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Useful experience for copywriters includes:

• creative writing and design work
• sales and marketing jobs
• social media work
• photography
• composing or playing music.

Copywriters may do some or all of the following:

• follow instructions (briefs) from clients or account managers
• develop creative ideas with an art director and other team members
• research the product, the client and the client's audience
• write and edit advertising (copy) for print, mail, social media, television, radio, packaging, or the internet
• co-ordinate social media for an organisation
• pitch ideas to clients
• choose and work with actors, photographers, designers, printers and directors
• supervise the production of advertisements
• keep up to date with the latest trends in art, design, fashion, marketing, music and popular culture
• check the success of advertising campaigns and make changes.

High competition for limited number of copywriter jobs

Competition for copywriter jobs is high due to:

• New Zealand's small market, which means the number of advertising agencies is small
• more people graduating with qualifications in subjects such as creative writing and marketing, then applying for copywriter jobs
• employers increasingly using overseas copywriters, who can cost less than New Zealand copywriters.

According to the Census, 444 copywriters worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Chances best for multi-talented copywriters

You have a better chance of securing a copywriter job if you can:

• do a range of tasks such as create design briefs, write for the internet and make online videos
• co-ordinate, create, monitor and analyse social media
• write content  that uses search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques (to make sure content ranks highly in internet searches)
• analyse complex data and write about it.

Types of employers varied

Copywriters may work for:

• advertising agencies
• public service marketing and communication departments
• marketing departments in businesses
• not-for-profit organisations
• websites
• radio and television stations.

Many copywriters are self-employed.

Association of NZ Advertisers Inc (ANZA)

(09) 488 7455 - anza@anza.co.nz - www.anza.co.nz

Commercial Communication Council (Comms Council)

(09) 303 0435 - office@commscouncil.nz - commscouncil.nz

Marketing Association of New Zealand

(09) 361 7760 - contactus@marketing.org.nz - www.marketing.org.nz

Public Relations Institute of NZ (PRINZ)

(09) 358 9808 - national_office@prinz.org.nz - www.prinz.org.nz

Copywriters may progress to set up their own businesses or go into management.

They may also become art or creative directors, and advertising or marketing specialists.

• Advertising, sales and marketing manager job information
• Advertising specialist job information
• Artistic director job information
• Marketing specialist job information

Copywriters may specialise in:

• bid writing (bid applications to get advertising contracts)
• long-copy work (writing content that is more than 1,000 words long)
• publishing print advertising such as booklets or mail
• radio and television advertising
• copywriting that uses search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques (to make sure content ranks highly in internet searches)
• social media such as Facebook posts
• website content like blogs and videos.

Copywriters need to be:

• creative and imaginative
• able to pay attention to detail
• organised
• good communicators who can build relationships quickly
• able to work well under pressure
• able to solve problems
• able to respond well to criticism
• confident.