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Copywriter *

Last modified: November 07, 2011, 01:25 PM
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This is an ideal career for intuitive thinkers. The job of a copywriter is to create, develop, and produce advertising concepts and ideas and bring them to life through language, words and the creation of an emotive connection. You will often work in a creative partnership with an art director to convey a message as effectively and persuasively as possible. You will write text for ads, headlines, strap lines, slogans, scripts, tag lines, jingles, web/digital content and even press releases. These ideas and materials form an advertising campaign that can be executed in press, radio, television, cinema, collateral, billboards, brochures, direct mail, flyers, point of sale, vehicle wraps, posters, ambient and web or digital advertising.

Qualifications & leading Universities

While there are no specific qualifications required to enter a career as a copywriter you are generally expected to have a degree or experience in a related subject area. For example, studies of English, journalism, professional writing, media studies and marketing are directly relevant to the tasks a copywriter undertakes. In a degree or diploma such as advertising or marketing, a section of the course is likely to cover the specific roles of a copywriter. A Bachelor of Communication undergraduate degree with specialisations in creative writing, media studies or advertising are the usual course chosen by potential copywriters. You will need an entry score of 85+ and the toughest universities for entry are RMIT in Melbourne and University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney. Other universities requiring only a marginally lower entry score are Monash and Melbourne Universities in Victoria, University of New South Wales and Wollongong in New South Wales and Griffith and Queensland Universities in Queensland.

However, the first rung of the ladder is a tough one and to find work as a copywriter, the best thing is to have experience and talent. A portfolio is the most crucial way to prove to employers that you have the ability and talent to do the job. If possible, get in contact with an advertising agency or marketing company and discuss undertaking voluntary placement. Not only will you be gaining experience and building a portfolio, the networking opportunities will build up your contacts and references for future employment.

The entry criteria for tertiary institiutions differs from year to year. The above comments are a guide only. To gain specific entry criteria either contact the relevant university or use Hobson's The Good University Guide.

Relevant Universities Colleges & TAFE

Careernav have trolled through all the universities, specialist colleges and TAFE’s across the nation to identify those courses we consider relevant to this career. We have only focussed on the core single degree and its full time period. We acknowledge many combination degrees are available and different students combine different degrees. Course names also differ by university and we have grouped like courses together. We may have missed the odd course being offered, so we recommend for a more detailed guide check with the universities direct or one of the university course guide books such as Hobson’s. Please note Careernav are totally impartial and do not recommend one tertiary institution over another. To view the A to Z of tertiary institutions that offer relevant courses for this career.

 

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Promoting Tertiary Institutions

All tertiary institutions have an open invitation to make available their course outline using the ‘For Institutions’ tab in the footer section of each page. From time to time universities, colleges or TAFE will take up Careernav’s offer to promote their courses and make available ‘Course Outline’ for your consideration. When an icon appears, consider its relevance and download the Course Outline on the one that interests you by clicking “I would like to learn more” at the end of the course profile.

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About the Author

Brent Hodgson

Brent Hodgson

Alliance Software Pty Ltd

Brent Hodgson got his start as a copywriter producing sales letters for Real Estate and Investment Training programs, in the years following he has expanded into Internet Marketing and is now one of the founders and directors of Market Samurai. In is off-time he maintains his Copywriting and Internet Marketing Blog business.


Did you know that TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of a keyboard?

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