, but people working in other facets of the field are also competitors. As a result, it’s usually best to be realistic about how long it’s likely to take you to become a buyer and not be discouraged if it looks like you’re stuck on the lower rungs of a business. Doing everything you can to improve your knowledge and demonstrate your work ethic are often the best tips for promotion and advancement.
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