Ever watched TV one night and thought to yourself that you make a commercial that's better than what is on? After all, you consider yourself to be a creative person always coming up with new and exciting ideas people love to hear. If you possess a creative personality and the thought of catching people's attention interests you, then you just may be suited for a career in advertising.

The role of advertising is defined as the art of positioning and creating brands and persuading consumers to buy them through messages in mass media. Think of advertising agencies as idea stores and everything you buy is influenced by them: the clothes you wear, the cars you drive, and the food you eat.

It is definitely is a creative and fun field, unique in the business world and a great job to have. There are, however, a few misguided notions about the industry. For example, advertising agencies are not run by stodgy old men only trying to make a buck. In fact, they are usually run by ambitious entrepreneurs whose goal is to make something exciting over making a profit. Here are a few more misconceptions many people share about the field of advertising:

• Myth: A job in advertising is unethical and dishonorable.

  Actually, it is quite the opposite. Working in advertising is esteemed profession. But because you are trying to sell something to the public, people automatically believe that you are out to deceive and trick everyone. The field of advertising follows very detailed rules ensuring all advertising messages are ethical and on the up and up. The last thing an agency wants to do is to harm a client's reputation by producing deceptive materials.

• Myth: Getting started in advertising is hard.

  There are actually quite a bit of opportunities for those who want a start in the field of advertising provided that they are willing to work hard for it. It isn't hard to do just you need to work hard at it. No one starts off in a job with an office with a view. No one starts off making $70,000, either. You're first advertising job means a lot of legwork and a lot of learning. As long as you're serious about your career, you'll have no problems.

• Myth: Advertising and public relations is the same thing.

  These two businesses are frequently mistaken as being the same profession. While it is true that they both go hand-in-hand, their focus and goals are far different. You can get a job in public relations if you have skills in advertising and the same is true vice versa but that doesn't mean you automatically know everything there is with the other.

• Myth: Advertising glamorous and fun-filled.

  Don't believe everything you see on TV where everyone who works in advertising has fun all day and does little to no work at all. Nothing could be further from the truth. Advertising is a fun-filled job IF you enjoy working hard at creating new and exciting ad campaigns which will hopefully touch and influence the lives of everyone who sees it. Not because you get to sit around drinking coffee and talking all day.

• Myth: You can put all your great ideas to use.

  Every advertising campaign goes through a certain process. Think of it as a checks and balance system. The clients give an advertising agency a basic concept and let the agency run with it. Some clients let the agency handle every aspect while others want to be more involved and micromanage every little detail. There are meetings after meetings about any given ad campaign. Some agencies have levels of red tape you and your ideas will need to get through before anything can be done. Agencies love creative ideas but don't get your feelings hurt if those ideas are dismissed. That's the nature of the business. It's nothing personal.

• Myth: Everyone makes good money.

  It's true; you can make a lot of money working in advertising. That doesn't mean everyone is making mega-bucks. A good majority of the people working in advertising started at the very bottom, usually as an intern, making minimum wage just to get their foot in the door. Advertising is like any other profession, you work your way up.

About the Author

Channel M Communications at www.channelmcommunications.com, allows you to implement channels of communication with personalized direct mail, digital printing services, response URLS, RSS feeds, and professional graphic design.