So I'm fresh off three presentations at San Jose State University where I spoke with students in the advertising program about how to land an internship at an agency. With two more to go and one workshop on resume building/essay writing I'm hoping that more students will become excited about the possibilities that the advertising program @ SJSU affords them.
If you attended any of the presentations, please don't hesitate to use this blog as an open forum for questions you may have about anything I discussed. Remember - there are no stupid questions.
Also - I'm in the beginning stages of launching a new branch of this blog that you may find useful in your own endeavors into the ad world.
Until then, I look forward to the next chapter of this blog and to helping plant more SJSU students at agencies.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Thanks for the inspirational presentation the other day. Best wishes to you and all that you plan to do in life.
I was at your presentation during Lilly's class on Tuesday. First off, I just have to say, you totally inspired me to start looking for internships. Thanks!
Secondly, Question...
You said you were an aspiring copy writer, correct? Yet the job you were offered by the last agency your interned for was something (if I'm remembering right) more along the management track.
Now, I remember Lilly saying in the beginning of the semester that you can't really jump from being a creative to management.
Do you still plan on trying to work your way into copy writing?
I am an aspiring creative (art director) as well...
Danielle-
So glad you enjoyed the presentation. I too felt inspired afterwards that I have decided to dedicate this blog to helping students find their way through the intern jungle (at least through the semester). So check back often, you may be surprised with what you find.
Heather-
Glad to hear that the presentation has given you the motivation to look for an internship!
To clarify, I was an aspiring copywriter when I first entered the program at SJSU. However, I have decided to pursue a position in account planning after my first internship at BBH.
At my last internship with Campbell Mithun, I was an account management intern. Because that internship was part of MAIP, the host agency had the ultimate decision on which department I was placed in (MAIP asks on your application to choose three choices, account planning was my first, account management was my second, and copywriting was my third).
There is a lot of truth with what Lilly said about not jumping between departments within an agency, especially between management and creative. However, it does happen. I think what Lilly is trying to convey to her students is that if you want to get into art direction or copywriting, you should really focus on building your portfolio now to increase your chances of landing a position within the creative department.
As far as working my way from account planning to copywriting - well, that's a tricky question. Writing has always been a passion of mine - sometimes one I really try to repress. In fact,Lilly likes to say that I'm a "Closet Copywriter." So the honest answer is, I wouldn't put it past me to make that transition in the future. However, at this point in my life I don't plan on pursuing it.
Best of luck on your hunt for an internship - get in touch with me if you have any questions along the way.
I was at one of your presentations to Lilly's class as well. I am an aspiring copywriter. I have been writing since before I can remember and it has always been a huge part of my life and who I am as a person.
I am beginning to look for internships for summer 09. I have heard that it is much harder to get creative internships... is that true? If so, do you have any advice regarding how I should prepare my portfolio to enhance my chances of being noticed?
Thank you!
Nichole -
To answer your question, yes, internships are more difficult to come by within the creative department compared to others at agencies.
Talent is the deciding factor on whether one gets one of these coveted spots or not.
I can suggest a few strategies that were passed on to me when I was pursuing the role of a jr. copywriter.
1. Partner up. Since you're a copywriter, pair up with an art director. Students in portfolio schools work in pairs on just about every project - and you should too. Find someone who you can bounce ideas off of and who pushes you to work in strategic/stimulating ways.
2. Check out your competition. There are a lot of pubs which feature up and coming talent. Students who win awards get noticed so naturally, when you feel your work is good enough, you too should submit your work.
3. Start now. You already love writing, so continue to practice your skill. Force yourself to write in a multitude of platforms - go beyond just print and television.
4. Find out what resources other creatives are using for putting together their books. A suggestion that was given to me by a copywriter at Deutsch NY was: How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising by Maxine Paetro.
5. Try to focus on campaigns (three or more ads) rather than one-offs. This shows that you're more than just a shot in the dark - it shows that you have developed a campaign with "legs"
6. When you have pieces together, create a digital portfolio. Check out Carbonmade.com
7. Start reaching out to copywriters you look up to. When you notice work you like, take note of the persons name and where they work and shoot them an email. Just keep in mind that there is a fine line between being proactive and being annoying.
8. Take any portfolio courses SJSU offers. There was a 1 unit course offered this semester that filled up quickly - so keep your eye out for it next semester. Also, find out if Andy Beach is still offering a portfolio course - ask one of the professors if they've heard anything about it.
9. Take a look at Ihaveanidea.com - They have a whole section with Q & A's with some of the best creatives out there. It's also one of the best online resources for people looking to get into the field.
Best of luck
Hey Jonathan,
This is Jonathan Rosario. I was in the presentation you did for Tim's class on Monday. I asked you if you ever heard of an internship program called University of Dreams. This is the website: http://www.summerinternships.com/. May you can you get back to me on what you think about the site. You can look me up in facebook or just email me at
jonathan_rosario27@yahoo.com
Thanks for your presentation. For a while I was losing intrest in advertising because of the agency class on campuse.
Thanks,
Jonathan Rosario
Jonathan -
After looking through the University of Dreams website, I would say their internship program isn't in your best interest. A few reasons why:
1. You should never have to pay to be part of an internship. Ever. While it's true that many internships are unpaid or require that you pay for your living expenses, it is absurd that a program ask students to pay for their position. To be honest with you, the program seems like a glorified Contiki package, "internship" included
2. I find it suspect that the participating agencies aren't listed. If you were to go to MAIP's website, you would see clearly who the hosts agencies are. This lends to the programs credibility (or lack thereof in the cas of U. of Dreams). For all you know, the participating agencies are unreputable.
3. The enrollment figures for the U. of Dreams is a clear indication that they are in the business of making a profit. You should be applying for internships that are selective about who they let in - having 1800+ students is not selective (in fact, it would hurt your reputation in the long run).
I'll be posting some internship programs, in addition to MAIP that are more credible in the next few posts.
Post a Comment