Dear Rachel,
I'm sure this is a question you get often. When will the job market improve for media planners and buyers? I'm in an okay job but I haven't seen a raise in well over a year, and forget about a promotion. I guess I'm lucky to have a job with the way things have been. Still I think it's time to move on from this agency, and I'm wondering when it will make sense to begin looking. Any insights you can offer? Sign me Seven Years and Itchy

Dear Itchy,
I can tell you that the ad economy is improving, though very gradually, with this first quarter the last to see a decline in ad spending.

As ad budgets get restored, you will see more media jobs created and more hiring. But I caution it will be a slow process, and I suspect it could be some time before salaries begin creeping back up. But that's my best guess.

As for the current situation and where things might be headed for media jobs, let me turn to two top recruiters who know the market, Pat Sklar of Chicago's Sklar and Associates and Kurt O'Hare of New York's O'Hare & Associates.

Both say media jobs are beginning to open up, which is a big change from just a few months ago, but openings are limited at this point to planners and those with digital experience. Reports O'Hare: "We are seeing an increase in hiring at the planner level, but it's being done quietly without much fanfare."

Says Sklar: "Most of our current searches involve digital and require online experience. We are seeing some media planner openings but very few since there a number of assistant planners ready to be promoted."

But O'Hare expects more and more positions to be opening up, and soon.

"Expect the hiring of planners to accelerate as business continues to improve--even slightly."

It's typically what happens after an ad recession. As spending begins tracking back up, planners, the first let go when a downturn sets in, are hired back in to ramp up the business. At some point salaries will begin rising.

"The outlook for planner hiring will be very positive for the next couple of years as demand outstrips supply," O'Hare says. "Since most agencies have cut back on hiring trainees, there will be a shortage of media talent, and that will cause a spike in planner salaries."

But both Sklar and O'Hare say the outlook for media buyers is not nearly as promising. And it's not just the recession that's behind it.

As O'Hare observes, "They aren't looking at as rosy a future. It's no secret that spending is way off for spot, cable, print and network, and many agencies have consolidated their buying teams to a central office.

"Agency holding companies are squeezing out every economy they can to keep costs down. The result of these internal efficiencies is the number of buyers continues to shrink and as the economy rebounds the head counts will remain stagnant or even decline albeit at a slower pace. Hiring will be mostly on a "replacement" basis or for new business wins."

Says Sklar: "We have seen no activity for buyers, national or local, and don’t anticipate any in the coming months."

Longer term, O'Hare says the outlook for the traditional media buyer is "flat" to "falling."