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What worked for me was talking about my relevant experience managing projects and freelancers. And my confidence in transitioning to that role.
If you weren’t already anACD don’t worry about trying to sell yourself as someone who knows how to manage people yet - because you haven’t. You can have ideas on how you’d like to but at its core The ACD role is a transitional role and you’ll gain that experience directly. Most of the time (depending on agency) you won’t have direct reports (so don’t directly manage people/review them), but you will be the first line of creative direction for more junior teams and will be expected to own and lead your own work without much if any oversight from the CD who manages you. So, I’d recommend selling yourself as the best creative you can be and showcase your judgement on what makes an idea good vs something to work on. Hope that helps!
I 99% agree with that. But I also think it’s beneficial to show a willingness to take ownership and drive when needed.
You aren’t expected to have a ton of managerial experience but the role is meant to be more independent. That’s the level when you start really being foundational to the account.
Can you handle meetings with clients- to some degree? Flag issues when the account team or client want something that doesn’t make sense? Can/will you own the deck? Set up a place for other teams to put their work before a creative presentation?
Anything you can do to demonstrate that you can take some lift off the CDs- all while showing that you’ll deliver work that will make the meeting.
But I’d also ask how they see the role during the interview. Some teams rely on ACDs to be mini CDs. Others simply want more seasoned creatives.
Id lean on any projects you led or sold through with little to no oversight. Also talk about any experience dealing directly with clients. If youve ever managed junior or midlevel teams thats a bonus but dont oversell it. If you have any examples of how you improved a process or helped make your CDs job easier, try to work that in without forcing it.
Show that you can take ownership of the creative. Everyone from top to bottom will be looking at your example.
Show that you can edit all work in order to show the best work to your boss. Make it easy for them to kill or keep. Help make junior creatives’ mediocre work better.
Show that you can mentor junior creatives. Always help creatives be the best version of themselves and help their work shine.
As an ACD you are expected to do the work as well. Do great senior level work. Add it to the pile of ideas. Be sure to have that as the focus.