In The News: Marketers cutting budgets amidst record job cuts

Part of prepping yourself for the ad world is to know the ad world. As of today I will periodically link up to some articles that are not only important to WE as interns but WE as an industry.

According to Ad Age, 77% of marketers are planning to cut their media budgets. The result of our 14-month recession is definitely taking a toll on the ad industry and those who work in it are being directly affected.

In another Ad Age article, the advertising industry cut 18,700 jobs in December alone, bringing the total job loses since the recession to 65,100.

As an intern or entry-level applicant, it's incredibly important to know the state of the industry. Expec more competition for entry level jobs & internships and less interest from recruiters in the upcoming months.

Just yesterday, a fellow blogger pointed out that an internship that Saatchi LA had posted on Youintern was no longer in place. It makes sense in hindsight, Saatchi LA, like almost every shop out there is suffering from the recession.

There is a silver lining. For those students who still have a few more semesters before they graduate, digital experience is key. In fact, internet-media companies and web-search portals are the only sector of the industry adding jobs.

That said, I'm curious to know what you've been doing in light of the economic downturn to make you stand out from the rest. Use the comments section to post your tips, stories, and reactions to the news.

Update: Adrants posted more information from the survey from the Association of American Advertisers (the source of Ad Age's article). Check it out.

Internship: Crispin Porter + Bogusky

CP+K is offering internships this summer in both their Miami and Boulder, CO offices.

Here's a list of disciplines they're looking to fill:

• Content Management (Account Services)
• Cultural and Business Insights (Account Planning)
• Creative Content Distribution (Media)
• Art Buying
• Traffic
• Studio
• Print Production
• Integrated Production
• Public Relations
• Interactive-Technical
• Interactive-Creative
• Creative

The application deadline for their Summer 2009 positions is April 10th.

On a side note, not really sure how CP+K's recent lay-offs will affect the internship program. However, one rule of advice: If you get in, you should be prepared to prove that you belong at the agency instead of the 60 employees who are no longer with the agency. In otherwords, don't pull this shit!

Internship: GSD&M Idea City

GSD&M Idea City, located in Austin, Texas has a number of internships in the following disciplines:

• Account Service
• Broadcast Production
• Creative
• Creative Project Management
• Graphic Design
• Marketplace planning
• Media
• New Business
• Public Relations

Full descriptions can be found on their website.

What's not on their website: Their Halloween slideshow from 2005*


*Flickr is by far the best source to scout out what really happens behind closed doors. It's like being a peeping tom, but less peepy.

Interns: Follow New Business

If you're on the look out for an internship at an ad agency, one of my top tips is to follow new business. Case and point: Fallon recently won three, count them 1-2-3, new business pitches over the past three months.

Flashback to a post I wrote a few days ago announcing Fallon's hunt for interns this summer. It's safe to assume that the influx of business has Fallon on the look out for talent.

The moral of the story is to keep your eyes & ears open. New business typically equals a need for new talent, and that dear readers, is where you can snatch up that ad internship you've been looking for. Who knows, you might just make it after all.

MAIP Questions: Carmonize is here to help

I've been getting a lot of questions from students who are applying for MAIP 2009. I wanted to provide a forum for you so that you can ask anything that your burning hearts desire. Just know, I in no way represent MAIP or AAAA, but am a 2008 MAIP alum. My responses are purely from my perspective as a student trying to make it into the ad industry.

My background is in account management (with a not-so-secret penchant for planning), so do keep that in mind. If you have questions about any of the other departments, I'll be happy to answer them, but naturally, they will be skewed. In addition to my internship at Campbell Mithun (Minneapolis) through MAIP I have also done an internship at BBH NY in 2007. So feel free to ask some hard hitting questions. I'll do my best to get back to you within a few hours.

Fallon: 12 Intern Spots Available This Summer

Fallon just announced on YouIntern 12 spots for their Summer Internship program.

They're looking for interns for the following departments:
Account Management
Account Planning
Broadcast Production
Media
Interactive

Applications must be submitted by March 13. Full job posting here.

SF Job Rumblings: AKQA & BSSP

AKQA: Media Planner

AKQA: Senior Project Manager

AKQA: Account Supervisor

AKQA: Account Supervisor

AKQA: Senior Project Manager

Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners: Account Executive

All of these positions aren't for recent grads w/no experience. However, if you're going to make yourself desirable for a recruiter, it would do you good to take a look at what these agencies are looking for. At the very least, check out the work both of these shops have done - They're pretty fucking brilliant.

For the Art Directors/Copywriters

Y&R SF is having an open house TONIGHT @ 6pm. They're located at 303 Second Street, South Tower, 8th Floor, SF.

Yeah, I know I'm posting this last minute, but if you're even thinking of entering the field as an art director or copywriter you should never be uttering these words: But my book isn't ready. BULLSHIT.

So haul ass tonight up to their office, and impress the CD & steer clear of the eye-candy.