• Junior Copywriter
• Public Relations Assistant / Publicity Assistant / Special Events Assistant
• Editorial Assistant / Editorial Trainee
• Media Buyer Trainee / Media Sales Trainee

Junior Copywriter

Responsibilities. This job is found in advertising agencies and in-house corpo­rate advertising departments. It is an entry-level position in copywriting. Employees are expected to write copy immediately, starting with small assignments. In addition, there may be some clerical duties.

Skills / Preparation Required. Advertising and communications degree, excellent grades, good typing skills, excellent portfolio of copy including com­pleted advertising campaigns.

Personal Qualities Required. Creativity, maturity, ability to translate ideas into words fluently, ability to work quickly and under pressure of deadlines.

Public Relations Assistant / Publicity Assistant ­ Special Events Assistant

Responsibilities. This job is found in public relations agencies and in-house publicity and special events departments Entry jobs always include answering phones, scheduling appointments, typing, clerical duties; very often includes such tasks as making coffee, running errands, and so on. Job may also include writing press releases, working on trade shows, and assisting in planning presentations, campaigns, and special events.

Skills/Preparation Required. Advertising and communications degree, good typing, strong creative writing skills evidenced in portfolio of publidty campaigns.

Personal Qualities Required. Maturity, poise, creativity, flexibility, excellent grooming and fashion sense, strong interpersonal skills, good speaking voice, responsiyeness to clients' needs, ability to think quickly and work under constant pressure of deadlines, high degree of initiative. Must be articulate.

Editorial Assistant / Editorial Trainee

Responsibilities. These jobs are found in trade and consumer publications. Entry jobs always involve clerical and/or secretarial duties. Some jobs may include working with photographers and models, writing editorial copy, researching the market for trends and news items.

Skills/Preparation Required. Advertising and communications degree, portfolio approved by departmental adviser. Good typing.

Personal Qualities Required. Maturity, poise, flexibility, thoroughness, excellent grooming and fashion sense, ability to work under constant pressure of deadlines, ability to spot trends and identify resources. Must be articulate.

Media Buyer Trainee / Media Sales Trainee

Responsibilities. These jobs are found in advertising agencies, marketing firms, publications, television and radio stations. Entry jobs are always clerical or secretarial in nature, working as an assistant to the media buying or sales staff. Duties may include answering phones, making appointments, client contact, typing contracts, and so on. May be trained to either sell or buy print space or broadcast time.

Skills/Preparation Required. Advertising and communications degree, good typing. Personal Qualities Required. Self-confidence, self-motivation, outgoing person­ality, strong interpersonal skills, good telephone personality, business sense, high stress tolerance, mathematical and organization ability, detail oriented.

Showroom Trainee (Apparel/Textile Firms)

Responsibihties. This entry position involves iversi ie duties depending on the sjze and nature of the company. Job can include any or all of the following duties: reception, answering phones, dealing with buyers on the phone and in person, writing up orders, follow-up work, filing, keeping records, learning to show and sell the line to clients, occasional modeling of garments. Job can lead to showroom sales, merchandising, production, or piece goods buying.

Skills / Preparation Required. Degree preferred but not always necessary. Pre­vious sales experience beneficial, course in salesmanship helpful, typing skills sometimes required.

Personal Qualities Required. Excellent appearance and grooming, strong fash­ion sense, outgoing personality, must be poised, articulate, quick-think­ing, socially at ease, and self-confident.

Alternative Entry Jobs for Advertising and Communications Graduates

Because of the highly competitive nature of this field, some graduates accept entry-level jobs such as advertising production assistants, secretaries, or guy/ gal fridays in the advertising and communications field. Progress to the jobs described above depends on the candidates' qualifications and performance.