Entry-level positions for aspiring Account Coordinators
Entry-level PR and marketing communications roles include internships—"my very first journalism teacher gave me advice which has never worked for free"—and then account coordinator or assistant account executive positions, which are crucial to agency success. To advance quickly, "know what the next job is and try to do those things," proactively seeking opportunities for growth and learning.
Entry-Level Jobs, Internships, Public Relations, Marketing Communications, Account Management
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alan Dunton
Managing Director
SHIFT Communications
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
NA
Creative Writing, Journalism
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Internships are valuable and should be paid, not free.
2. Entry-level positions include Account Coordinator or Assistant Account Executive roles.
3. Actively seek opportunities to learn and advance by offering help and raising your hand for new tasks to accelerate career growth.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
Internships obviously make a lot of sense. My first journalism teacher gave me advice that has never failed: never work for free. Anyone who wants to hire you for an internship should pay you, because your time is valuable.
There are tons of internships in PR, marketing, and communications, both on the agency side and within companies and organizations themselves. I think it's important to figure out where you might want to work and what kind of people you'd like to work with. Narrow it down from there. There are agencies and specialist brands for literally everything you can imagine.
After internships, you're typically looking at an account coordinator or an assistant account executive role. These are basically your first two entry-level jobs within an agency setting, kind of universally around the world. It's a really important role.
Every team I've ever been on or supported has relied heavily on the AC or the AAE to be successful. That's the opportune time to learn the business and the flow of the account. Figure out what kind of people you like to work with and what kind of things you enjoy doing.
Keep your eye on the next level, which is the account executive role, where things really start to happen a little more quickly. My best advice for anyone, even at an entry level, is to know what the next job is and try to do those things. Offer to do them and raise your hand when opportunities arise. If you raise your hand early in an agency setting, you'll be appreciated. People will put you to work in a positive way, and you'll see your career accelerate.