Work as a Creative Director for an Ad Agency
Creative directors manage the creative department at an ad agency, including designers, graphic artists, photographers and copywriters. They are responsible for all the creative work that goes into ad campaigns and other advertising services. The position is not an entry level one and requires years of training and experience. Since many creative directors are selected based on their creative skills rather than management experience, developing managerial abilities will make your job as a creative director much more rewarding. Find out how to work as a creative director for an ad agency to begin building the skills that will further your career.
Steps
- Get a college degree. It's possible to get a job in an ad agency without one, but a promotion to a creative director position almost always requires a degree. A Masters degree will give you a competitive edge. Degrees in liberal arts or business are acceptable for starting out in an ad agency. Larger agencies may look for a degree in fine arts, journalism, communications or design.
- Look for an internship or part-time job with an ad agency while you are in college. Volunteer your time to do copy writing, design work or other advertising services for social service organizations and groups or clubs at school.
- Work for several years writing copy or designing for ad campaigns in an advertising agency. Most advertising agencies require at least 5 years experience before promotion to creative director. The experience gives you a chance to refine creative and organizational skills and become an expert in a particular market.
- Build on other skills required to be successful as a creative director. Learn to manage people, delegate, recognize success in employees and be tough when necessary. Practice by mentoring junior staff and taking initiative.
- Be confident in your abilities. Your role includes directing and managing others, making decisions and sometimes handling crisis.
- Study creative directors that you work for to figure out how to work as a creative director for an ad agency. Analyze, as a staff member, the skills and processes of your managers that bring success to advertising services and motivate you and other team members.
- Meet deadlines consistently. Creative work involves diverse people working on parts of an ad campaign at the same time. Find ways to make collaboration between staff easier and a scheduling system that works.
- Keep up your appearance. You'll spend a lot of time meeting with clients and staff. As a manager you need to project leadership as well as creativity, so dress the part.
- Develop an understanding of budgeting and return on investment. As a creative director, your job includes finding ways to get the best creative work for the funds, while allocating and motivating team members to work within financial constraints.
- Understand that as a creative director, you'll be performing more administrative and managerial tasks and much less creative work. You should still keep up your creative skills in order to lead your team and take over when necessary.
- Innovate processes and designs. Find new ways to organize, produce and present creative work.
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