My early career roles were highly technical, and I slowly started moving into project managements roles, and now leading an account team.
How do people normally find their ways into account roles? My path was very indirect and certainly not intentional, but happy in my work life.

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It’s not the type of role you get hired to do at entry level. Very to common transition from other job functions into the role.

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Honestly I think that your story is pretty common. I doubt anyone really gets direct-hired into account management, but rather it's a combination of work experience and sticking around in the same company for long enough. The best paths are indirect imo, you learn more along the way and you're not hit with imposter syndrome when you finally get there. Happy for you :)

I started in Website Management at my current agency, then moved into Digital Account Managment after just a few months. Years ago, they merged the Digital & Traditional Account Management roles, so I've been with the Account Services team ever since.
We just restructured our team at the start of the year, so now I have 4 direct reports to train and mentor. Working on evolving my position even further to create a full Strategy department (and leave behind some of the more Jr. level duties of my position) but we're not quite there yet.

I started about 1.5 years out of school. Digital Operations Specialist (associate PM) to AAE

I started in account management right out of college…
I majored in direct response marketing and public relations, but knew I wanted to go into account management for an advertising agency. I’ve known that since I was 14 (and no, I didn’t decide that from Mad Men). So my first job out of college was as an Account Coordinator at a small consumer agency and I’ve worked my way up to a big name agency.

A lot of people just end up in account management, sure. But some of us are just massive advertising nerds and know the creative path isn’t an option.

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