Any advice on catching the attention of big agencies in applications? I’ve worked at two small firms, have great experience for my level (I manage 8 accounts alone and work on 14 accounts total right now), but every time I apply for anything at Edelman, Weber, Ketchum, etc. I feel like I’m shouting into the void.

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Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Because you are.

Change your approach and network. Figure out who the recruiters are in your specialty, and connect with them. Figure out who works ont he teams you’re interested in, and reach out. Dig to see if you have any alumni peers who can make intros for you. Etc.

Then network and schedule informational interviews to learn more about culture, work, teams, etc. The best agency positions at your level already have identified candidates by the time they post the job descriptions. Network to get yourself on their radar.

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Of course! And in looking at some of the responses below... let me clarify on what I mean in re: “informational interview.”

Any conversation you have with networking or companies you’re interested in is an informational interview; it’s not something that you say, “hey! I’d love an informational interview.” It’s the awareness that any time you’re speaking and networking with someone, you’re in a position to put your best foot forward and make a strong impression / learn about other roles and cultures and opportunities that maybe of interest to you, and they’re in a position to assess whether they think you’re a strong candidate or would be a cultural fit for their organization. Even peers or junior employees can be in a position to pass resumes along or make referrals to their managers and team leads, especially if they’re strong performers!

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I went from a tiny firm (10-12 people) to now working at Zeno Group. I would look for recruiters on LinkedIn that are specific to your area and reach out. Not sure I would go so far as scheduling informational interviews unless you know someone at the firm. Honestly, I did none of what the above poster said to do (though it is very good advice) and was able to land the job.

Feel free to ping me and I can look over your resume if you'd like.

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I work at a 5 person agency, so I’ve got you beat there. That’s reassuring to know it’s possible to make the jump, though! I am tweaking my resume this week, so I may shoot you a message once it’s done. Thank you so much!

Work at one of the agencies mentioned above, I’m happy to take a look at your resume and cover letter if you DM me - can give you some advice on how to better position yourself to get attention. That said, generally agree with D1 - networking is your friend. I respond to informal interview requests all of the time on LinkedIn, I respect anyone who takes the time to comb through their network and reach out.

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That would mean a lot, thank you so much! Shooting you a DM.

Similarly, I work within one of the big names and happy to review your resume in DM. Best of luck!

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What industry do you specialize in? (Ie health, tech, etc)

My clients are all in different industries. Restaurant, wellness, tech, pet, business services, and more. This is part of the reason I’m looking for a change, as I really would love to specialize in one area.

What industries do you have experience in? And what market are you in? My team is hiring and I’d be glad to review your resume.

Also, I have a similar background. Boutique agencies gave me lots of responsibility early on, but it was challenging to break through larger shops. I was fortunate to make a personal connection and that went a long way!

Hey, part of the challenge might be that you’re not living in the city you want to work in. I’ve known recruiters to be a bit more reticent about someone who would need to move... but that would prob be different in COVID times. Also, NYC is generally a pretty competitive market.

Some ideas...
- make sure your big clients are listed; those names can carry a lot of weight
- specify your expected move date in your resume/cover letter
- let your network in on your moving plans early

^ these last two will help signal a bit more serious intent — not that you’re just applying to see what’s out there

Lastly, it’s sometimes easier to switch geographies for a company you already work for. You could explore finding a job at an agency in Chi that also has a NY office

This was such a rant lol but I hope it’s helpful!

Reach out to senior people via LinkedIn. Most big agencies have referral fees for candidates so if they pass along your resume and you are hired, they get $. So many especially at the Supervisor and up level are motivated to pass people on to HR.

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