Advertising media buyer

Also known as: Media buyer, TV, radio or digital buyer, out of home buyer

Media buyers book advertising space in newspapers and magazines, and on TV, radio and the internet.

• identify the target audience and decide how to reach them through advertising
• keep up with industry research into people’s lifestyles
• build relationships with clients and media sales companies
• negotiate for the most suitable advertising spots at the best rates
• prepare costings for clients
• analyse sales data, to judge a campaign’s effectiveness

You could work in an office or at a client’s business.

You could work in an office or at a client’s business.

You may need to wear smart business dress.

38 to 40 hours per week

9am to 5pm

• knowledge of media production and communication
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• working towards this role
• specialist courses run by professional bodies

You could do a related apprenticeship like an assistant buyer higher apprenticeship or an advertising media executive advanced apprenticeship.

With experience these may give you some of the skills, knowledge and industry contacts you need to move into advertising media buying roles.

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A
  * to
  
  C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A
  * to
  
  C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
• You'll find it useful to get experience to help you understand the industry and to meet people who may help you find paid work. You could try: work experience; internships; temporary employment
• You could contact agencies directly to ask about placements, and make industry contacts through social networking sites like Twitter or Linked In.
• You could start in a junior position like office assistant in a small advertising agency and work your way up through training and promotion.

• You could study the Foundation Certificate offered by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising if you have less than a year’s experience in an advertising, marketing or communications role.

• You might choose to specialise in buying radio, online or television advertising.
• You could eventually become a media manager of an agency, or move into media planning, account planning or account management.