Overview
Media planning sits at the intersection of data analysis and creative strategy. Agencies like MediaCom, Mindshare, OMD, and Zenith hire graduates who can read audience data, understand media channels, and build plans that deliver measurable results. A Media Studies degree gives you the theoretical foundation, but your resume needs to prove you understand the commercial side of media.
This resume belongs to Kieran, a Media Studies BA graduate from the University of Sussex who interned at Zenith Media and managed social media for the university's student union. His resume bridges academic media theory and practical campaign experience by quantifying every achievement: £180,000 in media budgets managed, 2.4 million impressions generated, and 3 campaign post-analyses completed.
Agency internship experience
If you interned at a media agency, describe your role in the campaign process. Kieran assisted with media plans for 4 clients, pulled audience data from TGI and YouGov Profiles, and compiled post-campaign analysis reports. These are the daily tasks of a junior media planner.
Name the tools you used. TGI, YouGov Profiles, BARB, RAJAR, Route, and Comscore are industry standard audience research platforms. If you used Google Analytics, Meta Ads Manager, or DV360, include those too.
Campaign metrics and budgets
Media planning is about numbers. If you managed or assisted with a media budget, state the amount. If a campaign generated measurable results, include the impressions, clicks, conversions, or reach figures. Kieran mentions assisting with plans worth a combined £180,000 and generating 2.4 million impressions on a student union social campaign.
Even small scale campaigns (student union, society, personal project) are worth including if you can attach numbers to them.
Social media management as experience
Running social media for a student union, society, or brand is directly relevant to media planning. Kieran managed the student union's Instagram and Twitter accounts, grew followers by 35%, and achieved an average engagement rate of 4.2%. These are metrics a media agency understands and values.
Understanding of the media landscape
Your resume should signal that you understand both traditional and digital media channels. Mentioning TV, radio, OOH, digital display, social, and programmatic shows breadth. If your degree covered media regulation, audience measurement methodology, or the economics of media, reference those modules in your education section.
