I’m preparing for an AAF career day tomorrow and, as usual, I got some freakishly relevant advice this week at my internship. It goes something like this:
Remember your point of difference.
Ad people spend all day figuring out how to differentiate the brands they represent. Every brand has a unique story to sell, even if you have to search deep to find it. So doesn’t it make sense that when seeking a job in the ad world, you should present yourself with a unique selling proposition? “I’m passionate,” doesn’t count. Being passionate is expected of you. That might win over corporate America, but it won’t win the sensitive hearts of advertisers.
I love school, but I’m going to be brutally honest here. Our education teaches us to fit inside a box. A nice, well-dressed, eloquent, harmless box. But advertising is not a traditional career path. If you’re told you should have the same qualifications and experiences as everyone else in school, it might be hard to realize your own point of difference. I say it’s time to do some soul searching. This is a business full of “different” people. People who call themselves “Big Nuts,” demonology enthusiasts, closet kleptomaniacs, overly competitive bowlers, and skateboarding wannabes.
. . .
So if you’re “different,” I suggest you own it. This is one of the only businesses where you can.
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