What the work looks like, week to week
- Build digital media plans: reach, frequency, budget split by platform.
- Set up and check campaigns on DV360, Meta and Google Ads with the trading team.
- Check delivery, viewability and brand safety against the plan.
- Read results and move budget weekly.
- Report to clients in plain words: what ran, what it cost, what worked.
- Question AI bidding results that look too good.
Who this suits
Buyers who like numbers, already think in reach and frequency, and want to stay in media.
Probably not for you if you want to leave media altogether.
Free tools and sources to start with (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Display and Video 360 Help. Google's programmatic buying platform (support.google.com).
- Google Skillshop. Free Google Ads and DV360 training (skillshop.withgoogle.com).
- Meta Blueprint. Free Meta ads training (www.facebook.com).
Your first proof
Take one TV or outdoor plan you bought (remove client names). Rebuild it as a digital plan for the same goal: platforms, budget split, target reach and frequency, how you would check delivery and brand safety, and the weekly report. Write one page on what you would cut if the first 2 weeks underdeliver.
Your realistic 90 days
You will be ready to interview for programmatic and digital media planner roles with a plan that turns your offline buying into a digital one.
Assumes 2 to 3 hours a day alongside job applications, a laptop and a phone, and free plans only. Every step has a smaller version and a way to pause. A signal is not a promise of a job.
Worries people bring to this route
- I've never used DV360. Skillshop training is free; your proof shows planning logic.
- Digital teams are younger. Your negotiation and delivery checks are rare; say so with examples.
- Will I lose seniority? Some move as planners first; compare titles and team size.
What AI changed in your old tasks
| You used to… | Now you… |
|---|---|
| Bought TV and outdoor slots | Plan and buy across DV360, Meta and Google |
| Checked release orders | Check delivery and brand safety |
| Reported GRPs | Report reach, frequency and cost |
Your first 7 days
| Day | Task | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | List 3 plans you bought with goal and budget | 3 entries |
| 2 | Pick one for the proof | One picked |
| 3 | Start a Google Skillshop course | First module done |
| 4 | Read DV360 Help on line items | Notes written |
| 5 | Sketch the digital budget split | Split sketched |
| 6 | Write the delivery checks | Checklist written |
| 7 | List 10 planners to message | 10 names |
Days 1–30
| Step | Time | Done when | Smaller version | If you need to pause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebuild one offline plan as a digital media plan with reach, frequency and checks | about 6 hours over 3 weeks | plan published | Budget split only. | Stop at the end of the step you are on and note where you stopped. |
| Show it to 5 digital planners at agencies | about 1 hour | 5 messages | Just 2 this week. | Stop sending for now and keep a list of who you contacted. |
Signal by day 30: A planner comments on your plan.
Days 31–60
| Step | Time | Done when | Smaller version | If you need to pause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish one Google Skillshop certification and note what you learned | about 8 hours | certificate | 1 module. | Optional. Skip it if the week is full. |
| Apply to 10 'programmatic planner' or 'digital media planner' roles | about 5 hours | 10 logged | Just 5 this week. | Stop sending for now and keep a list of who you contacted. |
Signal by day 60: You get a test or interview for a planning role.
Days 61–90
| Step | Time | Done when | Smaller version | If you need to pause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practise explaining a plan that underdelivered and what you changed | about 2 hours | 3 runs | 1 run. | Optional. Skip it if the week is full. |
| Ask 3 former agency colleagues for referrals | about 2 hours | 3 asks | Just 1 this week. | Stop sending for now and keep a list of who you contacted. |
Signal by day 90: A final round or a referral.
Where the openings are, and what to type
Start with LinkedIn, local job boards and company career pages; senior roles are often filled by referral, so ask early.
- LinkedIn search string:
("programmatic" planner OR "digital media planner" OR "DV360" OR "media planning" digital) - Local job board keywords: programmatic planner, digital media planner, DV360, media planning executive, programmatic trader
Job-hunt moves that matter for this route
- Search agency career pages (GroupM, Dentsu, Madison, Publicis) and LinkedIn.
- Lead with budgets you bought and how you checked delivery.
- Add Skillshop certificates to your profile.
Fake-job traps
Watch for 'media trading' courses sold with a job promise, offers that ask for a deposit, and anyone asking for an OTP. Real employers never charge you to hire you. Use official domains only. Report it to your national cybercrime or consumer fraud agency and to the job site where you saw the ad.
Common questions
Is programmatic the same as performance marketing? Not quite: planners usually own reach and awareness goals across platforms; performance roles own orders or leads.
Do agencies hire offline buyers into digital? Some do; certifications and a converted plan help.
Programmatic and digital media planner check
Your 30/60/90 quests
XP: learning 20 · proof 60 · outreach 40. Ranks: Wayfinder → Builder → Pathmaker. Progress stays in your browser only.
Quick quiz: does this path fit?
Answer each, then press Check. Every answer explains itself.
Make your path card
A shareable reminder of where you're heading. The day count starts the first time you open this page; quest XP comes from your log above.
Scam check before you apply anywhere
- Real job and gig platforms are free to join. Never pay a "joining" or "training" fee.
- Never share one-time codes, bank or payment app PINs. No genuine employer needs them.
- Use official domains only; type the address yourself.
- Report it to your national cybercrime or consumer fraud agency and to the job site where you saw the ad.
Small steps, every day.
Each quest has a smaller version for hard weeks, and a pause button. Nothing is lost.
Keep exploring
Sources
Checked 30 Oct 2026. We opened every link below ourselves. Search volumes on this site come from OpenSEO keyword research (Oct 2026).
| What we checked | Where |
|---|---|
| Meta Blueprint: Free Meta ads training | facebook.com |
| Display and Video 360 Help: Google's programmatic buying platform | support.google.com |
| Google Skillshop: Free Google Ads and DV360 training | skillshop.withgoogle.com |