Advertising account planner : Employers and vacancy sources

Advertising is a multi-billion pound business employing 250,000 people in hundreds of separate agencies and companies (The Advertising Association (AA) ). Agencies range in size from 1,000 staff to fewer than ten, with greater numbers based in London. Agencies vary widely in approach and ethos and fall into the following categories:

• full-service agencies; 
• media independents; 
• direct marketing agencies.

Large advertising agencies generally have a separate account planning function and some recruit new graduates as trainees directly into this area. Other large agencies recruit new graduates to be advertising account executives or advertising account managers with a view to moving into account planning after gaining some experience. In smaller agencies, the account planning function is generally part of the management role.

In recent years, much traditional full-service advertising has been taken over by specialist creative and media agencies. The strategic, creative advertising agencies offer a service to clients that follows the entire process of developing and implementing an advertising campaign. There has also been a growth in the numbers of interactive agencies, which offer a mix of web design and development, search engine marketing and internet advertising.

Media agencies plan the optimum way to reach their target, arrange for their campaign to appear in the relevant media and then assess its effectiveness. Many agencies, especially smaller ones, buy in services as appropriate.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Campaign  
• Marketing  
• Marketing Week  
• Media Week Jobs  
• Brand Republic Jobs  
• The Drum  
• IPA Jobs Online  
• Mad  
• IPA Agency List  - for speculative approaches.
• The Marketing Manager's Yearbook - for speculative applications.
• National and regional press.
• Careers service vacancy lists.

The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)  offers an online jobs facility and you can register for email job-alerts.

Recruitment agencies commonly handle vacancies. Search the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)  consultancy finder for a list of relevant agencies, with details of the type of work handled and locations.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.