How To Be a Media Buyer

Breakdown of Steps To Become a Media Buyer

Now, the sections below will explain each step in how to be a media buyer more thoroughly. As mentioned, it can take time to become a full-fledged media buyer, but the destination makes the journey worth it. Follow the steps below to learn how to be a media buyer.

1. Research the Career Path

First, research media buying and the duties the position entails. Media buying can be a wonderful career path if you’re analytical, observant, and personable. However, it’s not ideal for disorganized people.

Look at media buyer job descriptions and research the career to ensure it’s the right choice for your goals and personality. If you feel confident this is the right career path for you, proceed to the next steps!

2. Acquire a Relevant Bachelor’s Degree

If you do not already have a bachelor’s degree, you should begin pursuing one. Do you need a degree to be a media buyer? The simple answer is yes. Almost every marketing company will require you to have at least a bachelor’s degree to work for them as a media buyer.

You may be able to work as a media buyer without a degree if you find a small, flexible company or start from the ground up, as an assistant or intern, with the understanding that the company will train and educate you on media buying.

These scenarios are rare. If you want to be a media buyer, you likely need a degree in one of the following fields:

• Marketing
• Advertising
• Accounting
• Finance
• Business
• Communications
• Public Relations
• Journalism
• Mass Media
• Sales

These are not the only types of degrees you can use to be a media buyer, but they’re the most common.

3. Work in the Industry

Once you earn your degree, you can get your foot in the door and gain some experience in the industry. If you have the means, you can try to work as an intern or in another entry-level position at a marketing firm so you can move up once you get your degree. Write a standout, professional resume and hone your interview skills.

Try to expose yourself to the industry as much as possible, network, make connections, and learn as much as you can. Take marketing and advertising jobs, even if the position is not as a media buyer. Employers typically want to hire media buyers with experience in the industry.

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4. Earn Certifications

If you’re struggling to land media buyer positions at reputable companies, consider adding some impressive certifications to your resume. Some media buyer certifications you can get are:

• Certified Internet Marketer (CIM) 
• Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)
• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
• The Digital Marketing Institute’s Digital Marketing Certification
• The OMCP Digital Marketing Certification

These are not a requirement, but they can help you land better jobs in the industry.

5. Consider Pursuing a Master’s Degree

Lastly, you can always pursue a master’s degree in related fields to make you a more valuable and impressive candidate. Again, a master’s degree is not a requirement to be a media buyer but can be effective in helping you get a top-notch media buying position.