Directors of Advertising: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of directors of advertising about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for directors of advertising to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of directors of advertising expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for directors of advertising.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Directors of Advertising?
Do directors of advertising need a degree? What kind of experience do directors of advertising typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for directors of advertising to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Advertising
Jobs Postings for Directors of Advertising By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 4,437 (49%)
- No Education Listed: 2,692 (30%)
- Master's degree: 1,104 (12%)
- High School or GED: 526 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 220 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of directors of advertising. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 49% of positions. In 30% of job listings no education level was listed and in 12% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Advertising
Jobs Postings for Directors of Advertising By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,025 (19%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,780 (34%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,490 (28%)
- 7-9 Years: 625 (12%)
- 10+ Years: 372 (7%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for directors of advertising. In 34% of job postings for Directors of Advertising, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 19% of job postings for directors of advertising.
What Kind of Degree Do Directors of Advertising Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for directors of advertising, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 15 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective directors of advertising, and in 2021 a total of 104,177 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective directors of advertising.
Top Degree Programs for Directors of Advertising
Top 5 Degree Programs for Directors of Advertising (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Marketing/Marketing Management, General. | 49,754 |
| Communication, General. | 11,952 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 10,266 |
| Public Relations/Image Management. | 5,150 |
| Advertising. | 4,851 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Marketing/Marketing Management, General. | 49,754 |
| Communication, General. | 11,952 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 10,266 |
| Public Relations/Image Management. | 5,150 |
| Advertising. | 4,851 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion. | 4,550 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | 4,068 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art. | 3,597 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | 3,374 |
| Organizational Communication, General. | 2,013 |
| Music Management. | 1,957 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other. | 1,547 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General. | 987 |
| Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management. | 97 |
| Tourism Promotion Operations. | 14 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Directors of Advertising
Learn how to evaluate, support and integrate communications efforts to help move businesses in front of their competition, including executing strategic plans, developing print materials, and creating digital content in a variety of professional positions, such as PR specialist, copywriter and marketing coordinator.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Learn to craft clear and effective messages while adding new media communication methods to your professional toolkit.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Take a strategic approach to promoting products, services, and new ideas by leveraging consumer research and effective planning.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Expand your leadership capabilities to change the business of doing business.
- Years To Complete: 3
Stand out with a specialized master’s degree focused entirely on strategically integrating marketing and communication.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Enhance your ability to build and lead a high-performing sales team with Franklin’s 14-month online M.S. in Professional Sales Leadership.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Directors of Advertising Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by directors of advertising to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for directors of advertising, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Directors of Advertising
Based on 7,722 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Directors of Advertising
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 4,655 | 60% |
| Digital Marketing | 2,422 | 31% |
| Project Management | 1,996 | 26% |
| Social Media | 1,576 | 20% |
| Analytics | 1,117 | 14% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Directors of Advertising
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 4,217 | 55% |
| Management | 2,679 | 35% |
| Sales | 2,347 | 30% |
| Leadership | 1,951 | 25% |
| Detail Oriented | 1,941 | 25% |
Based on 7,722 job postings related to directors of advertising, marketing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 60% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for digital marketing, project management, social media, analytics and digital advertising were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for directors of advertising, followed by management, sales, leadership, detail oriented and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 4,655 | 60% |
| Digital Marketing | 2,422 | 31% |
| Project Management | 1,996 | 26% |
| Social Media | 1,576 | 20% |
| Analytics | 1,117 | 14% |
| Digital Advertising | 1,090 | 14% |
| Search Engine Optimization | 990 | 13% |
| Google Analytics | 890 | 12% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 880 | 11% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 711 | 9% |
| Email Marketing | 662 | 9% |
| Workflow Management | 637 | 8% |
| Adobe Photoshop | 619 | 8% |
| Advertising Campaigns | 617 | 8% |
| Search Engine Marketing | 615 | 8% |
| Marketing Strategies | 612 | 8% |
| Data Analysis | 603 | 8% |
| Advertisement | 590 | 8% |
| Agile Methodology | 572 | 7% |
| Marketing Communications | 553 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 4,217 | 55% |
| Management | 2,679 | 35% |
| Sales | 2,347 | 30% |
| Leadership | 1,951 | 25% |
| Detail Oriented | 1,941 | 25% |
| Writing | 1,767 | 23% |
| Planning | 1,756 | 23% |
| Operations | 1,672 | 22% |
| Customer Service | 1,437 | 19% |
| Problem Solving | 1,375 | 18% |
| Microsoft Excel | 1,303 | 17% |
| Self-Motivation | 1,254 | 16% |
| Research | 1,201 | 16% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,144 | 15% |
| Presentations | 1,139 | 15% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 1,018 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 1,013 | 13% |
| Time Management | 910 | 12% |
| Organizational Skills | 885 | 11% |
| Innovation | 874 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about directors of advertising? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for directors of advertising.
What do directors of advertising do?
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