Life as an Account Manager

-By Eugene Yoon
Yes, the job might involve cool offices, opportunities for “schmoozing”, ping-pong and a bit of travel (if you’re lucky), but being an Account Manager isn’t all fun and games. Let’s put things into perspective.
It’s NOT like Mad Men. You don’t sit around sipping on a glass of 55-year-old single-malt or wine and dine prospective clients. It’s a lot different to what you see on television. There’s a lot to learn about brand and communications planning, the creative process, media and production – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! So if you’re looking for a job where you can put things in cruise control and take your foot off the gas, “fuhgetaboutit”. Simply put, you have to be willing to get your hands dirty.
It’s also far from a glamorous position. Sure, circumstances may require that you’re the “best-dressed” in the agency, and certainly the first-thanked by the client in the event of campaign success, but if you’re pursuing an AM position to be able to point to the TV and tell your friends “I made that ad,” be ready for the natural response of, “What part of the ad did you make?” Well, yeah.
It’s a tricky job, but it’s also a great job. High risk. High reward. No two days are ever the same and there’s never a dull moment – not at Sphere anyway. It’s fast-paced, stimulating, the landscape is ever-changing, the work is always challenging, and you get to collaborate with different people from many different backgrounds with many different skills and interests.
All in all, being an Account Manager isn’t for the faint-hearted. Do prepare yourself to learn, be humble, and commit yourself to the job. Someone once told me there’s no other job in the world where you’ll be consistently challenged, never bored, have the opportunity to lead as well stand aside and still share in successes more than a position in Account Management, and I fully agree.

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