Two kids are sitting on a bus and one snaps off a piece of Cadbury’s chocolate to share. Later, the pair marry and their teenage son is sitting on a bus, he smiles at a girl sitting in front of him, and snaps off a piece of chocolate and hands it to her. The entire scene lasts just seconds but it’s an iconic advert which has stayed with TV viewers long after it has been taken off air.
Advertising at its best has the power to captivate and capture the imagination of a nation. For example, many took to Twitter to praise Always’ #LikeAGirl campaign, which was viewed by tens of millions on YouTube alone. While for others, the release of the annual winter John Lewis advert is a much-anticipated event – with commenters, journalists and bloggers all going online to debate what it may contain.
Great advertising also feeds into sales. Whether you’re flogging car aerials out of a car boot, like Lord Sugar in his early days, or making pitches to multimillion pound clients – being able to sell takes creativity and flair.
To succeed you need to be likeable, creative and be able to think outside of the box. “Advertising and sales are hugely competitive industries, and creative advertising roles are among the most heavily subscribed in any industry,” says Phil Edelston, managing director of Dylan Marketing Recruitment.
“Successful candidates need to be extraordinarily persistent and resilient. Your portfolio must be up to scratch and you may want to consider focusing it on specific advertising or sales areas. You’ll also need to work hard at networking and building relationships.”
So, if you are looking for advice on starting a career in advertising, join us on Wednesday 31 August from 1-2.30pm BST for a live chat with our expert panel. We’ll be discussing:
- Ways to break into advertising.
- Tips on getting work experience in the sector.
- Networking and building contacts.
- CV, cover letter and job interview advice.
The Q&A takes place in the comments section below this article. Taking part is easier than ever: create a free Guardian account or log in using your Twitter or Facebook profile to comment. Alternatively, you can tweet us @GuardianCareers or email your questions to charlotte.seager@theguardian.com who can post them for you.
Panel
Diana Caplinska is an award-winning strategist with experience across brand, communications and innovation, who has worked for clients such as Google, Samsung, Airbnb, Pernod Ricard, GSK and Sky. She regularly lectures in marketing techniques, all the way from Oxford to Sao Paulo.
Alasdhair Macgregor Hastie is vice-president and executive creative director of BETC Paris, the biggest name in creative advertising in France and one the most awarded advertising agencies in the world. Clients include Air France, Carte Noire, Ferrero, Evian, Lacoste, Petit Bateau, Peugeot, Monoprix and Disneyland Paris. Until recently, Macgregor Hastie was global chief creative officer of Being TBWA and European creative director of TBWA Nissan United.
Paul Thompson is vice-president of EMEA for Blis. Over the last 22 years Paul has gained extensive industry experience, and worked at some of the most progressive media companies, including BBH, Motive, SMGV, Dentsu Aegis, News International & Yahoo. Thompson joined Blis in 2012 to work at the intersection of programmatic buying, mobile advertising and location data.
Hamish Nicklin is chief revenue officer for Guardian Media Group, overseeing all advertising, Jobs and Guardian Labs business. Prior to joining The Guardian, Nicklin was managing director of AOL UK and director of sales at Google.
Kate Bruges leads talent at advertising agency JWT, covering recruitment, retention and development of staff. The JWT’s professional development programme has been awarded the industry’s top award, the IPA CPD Gold, on multiple occasions, and in 2005 Bruges was made a fellow of the IPA for her services to the industry.
Paul Earnden is head of consultancy at Prodo Digital, a leading digital marketing agency. Earnden leads Prodo’s team of digital consultants and combines working in a fast-paced sales environment while researching the latest digital trends and innovations with studying for project management and software certifications.
Jenny Lowthrop is a freelance digital advertising expert at She Gets to Work and travel blogger. She has worked on digital advertising campaigns for VSO, Refugee Week and Richmond Council, including paid Facebook advertising and Google Adwords. Lowthrop also delivers a variety of training for students, charities and small businesses on building your brand online.
Mark Brill is a strategic brand consultant and a senior lecturer in future media for Birmingham City University. Brill has over 22 years experience in digital media, marketing and brand strategy. He speaks regularly at conferences and events on digital media and advertising innovation, both in the UK and globally.
Aadil Seedat is the digital marketing executive of Vision Support Services Group. As an energetic marketer with experience covering all things digital, he works to enhance the traditional b2b textile industry with revolutionary digital marketing for global success.
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