Advertising sales agents held about 167,900 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most advertising sales agents were as follows:
Advertising, public relations, and related services
36%
Newspaper publishers
14
Radio broadcasting
10
Television broadcasting
8
Other information services
4
Selling can be stressful because income and job security depend directly on agents' ability to keep and expand their client base. Companies generally set monthly sales quotas and place considerable pressure on advertising sales agents to meet those quotas.
Getting new accounts is an important part of the job, and agents may spend much of their time traveling to and visiting prospective advertisers and maintaining relationships with current clients. Sales agents also may work in their employer's offices and handle sales for walk-in clients or for those who call or email the firm to ask about advertising.
Work Schedules
Most advertising sales agents work full time. About 1 in 4 advertising sales agents worked more than 40 hours a week in 2014. Some work irregular hours and on weekends and holidays.