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Do NOT get an MBA
But really though—a creative showing an interest in strategy would probably be welcomed with open arms by their strategy team.
Half the job is saying obvious shit in interesting ways, which, as a copywriter, you’re probably better at than most strategists.
Just start by raising your hand. And if that’s not enough, start bringing some notable strategic rigor to your ideas—the other half of a strategist’s job is writing set up slides for the creative team’s ideas. So if you can do that well, and can participate in strategic conversations, people will notice
You have to bank 10,000 hours of writing fake consumer personas (ie ‘This is Steph. She works hard, but also likes to have fun.’) before any strategy person will actually take you and your craft seriously.
Chief
Hey! I know Steph! Is she the one with 2.3 children?
You should join the strategy bowl. You can switch in from account. Miami Ad School is a decent option. It’s pretty hard to break into. Few agencies are willing to train junior strategists which is obviously very short sighted and not strategic. Or an even better option might be to volunteer to help with new business and volunteer to help with the competitive reviews.
Start/get ur feet wet internally. What they teach u at business school won’t directly translate to agency strategy skillsets.
This is how I did it. I was super lucky and had a talented/seasoned strategist show me the ropes internally before I got my first strategy gig. No pressure, just learned and was eager to keep learning
Pro
The most common path is a masters from Miami Ad School or VCU.
Back in the day, agencies hired planners on academics and character, before the job professionalized, or took people who were segueing from first jobs in account handling, consultancy or related roles. Many seasoned planners have liberal arts and science qualifications unrelated to the business.
1. Attempt being a copywriter.
2. skip the painstaking part where you have to learn how to edit for brevity, and instead cultivate the habit of saying everything at least twice in different ways.
3. You are a strategist!
I do need new strategists.
Get an NBA if you’ve got a smooth jumper
Don’t get into strategy….all yall do is repackage what someone internally has already done. Just massaged a bit better lol and will be blamed if it fails 👍
I think this could be true if you work in advertising but if you go to a branding / design firm then having a background as a copywriter could be super helpful in naming strategy or writing positioning concepts.
I’m surprised the comments are so civil tbh
SD1 is right, definitely get an MBA
Entry level jobs were close to impossible to find, I was able to move into the craft internally after building a ‘portfolio’ and networking
Get an MBA
I also recommend getting an MBA. SD1 is right
Find a strategy opening in your agency, ask to be a strategist on that account or shadow someone who is, then congrats you’re a strategist. If you’re asking for yourself, do not go to back to school you’re already established in this industry if you’re a senior. Maybe do a bootcamp or some sprint or adjacent strategy thing if you absolutely have to. But if you can learn almost everything else you need to on the job if you’re that serious about it.
Pro
I moved over from media to account management to strategy. Always wanted to work in strategy but entry level roles were rare. Had solid mentors and people rooting for me; knowing the ropes across the agency and how it all fit together only made me better. No MBA, didn’t need it then and don’t feel like I need it now.
MBA is great for networking though. I didn’t want the loan debt and I think MBA-think is rigid and clouds common sense. That’s just me though.
Find the strategists in your org or orbit and talk to them. Most would be happy to discuss how breaking in happens and what it looks like.