How To Get a Creative Advertising Job

(Advice from a copywriter, Illinois Class of 2005)

1. Watch the documentary Art & Copy. Get inspired.

2. Buy Iezzi's new book The Idea Writers. Even if you're an art director. Especially if you're a copywriter. This is the future.

3. In fact, I would say the 3 books you need to read, know and love are Hey Whipple, The Idea Writers, and Strunk & White (for writers) or Thinking With Type (for art directors.)

4. Build your portfolio on Cargo. It's big, simple, free and what everyone is using now.

5. LinkedIn is your resume. Work hard, get internships wherever you can, make your internship if have to, make your LinkedIn profile compelling. Show that you can write or art direct.

6. Get good. If you read Outliers or Talent Is Overrated, you'll find that success is not based on "talent," whatever that is. It's based on working hard, learning from mistakes, getting better every day. If you want to get a job in creative advertising, you can. But it might take more work than you’re willing to put in.

7. Your book isn’t good enough until you get a job. Don’t stop working on it just because you’ve got some interviews. Keep working on it until you’re hired.

8. Your book probably has a typo. Have 10 people proof it and then if they haven’t found it, get 10 more. Don’t bring a typo into an interview. Just don’t.

9. You don't need portfolio school. If you have the money and the time, go for it. If not, that’s fine. Just remember that you’re competing with people coming out of them.

10. Clever headlines and pretty layouts are nothing without a big idea. Be sure you have one, and be able to talk about it. You'll have to in your job—and probably your interview.

11. Start writing cover letters now. The one chance you have to grab someone's attention is a short email. This is the most important ad you will ever make and it's for yourself. It takes a good 8-10 months to write a good one. Write a couple and send them to your friends. Then next month see if you can do better.

12. Contact people during work hours on a Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday.

13. Once you have a good book (see 6-10 above) use LinkedIn. People from UIUC are friendly. Set aside time. Contact them (see 12 above) and tell them you'll be in Chicago next week and ask to stop by for 5 minutes and have them look at your book.

14. Do something that makes you happy. If you like making ads, go for it. It's fun. Just work hard. If I had worked harder in school, I could have gotten a better job, faster. (see 6 above)

15. Because lists seem better when they have round numbers.