Account Management

I am thinking about going into either account management or account planning. I decided to read the account management chapter in order to learn a little more about the field since I feel I have learned a lot about planning so far in this course. Reading the chapter only solidified my thoughts about becoming an account person. The job seems perfect for me in many ways. I particularly liked how the chapter described account executives as "generalists" because I definitely am the kind of person that likes to have my hand in everything that is going on. Being an account manager seems like a great way to be involved in as much of the process as possible. The chapter also explained how a manager had to know how to judge the creative work and keep up with all things creative. This seems like a great way to be exposed to the creative side because I am definitely interested in the creative side, I just know I could not do it. I also liked how the chapter explained account executives as motivators or coaches. Again, this is right up my alley, and I would love to have a job where I could bring that part of my personality to the table. Possibly the most important thing to me about being in account management is the fact that you are "constantly in a learning mode". I know that everyone in advertising has to constantly be soaking in all the information around them, but I like how planners also have specific things (the clients) that they must learn about. I love to create projects for myself and learn a lot about specific things. I am only a sophomore, and I am already dreading the day that I will not be in school, not because I will be out in the real world, but because I will not constantly be surrounded by a learning environment. This chapter has brightened my spirits because it has helped to show me that I will always be constantly learning. I was also happy to read that much of account management is about solving problems strategically. I simply think solving such strategic problems would be an interesting way to spend my days. I knew a lot of the information presented in this chapter, but I really enjoyed that way in which it was presented, and it really helped me to realize that I would love to work in account management.