Current job title: Advertising Support
Supervisor
Industry: Magazine and Book Publishing
Department: Advertising
Years worked in this industry: 5
Years worked in this department: Less
than 2
Special training or attributes needed or helpful to
get job in this industry (or specific department): Project
flow and completion is crucial training for this position. My past
experience in leading a sales team and as a promotions coordinator helped
prepare me for this position.
Number of
managers and/or staff supported: 22
Typical work hours: 9-6, M-F
Weekends or overtime hours: Overtime or
weekends are only needed for conferences or trips. No overtime is paid,
but comp time is given for anything worked over 45 hours.
General salary range
(Note: This is a general figure or range provided by survey respondent and may
NOT be an exact salary in order to
give survey respondent some privacy. Also you must take into account that
the number of years worked in industry/department may contribute to this
salary as well as criteria such as level of position and person reports
to, required hours and geographical location.): Starting $29,000,
and cap is unknown.
Benefits (direct or indirect): Yes,
good dental and medical, and a very good 401K plan.
Lingo you might hear in this industry:
Saddle-stitched: the binding on a magazine or book that resemble
“staples.”
Market Share: the percentage amount of advertising we contribute in
comparison to our competitors.
Cover 4: the back cover of a magazine, also the most expensive 1-page ad
size.
A typical day on the job: Each day is
different, my job is project based. But a typical day involves reporting
the previous day’s sales, coordinating promotional projects between ad
directors, design department, and support staff, updating our media kit
(packets of advertising info).
Positive things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: I see almost every aspect of
the magazine publishing process – from its conception to being on the
stand. This position has opened doors for me to experience new concepts
and learn from people I admire. I also have a deeper appreciation for the
print/publishing pioneers – its not easy or cheap.
Negative things about being an administrative
professional in this industry: My particular part of the
industry is in the religious side of the readers market; I have seen the
worst behavior come from people who should know better. Stress is in
spades in our department since we supply the income/revenue to the rest of
the company. Project timelines can be shortened or non-existent when a
need arises – someone could need a large project completed in three days, when
the normal time it would take is three weeks.
Type of workspace/office:
Cubicle.
Primary responsibilities as an administrative
professional in this position: Provide daily, weekly, monthly
reports on sales, media kit updates, promo copy writing, new employee
training, communicate between staff and departments.
Top thing(s) incumbent admin would require of job
applicants seeking to be her/his position replacement: A job
applicant must be flexible to work with changing variable, be able to
multi-task over long time periods, and diplomatically deal with difficult
situations and people.
Office machines or equipment operated regularly:
PC, phone, copier, printer, and fax.
Technology (hard) skills used regularly:
Typing, editing, math calculations
Critical soft skills: Must have
problem-solving skills that require one to make quick and objective
decisions. Communication skills are necessary that are unbiased so one is
able to get a project done correctly and on time.
Pace of this position: Fast.
Geographical region: Southeast U.S.
Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™