Case studies: Trainee account manager: Eve

Eve Lindsay graduated from Northumbria University in 2008 with a degree in marketing management. She now works as a trainee account manager for Euro RSCG Riley.

I have always been interested in advertising and was keen to pursue it as a career. When initially looking into the profession, I researched the different roles within the industry and within an agency to see where I would best fit. I decided that I was particularly keen to obtain a position as an account executive as the role offers a great deal of diversity and touches all different aspects of advertising. 

Following that, I searched on industry websites such as Brand Republic and the Drum as well as generic job sites. Advertising is very difficult to get into and therefore I applied for lots of jobs and went on lots of different interviews and assessment centres before finding the right opportunity.

Having studied marketing management at university I was able to apply what I had learnt from my degree. In addition, I applied the skills and experience I developed from part-time jobs and work experience to help me find a job and stand out as a candidate.

My degree has helped me within my role as I already had a good understanding of many of the key aspects of advertising, such as communications, strategy and buyer behaviour. Getting involved in projects and obtaining an additional qualification from the Institute of Direct Marketing also gave me good grounding for starting my career in advertising.

Since working for Euro RSCG Riley, my role has developed quite quickly. When I first began, I was working on the basic production of adverts, but a year on I am now managing different accounts and advertising campaigns.

Every day my job is different. I liaise with clients, taking briefs and developing a general rapport with them.  I also manage budgets, communicate with different departments throughout the agency, work with creatives, plan media and implement integrated advertising campaigns.  

I love the variety and pressured, fast-paced nature of my job. I have to adapt quickly, but this has provided me with lots of valuable experience and allowed me to gain more responsibility. Working in advertising is not a nine to five job but that is part of the appeal for me. However, I am sorry to say you will always have to do admin whatever you do.

I am keen to progress my career, and will definitely remain within the advertising sector. As yet I am undecided whether I want to eventually progress to an advertising director role or move into more strategic planning. But as an account exec you get to see all the different elements that make up an advertising agency or department, allowing you to establish which direction you may want to go in.