How to Get a Job at an Advertising Agency as a Copywriter

Writing at an advertising agency can be a fun and creatively rewarding career. Getting your foot in the door, however, can be more difficult than it seems. Following these steps can help you greatly in your advertising job search.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A creative mind
• A portfolio
• A resume
• Internet Access

1. Create a portfolio.
   
   The single most important factor in your search for a copywriting job is your portfolio. A portfolio is a 'book' or folder filled with your best advertising work. This is what agencies look at most when hiring writers. Make sure your's is amazing. You will also want to create a 'mini' version of your portfolio - this is the version you will send to agencies.
   
   (See my article on creating a portfolio for details.)
2. Make your resume.
   
   Your resume is the second most important thing to work on when looking for a copywriting job. There are many opinions on the best way to format a resume, so research the web for samples, and decide what style(s) work best for you. In general, it is advised to use this ordering of sections:
   
   1.Name/Contact Info
   2.Short Intro (Either an objective statement, or something more personal)
   3.Work History
   4.Awards (If applicable)
   4.Skills (If applicable)
   5.Education
   
   And remember, this is advertising; adding humor or personality to your resume is definitely encouraged. Don't be obnoxious, but don't be too straight laced, either, unless the agency you're applying to is.
3. Make a website.
   
   As time goes on, it is looking increasingly like all creatives searching for a job should have their own website. This way you can simply e-mail a link to prospective agencies, which they can then click to reach your online portfolio. Making a website is cheap and (relatively) easy, with a little studying of HTML. Read my article about making your own personal website for more information.
   
   As far as what to put on your website, you should probably have the following, at least:
   
   1. Online Portfolio (w/ thumbnails that link to full-size images)
   2. Resume
   3. Contact Info
   
   Many people also include a "personal" section where you can describe yourself, post art you've created, etc. This is optional, though.
4. Network
   
   Networking is tough, but you should be networking throughout your job hunt. Traditionally, networking means handing out your business card/resume to as many business contacts as you can come in contact with. Utilizing this form of networking is certainly advantageous; however, there is an easier way. Simply tell everyone you know, including relatives, friends, and work/school acquaintances that you are looking for an advertising job. You never know whose uncle's friend's brother works at an agency, and people in advertising are famous for always wanting to help a fellow writer in need.
5. Research agencies in the area you would like to work, search for open positions.
   
   Nearly all agencies have a website these days, and this will be the best source of information. Pay particular attention to the online portfolio - you will be able to tell immediately if an agency is doing quality work, as well as if they are doing the sort of work you are interested in.
   
   You can also ask other people in the industry which are the top agencies in a given market.
   
   Searching for open positions should involve any and all available resources. Monster.com and Craigslist are excellent websites, as are sites of prominent local newspapers, and even advertising specific local websites.
6. Send out your resume and a mini version of your portfolio to all the agencies your are interested in.
   
   This is regardless of whether or not they are actively looking to fill an open position - send your materials to them anyway. You can send paper versions OR an e-mail version (with a small PDF file of your book attached) - it doesn't seem to matter which you send. You best bet may be to make a website (with online portfolio) and e-mail the link to your site.
   
   Agencies will usually have a specific address (e-mail or mailing) that accepts resume submissions. You can send to this address, or try sending directly to the Creative Director. Either way has its pros and cons, so try asking what works in your market or just experiment.
7. Wait one week and call every agency you sent your resume/portfolio to.
   
   Just call to check and see if they recieved your materials, and ask if you might be able to come in for an interview. At smaller agencies, you may be able to talk directly to the Creative Director. At larger places, your best bet is to call the HR department, or at really large agencies, the person in charge of reviewing portfolios. They are usually very helpful people, and have the power to move your resume from the massive pile it was probably heaped on (or the massive e-mail trash bin it was in) and put it in front of a real person.
8. Wait for calls, continue to hunt.
   
   If you don't hear anything back immediately, don't be discouraged. It can take weeks or months for an agency to sort through all the resumes they receive for a particular position. It is okay to call back a few times to check on the status of the position, as long as you wait a few weeks in between each call - you don't want to seem overly desperate.
   
   Throughout the whole process, continue searching for jobs online, as new postings come up every day. You may be sick of it, but banking on the success of your previously-sent resumes can be a dangerous practice.
9. Ace the interview
   
   Every interview situation is different, so no single set of advice applies. In general, here are some tips:
   
   Dress very sharply, but not stuffy. For guys, dress shoes, very nice jeans, a button-up shirt and a sport coat should work at all but the most uptight agencies. A tie is almost always too dressy. Each market is different, however, so do some research before you show up.
   
   For ladies, I must admit I don't know much about proper interview attire - research what is acceptable in your particular market.
   
   In the interview, just be yourself and be honest about why you think you would enjoy the job and excel in the company. More specific interview tips can be found on numerous websites.
10. Or, rethink your strategy.
    
    If you are still jobless after months of job searching, you may need to re-examine your strategy. Is your portfolio not up to par? Is there a glaring error on your resume? Do you need more experience from an internship?
    
    If you can, get informational interviews from people in the industry. Usually a bit of pestering will get you in front of a CD or a writer - just be persistant with e-mails or calls. They can offer invaluable advice and can critique your portfolio, letting you know what you need to add or subtract.

Tips & Warnings

• Before, during and after your job search, continue to look for informational interview opportunities. The knowledge you will gain is invaluable, and the contacts you will make can lead to jobs or even a long-term mentoring relationship.
• Carefully proofread all materials you send to any prospective employer. Some people won't care too much about errors, some will throw your resume/portfolio in the trash if they see an error. Have friends read your materials for you.
• Read books about advertising and copyrwriting, like Luke Sullivan's excellent "Hey Whipple, Squeeze This." It's fun to read and is packed with useful information about all aspects of working as a copywriter.
• Taking a job as an intern (possibly unpaid) may not be your ultimate goal, but it is a way to get in the door.
• Even if you have a fantastic porfolio, don't get cocky about salary. They say that creatives in advertising are underpaid the first half of their career, and overpaid the second half. Choose the agency that does the best work, not the one that pays the best. You'll be glad when you try for your next job.
• Remember, every person you talk to will have different advice to give. Take it all in and decide for yourself what seems to be the best advice. Even the advice above may be awful if used without caution!