Advertising account executives secure accounts with businesses (and sometimes individuals) through which advertisement sales are ordered. Account executives prospect for clients through many different means, including door-to-door sales, cold calling, and more. They can also meet with business owners and give sales presentations to secure them as clients. They may also provide services to their accounts, such as planning promotions or delivering proofs for approval. Depending on the means through which the account executive sells, they may work in office settings or visit places of business. Hours vary as well. A bachelor's degree is typically preferred.
Job openings for advertising account executives can be found through typical channels like online job boards such as Indeed, CareerBuilder, and Craigslist. Vacancies can also be found on the career websites of publications like newspapers and magazines. The interview will assess your ability to secure sales commitments from businesses, as well as your prior experience in media sales. You'll be expected to demonstrate your persuasiveness, persistence, and resourcefulness, as well as an understanding of the advertising business. The interview may also include a personality test to assess whether you have the traits that they are looking for, as well as a mock sales presentation.
To prepare for an interview for an advertising account executive, take stock of your experience selling and persuading others. Direct experience selling advertising space is often strongly preferred. You can address any deficiencies in this area by learning about the dynamics in this kind of sales, including metrics that are important to business owners such as ROI. Practice making sales presentations by pointing out the benefits of a random object in relation to a specific person. For instance, look at any object on your desk and think about its concrete benefits to a friend, a family member, and a CEO. On the day of the interview, make sure that you present yourself in an outgoing, energetic manner that conveys that you can persist and consistently overcome objections.