The places I sent my stuff
So far I have stuff sent to these agencies-
- Goodby Silverstein
- Venables Bell
- Grey
- Hal Riney
- DDB
- Y&R
- CP&B
- Wieden+Kennedy (though the conver letter for my resume and portfolio read “I want to be a ninja, but not as much as I’d like to work for you.” Thank goodness for autoresponse email)
- McCann Erikson
- AKQA
- agency.com
So far I’ve only heard back from a handful of people. Some of them just saying, “hey we got your stuff.” Some of them telling me that they don’t have anything right now, but just knowing what’s up at a particular agency does so much for my opinion of them. It doesn’t seem like much, but I’ve always thought it was nice to know a person a bit when it’s time to actually talk about a job.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Hey Jake,
I’m wondering, are you going to record more podcasts or did you end up getting a job? Your listeners need closer, you know how we all like a good story. 
I just listened to all of your podcasts and i think they’re great, very helpful! My journey is very similar to yours - got a bachelors, worked some, then figured out i wanted to go into advertising. I’m am in one advertising class and, money willing, hoping to go to more.
Good luck!
Stephanie
September 26th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
It’s good you sent your work out to those big shops but my advice is–shoot lower. You are bound to work on higher level work at a smaller, obscure shop. Good luck.
September 26th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
No job yet. I’m back to work on my book. Expect a new episode sometime in October. I will be talking about Ad Schools. Are they even necessary? or simply the best thing ever?
tu-
Good point. I agree that it might be easier to get in at a lesser known shop. It’s not my goal. The analogy I would draw is trying to make the NFL via the Arena Football League. It’s possible, but not the most effective route. I have no problem freelancing at these shops. I’ve been doing freelance graphic design for many years. I’ve freelanced for tel com and for power companies. I was even a part owner of a small IT services company for a while. I’m currently in the process of starting a small obscure creative boutique and business is pretty good. Not good enough to start hiring, but good.
All of this is good. I get to earn a living, work on my book, and develop skills. But, it isn’t the goal. The goal is to be at a top shop. Not necessarily a huge shop, just a top shop doing award earning work. I will say this. I like the idea of being in a smaller more obscure agency down the line. But my thinking says a recognizable name on the resume will open more doors. So this is how I’m doing it.
Besides, isn’t this an industry that says swing for the fences?
October 17th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Any updates or news yet? A friend of mine did something similar—he had a great book—and he had to hassle them repeatedly to get an interview with someone to go over the book.
But good luck!
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:37 pm
I am currently an employee at one of the shops you said you applied to. i will tell you right now - your book needs a lot more work. you need to display a much higher level of creaivity - the kind of ideas that will make a cd say “damn, that’s smart.” your stuff is not there yet. just being honest, because its the only way youll improve. go to ad school. i did and reaped the benefits.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Ouch and thank you. I’m actually in ad school right now. First year of an MFA program at Academy of Art University.
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:24 pm
sweet good luck. trust me, i ‘ve had my book ripped apart in the past, and though it sucked to hear, it helps. you were setting your sights very high - applying to so many to pagencies. it’s fine to keep that your goal, but give yourself time to be ready for them.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:43 am
Thanks. I think my sights are set right, but I totally agree about my book needing improvement. I honestly feel a little uncomfortable handing it out. Not sure how to describe it, but the book isn’t mine yet. Does that even make sense?
You are not the first person to point out that it is lacking or worse yet “too safe”. I’ve still got quite a bit of ground to cover. And I’m pretty danged impatient. Classic sophomoric sensation.
ugh.