Advertising traffic coordinators work closely with others in the agency.
Traffic coordinators are the worker bees of the advertising industry. They buzz from department to department making sure project deadlines are met. The work of a traffic coordinator may seem unglamorous compared to that of writers, graphic designers and account executives; nonetheless, traffic workers are a vital part of the business.
Duties
Advertising traffic coordinators ensure that agency projects are completed on time. To do this coordinators serve as a liaison among clients, the agency's creative department, printers, account executives and other workers. Traffic coordinators may also be responsible for developing project time lines and ensuring that quality standards are met. The job requires good interpersonal skills, communication abilities and a knack for handling multiple deadlines.
Working Conditions
If you prefer to work in large organization a traffic coordinator position may not be a good fit. Most advertising agencies are small. Approximately 68 percent of advertising and public relations agencies had fewer than five employees in 2008, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
Although the job does not present many physical hazards, stress is a major workplace concern. Advertising agencies are competitive and results-driven environments. Employers may try to offset these conditions by providing time-management classes.
Work Schedules
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average work week for advertising workers in 2008 totaled more than 34 hours. Candidates looking for flexible schedules and part-time gigs may have a hard time finding work as traffic coordinators. Only 12 percent of advertising and public relations employees worked part-time in 2008, according to the BLS. As important deadlines approach it is common for traffic coordinators to work overtime.
Job Outlook
BLS officials predict that employment in the advertising industry will grow 8 percent through 2018. This growth rate is small compared to other industries. Competition for newly created jobs will be strong. Potential traffic coordinators must also be wary of layoffs. Advertising agencies often distribute pink slips after the loss of major accounts and during economic downturns.
Earnings
Non-supervisory advertising workers like traffic coordinators made an average of $747 a week in 2008, according to the BLS. This adds up to approximately $35,800 a year. According to a 2010 search of Simply Hired's online database, the average annual salary for an advertising traffic coordinator was $41,000.
