5 Different Ways to Gain Advertising Experience
Michelle Vitanov
In order to succeed in the real world and get a job as soon as possible, it is necessary to gain experience from different places than just the classroom. The classes you take will help you gain the knowledge and skills necessary for your area of study, but the advertising field requires much more than a lecture and discussion. Some students don’t realize this until their senior year, so that’s why its important to know the many resources we have as U of I students and get involved as soon as possible. When entering the job search, employers want their candidates to be fully equipped with experience and skills needed for the field. Here at the University of Illinois, there are five different ways to get your advertising experience and knowledge.
One of the most vital experiences of learning more about advertising outside of the classroom setting is to get involved in the American Advertising Federation (AAF) at UIUC, which is the largest chapter in the nation. There are eight different committees that work all year to give students real-world advertising experience. The committees include AdBuzz, CTRL+V, Community Outreach, Pangaea, NSAC, RSVP, Midnight Oil, and OTH. When becoming a member of AAF you have many opportunities like taking evasion trips, resume help, a mentorship program, and so on. They do require a one-time fee per year to add their resources throughout the school year. There is more information on their website. Another RSO is called Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies (J.A.M.S). This organization is committed to helping College of Media students expand their skills.
A second way of gaining experience is through internships. Internships are essential because they can potentially be your future job. These can be paid or unpaid and are during the semester or summer and if approved, can even count as a credit towards your degree. Locating internships can be difficult, but there are many resources available to make the search much more simplistic. Handshake is one of the platforms that you can take advantage of as a student. There are internships and job postings, Career Fair dates, recruiting visitations, industry news, etc. Another platform is LinkedIn. Employers use LinkedIn to connect with potential employees. It is also a great way to network, reach out for advice, and research a company/recruiter before an interview.
Another alternative is using your professors as a resource to help uncover professional experiences and additional contacts. The main key is always introducing yourself and making sure your presence is known. The professor will be more inclined to help you if they get to know you more and show your hunger to be great. If your professor has connections, they will give you the opportunity to network yourself if they feel you are fit enough for the position or company. They can also help you find on-campus jobs related to advertising. For example, Steve Hall is a great resource and he has connections in the advertising field.
The College of Media Career Services center has a lot of information for you. You can talk to your advisor and set up career advising appointments. They offer resume blitzes and informational interviews. Their department also post internship and alumni spotlights on social media like Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. The Career Center can help you with interview skills, fix your resume, and inform you about career fairs.
Studying abroad is another option to gaining experience. Take advantage of an opportunity to study, work, or intern in another country. They will help with cultural experiences also. The College of Media offers semester exchange programs for Advertising majors. They are available in Dublin, Ireland, Klagenfurt, Austria, and Pamplona, Spain. They also have media immersions available. If you are interested in studying abroad, make sure to look for application dates as these dates will come quickly. More information about studying abroad is on the College of Media Website.
Keep in mind that the more experience, the more opportunities you will have to build your resume. There are many ways to gain experience and these are some of ways that are available to you on campus. It is never too late to get involved and give yourself the tools for a successful future.