Advertising media buyer in Abbots Langley

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

Day-to-day tasks:

• 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.

Working environment: You could work in an office or at a client's business.

Uniform: You may need to wear smart business dress.

Working hours: 38 to 40 hours per week, typically from 9am to 5pm.

Skills you'll need:

• 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.

How to become one: 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, or temporary employment. You could contact agencies directly to ask about placements and make industry contacts through social networking sites like Twitter or LinkedIn. You could start in a junior position like office assistant in a small advertising agency and work your way up through training and promotion.

Other routes: 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.

Career path and progression: 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.