The need for independent agencies has grown rapidly in the past two decades. This trend is driven by a number of factors: the explosion in global marketing, acquisitions, and mergers, a need to control costs, and more recently clients’ social responsibility agenda.
Although many factors have been at play in this proliferation of brand agencies, there is still no consensus on what a brand agency does and how to get in with one of the top ones.
Brand agencies are the unsung heroes of corporate marketing, providing an unforgettable connection between consumers and organizations.
Nowadays, it takes more than a few good ideas to stand out in the marketplace. The competition for the attention of customers is fierce, and the stakes are high. Even businesses that want to avoid traditional advertising methods often need some valuable assistance in achieving their goals.
But how do you work with them?
In today’s tough job market, it’s more important than ever to stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re:
- A recent college grad looking for a great career;
- A mid-level professional looking for her next big move; or
- An experienced manager looking to make a change
here you’ll find some insider tips on how you can get in with one of the top ad agencies in the world, regardless of your background.
To get in with one of the top agencies you need to be innovative and different, no matter where you are situated in the world.
When you’re interviewing with one of the top advertising agencies, there’s no room for error. You need to dress the part and stand out from the crowd.
Here are some tips:
- The secret to getting hired is to be the very best.
- Accept nothing less than the best font choices and layout design that you can give.
- You have to be an original–you don’t want to look like everyone else.
- No matter how good your portfolio may be, its actual contents are only as effective as how it is presented.
How to decide if the agency is right for me
If you want to work with one of the leading advertising agencies in the country, it’s got to feel right. With so many options out there, how do you choose? What makes one agency different from the next?
Everything about them is different. Their clients, their business practices, and even their culture. The most successful agencies seem to be those that operate more like a family than a business, those that take care of one another and believe in a culture of total client support.
So how do I find out?
By taking that first step and contacting them directly. I know it’s scary, but you’ll never know if you like it unless you try—with a little confidence and some strategic moves.
It’s important to get your foot in the door—but it’s also even more important to find an agency that fits your personality.
No company in this business emerges from nowhere. Although they are all brilliant, the founders of these companies were not born geniuses. They were not lucky either. There was a method to their success and if often starts from what they believe in, what values they hold, and if they believe in supporting local talents as well as building their future. So find out their values and figure out if they align with yours. My advice is simple: don’t base your decision on whether the firm has a brand or not or how many important clients it has. The attributes of the specific offering are far more important and their culture paramount.