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JPMorgan Chase recently introduced a policy change to increase the notice period to 60 days. I'm a 602 and resigned recently and yet my LWD is showing up as 30 days from now. Anyone recently resigned can confirm if they are facing the same or new policy is in effect. This is causing confusion with the next companies I'm interviewing with.
Any tips for BCG first round interview?
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Chief
Hey OP, thanks for sharing your portfolio. You would be a great asset to an agency. It’s just knowing how to position yourself to prove you could apply your extensive comedy writing experience and hit the ground running.
What city? And what sites are you looking at? Good creative jobs in agencies are almost never advertised on LinkedIn.
Have you spoken to any industry recruiters / headhunters? This will help if you want full time gigs. But avoid like the plague for freelance. Also, are you contacting internal agency recruiters and resource managers? They’re in charge of the hiring and are better suited to place you.
If you want freelance, consider joining Mt Freelance (https://www.mtfreelance.com/) for more help with your portfolio and ways to find gigs.
This is a very hasty assessment but there are definitely a lot of simple things you can do to make your folio work harder.
First, look at other Creatives portfolios and follow that format a bit more. They have WORK, ABOUT, CONTACT and another page, like SIDE PROJECTS (could be STAND UP) and maybe AWARDS (could be your PRESS page.)
So make your HOME page a WORK page.
Most have a headshot on the About page. I see you have videos of your standup but no pic that’s easy to see who you are without digging deeper.
For each video, choose a better thumbnail from the spot. All those logos look very dry. Make it like a candy store where I want to try one of everything. Even though you’re a writer, your audience is very visually inclined. And it’s a small thing, but clean up the video player settings so you don’t see the title and icons all over the thumbnail.
For your role, don’t say co-writer upfront. It’s normal to work with a partner. And for the descriptions, make them less matter-of-fact.
Don’t explain the whole concept , maybe set up the strategy and concept but leave a little puzzle piece out. Like, “We wanted to talk to real women, so we used a stone statue as our spokesperson”. Then leave out the ROI altogether. If you really want to list the stats. put the business at the end after the video.
Does this help? Do you need recruiter info? Or ways to find other example creative portfolios?
Wow. This is amazing and very helpful. Thank you. I will get to work on making the suggested changes to my portfolio.
I’ve talked to some headhunters, recruiters, and a few internal agency recruiters. My general assessment has been (1) I picked the wrong year to switch careers (2) there’s a disconnect happening and I can’t put my finger on it. I’m sure it’ll be obvious once I’m on the other side of things, but for now it’s “that thing you don’t know you don’t know.”
Again, thanks for taking the time to look at my book and give such detailed advice. I really appreciate it.
Why would you want to go into copywriting? I mean, most copywriters I know are trying to get out of advertising. You already have a strong credential in TV writing, and I love your work
Chief
It’s funny. Everyone in TV i know is always trying to get into advertising and vice verse (including me). The grass is always greener...
Stay in TV. But do freelancing in advertising.
Sell yourself as the ‘TV guy that occasionally does ads’ - that will be attractive for clients.
Do 6 months a year in TV, 6 months in ad land. If you can afford it.
Could she leverage that to get better briefs? I know freelancers aren't always crazy about the work they get.
Your work is excellent and you’d be an asset at the right agency. A great website is, oh, 90% of what gets your foot in the door. I speak from experience. I had a cargo site early in my career and wasn’t getting any call backs and recruiters weren’t able to “sell” me well. So I audited the best portfolio sites and made a new site. I wanted it to be as good at the best CDs site I found. And you know what? It totally worked. I got 3 competing offers after launching a new site. One with a company that wouldn’t give me the time of day before. Same work. Just a better presentation. It was such an eye opening experience, I actually make sites for people and small businesses as a side gig. Lots of people on here say the work speaks for itself and websites don’t matter and that’s simply not true. DM me if you need any pointers or have questions.
Thank you! I’m going to make a few changes and I will be in touch.
Some agencies would love to have a writer of your skillet... Goodby Silverstein (SF) in particular really valued being funny. Fresh takes.
The cast iron copywriting skillet: durable, seasoned, and unshowered.
Post your book
Chief
There’s a big difference between an ad agency and a marketing company. The place that interviewed you is no doubt a marketing agency looking for “marketing degrees” who think they can write ads. Those places are the twilight zone and have zero idea what they’re doing beyond a PowerPoint deck.
That girl wasn’t experienced herself. Lingo can be taught. Talent cannot. Your book is solid, you just need to be referred. So many jobs are won by knowing someone. In many cases it’s the only way. Start building your network. Get involved in Creative Mornings or AAF if there are nearby chapters. Reach out on LinkedIn and see if you can get connected to CDs that have been or are currently at places you want to work. Don’t straight up ask for jobs, just establish relationships. You need to be on peoples radar. Covid makes it hard but if you can score a lunch or coffee and get a chance to present yourself, and if that person likes you, they might be willing to intro you to contacts at agencies you want to be at.
Thank you! I will look into Creative Mornings and AFF.
we would hire you in a blink if you're willing to relocate to france
Wine, cheese, and free healthcare? I could easily be convinced. 😁