Been unemployed more than 6 months. Not enough experience to Freelance, too much experience for internships. Haven't been able to even get a job as a cashier. Went to interview at multiple agencies...

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I’m sorry to hear, OP.

I say this with empathy. Your book is probably not good enough. It doesn’t mean you’re not, it means you haven’t had the opportunities.

Create your opportunities. Find a friend who’s a designer and brainstorm on something you care about. Create wild postings / ads / an Instagram that conveys your message. You can even pitch it to reporters. Reporters are craving for stories that are smart, beautiful and gratuitous.

Or find an awesome but shitty-looking non-profit and redo their branding and tag line for free (with that designer friend). Get your work out there in the real world.

Go to events, network, do people favors.

Show you’re a hustler. That you’re generous. Resourceful. Interesting. That you care. That’s what people want to hire.

Good luck! 💪
We’ve all been there!

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You need to rebuild your portfolio. Make a lot of new spec work.

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If it's any consolation looking in the first 6 months of the year is normally better than last 6 months

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I’m right there with you OP. I’m having the exact same problem. I’ve had so many interviews and just can’t lock anything down

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Did all of this... Interned at top tier places. Went through ad program. Have had fulltime job already. Book has gotten great feedback. Don't know what's up.

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What CD 1 said. Or depending on your situation, consider ad school.

I'd majored in advertising in undergrad, only got internships at no-name places, applied for over 150 different jr. copywriter jobs with no luck, just googling places in random cities left and right.

Eventually, after I had been unemployed for months, I decided to go to Miami Ad School. It was definitely expensive (only do ad school if it's your only option, you definitely want a career in advertising, and you can afford it). But I really did learn a lot, created a decent jr. book, got a great network of teachers, and got my first job through one of the internships.

If you're not sure where your book measures up currently, check out the jr ones on Modern Copywriter or the graduate ones on Creative Circus's website and give yours an honest comparison.

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@OP I got laid off as a Jr and was unemployed for nearly a year due to lack of connections, shit market, etc. Just keep plugging away, work on some fun spec work to beef up the book, and something’ll happen and you’ll get right back on track. That’s what worked for me and I hope it’ll work for you, too.

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But I still can't seem to lock anything down. What do I do?

Work on your spec pieces in your book. If what you have ain’t working make stuff that does.
Ask for informational interviews to find out why people aren’t biting.
Reach out to connections at the internships you presumably already had and ask if they know of anything.

👆 this

Restaurant job? Bussing tables? Easy gig that will allow you to get some work done during the day

Have you looked in house too?

If you’re book has gotten great feedback and you’ve been looking/interviewing for a long time, you may need to rethink your interview approach. Maybe you’re not coming off the right way.

Lol at least people call you in for interviews and look at your book. A quarter of everyone I reach out to even look at my book. Even less get back to me

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