4 tips from an agency exec for landing an agency job

In this difficult job market, landing the elusive dream job at a creative services agency can pose an even greater challenge. The abundant talent and experience in the career pool can make for a competitive hiring process. Undergraduates often wind up competing with graduate-level candidates for the same position.

Here are some tips to get your foot in the agency’s door and kick it wide open.

1. Research contacts at preferred agencies

Pick the top five agencies where you’d like to work. Determine which person can hire you at each of those agencies. Use every contact possible to get in front of that person; informational interviews are great opportunities to build your network. If possible, talk to other people who have interviewed with that person. What was he or she like? What kind of work did he or she respond to?

2. Revisit your portfolio