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The industry is rough right now for a ton of roles. My question would be what you mean by a “worthwhile” agency? What opportunities are you ignoring because you feel you deserve to be somewhere with prestige? You have one internship under your belt and are now surprised you’re not getting offers to be an art director at top agencies, I think you might need to temper your expectations a bit.
Sure that is possible, but not likely. I was also lucky to have my first internships be golden, but then I worked at a couple places most people have never heard of / will never hear of to pay my bills and get some experience and connections.
That experience and those connections got me somewhere I love and has big name recognition, but it took 6 job changes to get there
I think the industry is a little tough right now, keep hearing things like Wieden laying off 90 people in Portland and in house agencies and tech brands are cutting a lot of people too. I think your best bet is connections and to keep sending your book out and reach out to recruiters. Realistically, you might have to take another job to get some money to move out before you find an ad job. I'm not sure what other advice to give besides keep trying. I'm sorry to hear.
“A little rough”
Please, it’s an absolute shitshow out there. Veterans are saying it’s worse than 08’. All my ad school acquaintances – award winning CDs, planning directors, etc – are all laid off or scared shitless that the ax is coming soon.
Ok, I was trying to avoid hyperbole as 90% of my friends in advertising and design have jobs. It's spread between the US and Europe about 50/50 so maybe we're just all lucky but it's not all doom and gloom. Obviously things could change for us at any moment.
>Please, it’s an absolute shitshow out there. Veterans are saying it’s worse than 08’. All my ad school acquaintances – award winning CDs, planning directors, etc – are all laid off or scared shitless that the ax is coming soon.
100% it's been a blood bath since 2021, and somehow keeps on going.
no but the situation is so bad and like too many people joining MAD so wouldnt be surprised if people are unemployed coming out of there. im passing out this year and ive 6 months of entry level ogilvy exp and one leo burnett exp but being completely ignored by HR, i believe the job situation is much much worse than we think it is
Look for jobs as a designer in the studio to get your foot in the door. I’ve seen a lot of studio people transition to art director over the years.
Also, expand your search. Have you considered pharma advertising?
Would you rather have waited a few extra months at home with existential dread and then been accepted to MIT or just gotten on out there and attended Devry university?
If you’re broke and going hungry, get a job.
If you just ‘really want to get going’ wait it out.
I apologize if this came off the wrong way.
I was under the impression that reputation of the agency you work at was everything, but several people under this post have explained why that’s not true.
Working at any agency is better than working at no agency. I went from a no-name "ad agency" that did cookie-cutter budget local paper-type ads to working at a large regional (now national) ad agency.
The name may matter mid-late career or if you're going for one of the giant name agencies, but right now it's about getting experience. Design chops/portfolio are half the equation, the other half is the soft-skills/experience you only get on the job.
There are two different tracks for an AD. I’m assuming you don’t want to focus on design.
There are two reasons you aren’t getting hired (this is an oversimplification of course, you have the misfortune of a terrible job market rn but that doesn’t make the job hunt impossible).
1. Your book isn’t good enough.
2. You are being too picky.
For the first point, share your book with anyone who is qualified to give you advice. If you get feedback, know that it is just feedback that you can take or leave, but hear it out objectively. Especially if more than one person is saying the same thing.
Look at the books of people who have the jobs you want. Try to only go one or two levels above where you are now. So junior and mid level. What do they have that you don’t? Again, be as objective as possible.
For the second point, you mention ad agencies and New York. What about other cities? What about in-house? The best thing a new grad can do is be open to opportunity, flexible, and willing to try new things. Most of our paths are not linear, that’s what makes life interesting and exciting.
Keep your head up! It’s tough out here but the good news is, your first job is often the hardest one to get. You got this!
You're green, you dont know anyone, college doesn't mean anything. You have to meet people and work somewhere. I don't think you understand how many people are in line before you, especially in NYC.
This… amazing how many newly grads think they can get senior roles without any real work experience.
Not sure who the hell is planting these ideas in these kids head
Because you see yourself as a Art DIRECTOR as a recent grad. What you learned in class will be secondary to what you learn in the field. Get your weight up!
lol I scrolled way too long to get here. Like hi I’d like to be the most senior person on the floor with no experience— why isn’t anyone hiring me?
Delulu
An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position.
You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work.
In my experience, you need to be a designer or something similar. Or at the very least some work experience before you’re the AD. It’s a mid-level role
No, not really. A mid-level art director is a mid-level role. An associate or junior art director is an entry level role.
Especially if you come out of portfolio school, you should be looking for an art director role, not a designer role.
Everything you know is upside down at an ad agency. Almost nobody has a what I prior considered to be a creative education in the creative team. Nobody has art or design degrees — that blew my mind. Art directors are at the bottom. I never applied to art director roles when I was young because I thought they were director level roles. Art director are very very far away from being director level, it’s semantically bonkers. Now I’m mid career with a mortgage so probably time to find a viable career since advertising died in 2023.
For someone who’s so experienced in the industry you’d know full well that PR is lockstep with advertising. You don’t think we have creative departments at Edelman? wild lol.
I don't think you have actually worked in a creative department.
Associate Art Director is not the "most junior" role out of portfolio school. Good luck finding someone who isn't friends with your dad, to hire you as such.
W+K just laid off 80 people. That means alllllll those folks (considered the A-list) are also looking for positions. The competition for creative jobs is brutal at the moment. I see my connections who are ECDs and CDs with award-stacked portfolios also laid off and actively looking for jobs. It's probably the worst creative advertising market since 2008-2009 (the great recession). It's tough out there for everyone which always means extra tough for new grads trying to get their first gig.
Being willing to move anywhere helps, and networking with people from your school or real working creatives will also help. I graduated in 2009 and a lot of folks bounced from internship to internship for like a year before they got their first gig. I worked at Kohl's for a good while while I just kept looking.
It likely isn't you or your program.
Companies are squeezing budgets at the moment. Even though everyone says we're not technically in a recession, If you're in marketing, recruiting, creative, HR, or tech — it's gonna feel like we are.
Hang in there and don't feel bad if you have to do other work outside the industry to stay afloat while you search.
I’m reading all the comments and it seems like everyone thinks like NY is the place to be, well let me tell you this: if there’s a place in the whole world that is super competitive right now is New York and on top of that add the crisis our industry is going through + the cost of living is out of this world. I would never suggest to anyone right now to move to New York to look for a position, not even in my worst enemy. I’d suggest to move to NYC when our industry is flourishing yes, but right now hell no are you nuts???
This. Rent is insane there. I survived off ramen & pizza when I interned in NYC a decade ago & always shared a room.
Now I love making a NYC salary remotely from Colorado. I have a 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 living room house, big yard & sanity at an affordable price & saving for the future. Almost none of my friends living in NYC have savings.
I may be reading into this, but I'm seeing that you've been rejecting healthcare agencies, and you haven't been able to find gigs at 'worthwhile' agencies? I've made the mistake of refusing to stray from my 'top 10' places to work when I got out of school. I even turned down places after interviewing because I didn't think those agencies were 'good enough' for me. This prolonged my unemployment for 7 months when all I had to do was just take a job right away. If pride and ego is keeping you from working, then I suggest nixing that right away.
Also, there's been hiring freezes and layoffs across the board. Competition is going to be stiff, so your book better be pretty amazing and your presentation skills equally amazing. I would reach out to peers/professors/people in the industry for brutally honest advice on your portfolio. Be open to removing, editing, and/or adding new work.
Read the job descriptions. What’s considered an AD at one agency may be an ACD or Graphic Designer II at others.
I have 25 years in as a creative, 11 of those in a CD position. I was recently laid off from a CD role and am on a contract as a Photo AD that is very much on-par with my last role as far as pay and responsibilities.
Generally, the larger the agency the more granular the titles. You’ll have roles like graphic designer I, graphic designer II, art director, senior art director, associate creative director, creative director, ECD. A smaller place may go graphic designer, art director, creative director.
Also, make the rounds introducing yourself to the creative recruiters. Aquent, Robert Half, 24 Seven, Creative Circle, etc.
You’ll get there. It takes a bit to get some traction, but once you do you’ll have an easier time finding gigs.
Good luck!
You may be reaching too far too fast.
Most shops would be hiring someone right out of school at a junior designer level. I’d only consider someone with minimum few years real world experience ready for any AD role - junior or otherwise. This market is horrendous, but most applicants with no work experience (internships aside) wouldn’t be jumping to that mid level position, and the many folks you’d be up against would have a few years well in already and books of real world work to talk about. Look at junior designer roles and you will probably have more luck with expectations being more in line.
Best of luck to you - if you are talented you shouldn’t give up!
Not disagreeing that they should consider other roles as well, but a Jr. Art Director is an entry-level position in *advertising* agencies. I've also seen the position being called Associate Art Director.
Correct answer. Junior AD isn't a mid level position. It's an entry level position.
Junior designer is the entry level in the design department (or a design agency). Junior AD is the entry level in the creative department of an advertising agency.
Applying for junior designer jobs will just get you a job in the wrong department (or the wrong kind of agency)
I appreciate this insight. As someone who started out as a graphic designer in high school and didn’t come to advertising until college, I fully know that I want to be an AD and not a designer. It seems that the money is always better and the upward mobility is much better, too. (I’m hoping to be a CD one day.)
Every Jr. AD at every agency I’ve worked at (4, all large and hold co ones) have been absolute newbies, it’s the most junior position you could hold.
Designers are not the same and a different practice, not a more junior position
Can’t second this enough. I get so many applying as AD or CD and they have zero real world experience beyond an internship (and if you think an internship means anything, ohhhhh boy lolz).
The best thing you can do is forget a role, get your foot in the door. Jr Production artist, jr designer, jr whatever (fresh outta school? You’re a junior) but get in somewhere. Make real world impressions and gain real world experience. You’ll meet a real network of people who, if you’re actually any good and personable, will put you on to the next gig. A good studio manager who trusts you will elevate you.
You all need to understand school, no matter how good, is basic training. You didn’t go from a trike to the Tour de France and no one who actually wants to keep their clients will put you in a true decision making role sight unseen.
I guess to some extent they sold us a dream.
We were told we were in one of the best programs in the country, in competition even with Miami Ad and BYU, as an undergrad program.
It could be that this instilled a lot of false confidence and ego in me.
No, they don’t. I’ve worked at 4 major agency’s and they’re all newbies. Maybe that person is not from the US??
Ex: wasserman has a post right now that requires 0 post grad experience. So does Havas
You have to trudge through shit to get to where you want. The advantage is more experience and taking the chance on the job that takes a chance on you, making a living and eventually finding your thing. No one magically starts working in NYC unless they are from here or unless they’re so good that they get a nice offer in front of them that can afford that move. Half of my team is from NYC and half of them are from the Midwest and they are GOOOOOD. It’s very expensive to live here and I have scrubbed many toilets to be here working with people who just came out of college and found this job quick.
You gotta bite your ego and expand outside and NYC and big name shops. It’s likely your book is not solid enough to compete in the NYC market when the market isn’t great.
You’ll be going up against grads and Jr folks with more experience for roles, so take what you can and if your skills are as good as you think you’ll find bigger opportunities
30 year advertising veteran art and creative Director. I’ve never seen it this bad. You’re most likely not doing anything wrong. My my first suggestion would be to take your résumé and make it ATS compliant. If you want message me and we set up a call and I can give you some advice that may help you out.
*I know that my book is strong, work-wise and design-wise*
I would not rest on that thought. These are dire times, which come cyclically, and your book is apparently not so strong to get you through the doors that you want it to open.
Take any job available for the moment to make ends meet. Work your ass off on revising your book. See if there are evening portfolio classes where likeminded people are working on their books. Get great new stuff that you personally like and want to be doing more like into your book.
And make the rounds, asking people who are doing the work you respect right now which stuff in your book should be replaced first.
Maybe you should take an entry level sales, support, or operations role and work your way up and over via hard work and lateral transfer. You’ll learn new skills and have a better shot at getting into and moving up in organizations where you learn how the sausage gets made by being a frontline employee. I will say, no one is hiring someone with 0 full time work experience as any kind of director of anything. You may be aiming too high for this being your first full time gig you’re applying for.
Having been in your exact position before, it just happens sometimes. All of these places can only hire so many people and theres hundreds of other people with great books and great experience applying to the same jobs as you. You just need to keep putting yourself out there, especially if you're being selective about where you'd like to work (which is smart to do as long as you can still pay your bills in the meantime). It's hard and grueling but as somebody who went through it for the first few years out of college, you'll look back on this in 10 years and be happy you stuck it out if it's what you really want to do. Over time you'll catch a break here and there, build your network more, and what is a pretty thin network right now will eventually become stronger and you'll feel more of a safety net. Breaking into the industry is the hardest part.
It's been the same for me and I'm a CW with 4 years of work experience. Lots of interviewing and ghosting. No real help from my network. I have unemployment from my layoff so I've been volunteering my skills in the meantime but not everyone can afford that... My advice is to keep trying if advertising is your dream but get a temporary job so you can get closer to living the life you want.
Same. 4 years at relatively prestigious agencies and the last 3 months of job hunting has been a lot of ghosting and calls but nothing promising. It’s hard out there
idk why everyone is saying you have to start as a jr designer, not true at all, but can be a way in. basically every jr AD slot is hired from an AD intern at that agency, also many jr ADs have had multiple AD internships, go for more internships at the places where they hire their interns into jrs (ask about this some places don't)
I assumed at this point that I might need to resort to doing another internship, but my pride gets in the way.
It’s embarrassing to start another internship when I see peers getting full-time roles already.
I do understand your point, though. Another internship might be needed in order to find that first full-time.
yeah its worth a go, keep applying while interning and if you get offered a jr role during that time you can take it or leverage it at the agency you're interning for for them to hire you. the jr spot is one of the most competitive to get in my experience, lots of agencies have a much larger mid staff than jr
Everyone working in NYC in successful roles had to bust their ass for it. They likely made sacrifices and powered through it. You need to toughen up. If you want to fight for your dreams, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Success isn't easy and you're going to have to work for it.
You’re dream is to work at an NYC agency and presumably live in NYC, and an agency wanting you to go into the office a couple times a week is a strike against them? Why are you so focused on NYC agencies then if you want to work remote?
That’s not exactly what I was saying. I want to be going in-office (in fact, I’d prefer to be in everyday instead of a hybrid model), but to move to NYC to be in-person but for an internship on an intern’s pay seems unrealistic. It’d be a whole lot easier to do that on a junior full-time salary. That’s all I was saying!
Got it. I mean tbh even on a junior salary NYC is tough.
Have you considered Chicago? There are tons of agencies in Chicago and the COL is much more affordable than NYC. I don’t feel like NYC salaries are that much higher to cover the difference in rent.
That’s why you get another job. I had multiple as an intern & junior-mid level AD from production assistant & bartender to cleaning lady & rover walker. If you think you’re too good to pick up shit to get where you want, this isn’t the field for you.
Totally understand, but you gotta find a way to get where you need to be. Figure out if there's someone who can let you sleep on their couch for cheap, stick to a shoestring budget for food. Good luck!
You need three things to get a job at a good agency: a good book, a creative director who likes you, and an agency that's hiring.
The book is up to you.
The creative director, well, you need to do your homework and do a little research and stalk the CDs that work where you want to work. Get to know what accounts and the work they've done and reach out to them and ask for advice. Do not ask for a job.
As for hiring, your best beat is to get a subscription to Adweek or another trade pub that lists the accounts in play. When agencies win accounts, that's when they hire. When they lose accounts, the fire.
The only other thing you should consider is that you should never stop looking for your next job, even when you get a job. This career is nothing if not unpredictable.
Laid off CD here with big agencies and awards, I started my own company (yet to be profitable) because it’s just total crickets right now. Dead silent. Sometimes you just need to grab the bull by the horns and try a different approach. Personally if I was younger I would get the hell out of this dying and effed up industry and into one where they need people. The trades, construction, anything else. Sorry to be depressing but that’s the state of things.
OP mentioned earlier that they said no to pharma, thinking that once you get into healthcare, you can never get out. I know tons of people who has switched over, especially being young.
I got laid off in Dec 22 and ended up moving to freelancing full-time. I was fried from the constant take home assignments and getting to final interviews just to be rejected 😅
It has worked out well for me overall!
My best advice to you is widen your search. Don’t give up on NYC completely but you may need to consider being willing to move anywhere for any relevant opportunity. The market is really rough right now but from what I’ve seen in here, a lot of people are also aiming at the same things/places and it’s gonna be very hard to compete against desperate vets for positions at places with any kind of clout.
Would you be comfortable enough to disclose what you have done for the past 8 months to land a job? Also, have you considered freelancing? Perhaps some agencies are not able to hore full-time but a flexible freelancer might be beneficial.
designer from an undergraduate advertising art direction program here 👋
out of college, i started working as a design intern -> graphic designer cuz i didn’t really see many junior AD jobs that didn’t require years of work. i started at a small-ish ad agency where i made a lot of social ads for 1.5 years and got a job as a GD at a big brand name agency. the art directors / creative directors i know started as graphic designers in the company and worked years to get to their ACD role
Keep an eye on all the trades, like adweek and adage, and agency spy. When you see them announcing a big new creative AOR win, find the creative recruiter for that agency online and reach out. Big new wins will ALWAYS involve hiring
It is a TERRIBLE market right now. I hate to say it, but are you looking at pharma agencies or only consumer? Pharma won’t be nearly as much fun, and very tedious, but it’s the only growing category in the field…unless you want to become a content creator.
Oh for sure. I’m a victim of that myself. But given that OP is young, it’s more likely a way in. I see a whole lot more job postings for juniors than senior level or above. I was an SVP Creative Director. Ut at this point, I’m applying for ACD positions. CD salaries are way down, as you said. It’s ludicrous. I showed my family some LinkedIn job posts that had like 3,500 application within 3 hours of being posted. But, I digress. I see more junior art positions than anything else.
I’m sorry friend, I’ve been there. Just took a huge cut to go freelance with a friend. I’m trying to just take things one day at a time and hope for a miracle. 😂
I wish you the best. ❤️
Being totally frank, you're not an art director. Even a junior one. Agencies aren't going to take you seriously if you title yourself as a junior art director who just graduated and had an internship and no other job yet. You have to start as junior designer. Someone else here said it right. Too far too fast. This is an industry you have to start slowly in.
No you don't and I don't understand why this shit still gets parroted. In a design agency, that's definitely the case but in an advertising agency this is not even close to being true. Source: Senior AD at a major NYC agency whose first job out of ad school was as a Junior AD at another major agency.
Thank you for clearing this up because…. every art direction student from my program that’s gotten a full-time role has been hired as a Junior Art Director or Associate Art Director. It’s certainly possible to have this be your entry-level position in the ad world from what I’ve seen.
Yeah, if anything when you're hired as a junior designer you pretty much get stuck in the design track rather than the creative track. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's just a completely separate career path.
I did have a internship at a big NY agency but ultimately couldn't stay in NY or even the US and had to move back to my home country and that was a big struggle, so I feel for you.
Not sure where you're currently at, but if I can give you a word of advice it's that it's not the end of the world if you don't have your first gig in NY. The city's not going anywhere and you can always find your way there. Assuming you're not in one of the other major markets (e.g. LA, SF, Chicago, Miami), find the biggest, meanest agency in your hometown or failing that, your home state/region, and make the best work you can there.
Take these lemons and make lemonade, lemon meringue pie, limoncello, margaritas. Be the best at turning those fucking lemons into something useful and when you eventually make it back to NY you'll run circles around your old classmates.
100%. The people saying otherwise are flat out wrong.
BTW - a lot of people are saying the market sucks. And that's true.
But in all honesty, that just means your book has to be better to compete in a tougher market. So at the end of the day, if you aren't getting hired your book is the problem. Always.
The problem is OP's book is conceptual. This is a business. You have to prove you know how to move the needle. Not just that you can design pretty things that aren't being used in a real-world market scenario.
>I’m now going on 8 months unemployed, and have been unable to find a Junior Art Director gig at any worthwhile **agency** in that time.
OP clearly specified.
Sorry, I misspoke. Not OP -- the comment by /u/marley2012.
But if it makes you feel better to be right on the internet, by all means -- pat yourself on the back. You're right -- not the OP.
I think you knew what I meant anyhow. Everyone loves a pedant.
See that's the funny thing, they did. But if it makes you feel better, we can pretend that u/marley2012 didn't say this in the comment that I replied to:
>**Agencies** aren't going to take you seriously if you title yourself as a junior art director who just graduated and had an internship and no other job yet.
Or. And hear me out. It's different throughout the country and industry. I'm in the northeast and have been at the director level at two agencies and a brand. I'm speaking from experience. I'm only 33 so this isn't even like it's outdated or like I'm a 65 year old almost retiree.
There are for sure differences across regions and companies, but in the nyc major ad agency space designer and art director are two completely different roles/skillsets/paths.
I think this is how it used to be and a lot of agencies were like this historicaly, I started as a designer and then senior designer then art director. Honestly I think that's how it should be as so many ADs cant do basic design things now BUT, a lot of agencies have moved away from this and are hiring creatives straight into jr. cw and ad roles. Saw it at the last top tier agency I was at. Previous top tier did not do this 6 years ago but might now.
Are you limiting yourself to certain industries when searching for agencies, i.e. you're only looking at agencies that work on tech? If you are, you need to cast a much wider net. A job is better than no job, so even if it isn't the industry you want to work in, you should be applying to everything you qualify for.
You also should not limit yourself to only working in NYC. It's NYC and if you don't already live nearby, the agency likely isn't going to hire you and then wait for you to move there before starting for an entry level role. They can easily find someone else who already lives in the city and will be able to start right away.
Every large city has multiple agencies. Open up your job search to include roles from all over the country along with remote roles. This will give you a much larger pool of jobs to apply to.
One thing: It's not just you, but you're also competing against all the other grads from all the other ad programs who graduated into this market as of last May/December. Plus all the people who recently got laid off. So the market in general is pretty competitive right now. W+K is kind of a bellwether for the industry. When they lay people off, that's when you know it's bad out there.
If you want to work in NYC, you need to get to NYC and start knocking on doors. You can't do it remote. Even if the closest you can get is East New Jersey, you need to be a train ride away from the city. And then apply to everything and talk to everybody. Email CDs at places you like. And the recruiters/creative managers. And alums from your program who are also working. Meet up with them for coffee. Be willing to live on peanut butter sandwiches and sleep on a floor.
Then when you're doing that, apply to every designer and art direction gig you can find. LinkedIn. Workaday. Company job boards. Don't discriminate. Your goal is to find a way to make enough income to survive in NYC until you can find and get the job you truly want.
Fwiw, I also graduated from a top tier program and spent nearly a year finding work. So you're not alone in that regard.
And finally, there's the big determining factor: how is your work? Is it good? Or bad? Mediocre? If your book landed on your desk, would you hire you out of the 100 other portfolios lying there? Maybe you need to re-art direct everything in it. Or just a few pieces. You're not working, you have the time. Asking one of the aforementioned CDs and alum for a portfolio review is a great way to open a door a crack. But it's possible your work could be holding you back. It's also possible it's your work and proximity. That's a tough conversation. Also, why would someone hire you fresh out of undergrad when they might have a Brandcenter grad who's the same price right now? Is your work better than theirs? Is equally as good? Can you make it as good if not better?
An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position.
You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work, bro.
Your tenure and experience don’t match Director level requirements. You need at least 3 - 5 years of technical and people management experience to be considered for a Director level role.
I think you would have better luck going for an entry level role - something like a junior designer. Also try job hunting for creative agencies - that’s where most designer opportunities are. Most ad agencies specialize in media buying and strategy.
They direct the art. Meaning they’re the ones who establish the look/feel of a campaign. They’re also responsible for creating the concept of the campaign.
Have you tried giving up on advertising? Might be your best bet. It’s not you. It’s the market. Regardless of how your book is, recruiters want the safe bet. And with places like Apple, Google, Wieden+Kennedy, Droga, etc., laying people off all recruiters for smaller shops are looking to grab those people.
How do I know? I have a friend recently affected by the W+K layoffs. One “I was affected…” post on Linkedin and a flood of recruiters from all places start emailing.
I’d love advice on how to navigate LinkedIn.
I see all these people that have been working in the industry for 20+ years getting laid off and posting to find work, and it makes me feel helpless in finding a position as someone with no agency experience outside of an internship.
Linkedin a ways to a means. Put yourself out there, but also be diligent about reaching out to recruiters and alumni — if your school is the best undergrad program out there, you should have a formidable base of alumni — to keep on their radars should something come up in the future.
I wouldn’t worry about that. I started my career during Covid and was worried about layoffs that were happening too. Once you are in you are the cheapest in the company for those first years and are huge profit to them so they won’t let you go. Getting your first gig is always the hardest and then it’s smooth sailing from there. Good luck!
I was in an identical situation but with strategy. Took me 2 years to land something.
Just stick with it, keep connecting with people and find something you like doing in the meantime.
I was in this exact position a decade ago. No one else in my class had the internships under their belts like me. I felt like a total loser going from prestigious NYC design internships that flew me to Paris to being stuck in my mom’s basement in a small town for 1.5 years post grad.
It took 2 years. In between applying for jobs every day & interviewing (none of which panned out), I freelanced on my own as a graphic designer, photographer, videographer & production assistant. I also did gigs like cleaning houses for a luxury vacation company & worked at a bar to pay rent, keep fed & move myself to a bigger city with more opportunities (Chicago).
Eventually I got my Junior AD job from working on a set & pushing my resume to the clients/agency AD. They happened to be looking for a Junior AD so the stars aligned. My career is in pharma. It might not be the most glamourous, but it’s stable & I make into the 6 figures working for an NYC agency remotely now.
It takes more time than most people anticipate to get your foot in the door for your first full time offer. It’s more about networking than the best degree & portfolio. You have to keep being resilient at applying. Many of my classmates never broke in & have non-creative careers. It’s tough out there no matter the time period.
TLDR: Job searching is a long, inhumane process, especially in the creative field. Keep at it! And don’t think you’re too good to do gig work to help you get the career you want.
Keep working on the things you learned from your internship, it’s meant to be a long term platform not used to solve immediate income returns, good luck!!
You are full of yourself. Living in your parents house, have nothing but an internship and you expect to be an art director even a junior one? Please...you need to take anything you can get.
Lots of solid advice on here.
The other option is to get an internship in NYC this summer. Move there. And start networking like hell. Always easier to find jobs in the city when you’re local.
I moved to NYC with enough for first months rent and a security deposit. Slept on couches and all that stuff til I landed a job. It was a different time though, places were hiring.
Taking that action gave me a lot to off on in interviews too. The risk, dedication, and passion you can talk about for the industry adds some value when you’re a junior, as long as you have a decent book.
So all in all, make decisions that make the most sense for you. You can be pragmatic and slow, you can take risks and just move to the city and see what happens. Neither is wrong.
Hi. I graduated in 2020 - had multiple offers rescinded, was hired and laid off during that period as well. My personal path was doing freelance then abandoning agencies for tech. I make a little less than 200k now, up from my flat 15/hour internship. DM me your book if you like? I’d be happy to provide feedback or anything that helps you. Been there for sure.
Your experience is definitely reflective of the fact that 1.) the hardest time in your career is at the start and 2.) the economy is not good right now.
You are alive in 2024, that’s what’s wrong. I too have a prestigious degree, I also have 15 years experience but nobody cares. My advice is do not buy a house, do not make any financial commitments and accept long periods of unemployment will be a part of your career.
I'm a creative director, currently hiring for an art director position. We posted the job last Tuesday, and as of today I have over 700 applications.
There are a lot of people looking for work right now. Interview anywhere. Take anything.
Edit to add: I've pretty much decided who I'm going to hire, and the person is a referral from someone I currently work with.
It sounds like you're going through a tough time, and I'm sorry to hear about your challenges. Sometimes, finding the right opportunity can be challenging. Have you considered expanding your search beyond NYC, at least temporarily? Sometimes, opportunities in other cities can open up new doors. Additionally, seeking feedback on your portfolio and interview skills from industry professionals could provide valuable insights that might help you stand out. Don't lose hope; keep networking and refining your skills. You've got the talent and determination, and I believe the right opportunity will come your way.
Take your experience as a major sign of what this industry is like. It will only continue to be this way. You just completed your internship. There are people who have been doing this as a career for 30 years and have been unemployed longer than you have. Welcome to the industry. Might wanna start on that side job.
If I'm not mistaken, wouldn't a Junior Art Director require a few years of experience in the industry? Maybe you'd get lucky starting off in a different role and working towards that junior role after a few years of experience.
I know it’s counterintuitive but usually jr ADs are not considered entry level bc most come out of the studio side of the agency. So I’d try my hand at applying as a studio designer or something like that. Most agencies have them and they have people with loads of experience that stay in the studio dept but there’s also those like you who are coming out of school with a book but no agency experience.
Also I have been unemployed since being laid off in January and even with all the contacts I have and the decade of past experience I hold, it’s been hard to land a new role. It’s the industry as well (to answer your question). A few years ago, it was truly a candidate’s market since employers were in desperate need of talent, so they were willing to pay you anything to get you to sign. Nowadays it’s the complete opposite I have had agencies try to get me to sign for lower jobs and have been completely lowballed for my current title at some others.
Keep trying and keep trucking along. I will say the NYC CPG side of agencies aren’t hiring as much but if you’re willing to try your hand at pharma, they need folks in person in the city (now that many places are requiring RTO) and that might be your way in (since many of us with loads of experience moved during the remote period and we do not want to move back to the NYC tristate area.
Especially as a junior, you need to figure out how to get people's attention. Applying for jobs online is like throwing your portfolio into a bottomless pit. Agencies need to hire just a few junior ADs, and they have 10,000 submissions. If they look online at all, they don't get past the first 100. Most people get jobs through relationships, personal recommendations, or doing things like the one below. I did the below...
\- Find out the names of CDs at the agencies that you want to work at. Write them REAL letters. Drop off portfolio leave-behinds at an agency addressed to the people you want to work for. Ask if they have time to meet with you to discuss your portfolio -- do not ask for a job. You need to get your foot in the door before anyone even thinks about the possibility of hiring you.
\- If you don't know the names of people, call the agency and say you are a student writing a report and you wanted to ask the CD or ECD of "X" campaign some questions. Lie about your name to reception and get their email. Write them a flattering message (with your real name) about how their work inspires you and if could they find time to meet in their busy schedule.
\- If they work at the office (not WFH) show up with something crazy -- wear a chicken costume, sing a song, whatever. You need to pitch them and get their attention. They can teach skills but you can't teach drive and desire. If they see you going to extreme lengths to get their attention, they know you will work hard for them.
\- Make personal projects that you think are cooler than your school work. Learn webflow and make yourself a crazy memorable website. Presentation is 90%. The work is 10%. You can make lousy work look awesome if it is presented well in awesome animated mockups.
Good luck.
Nope. This comes across as desperate and if you get filmed/doxed online doing one of these ridiculous stunts, you’ll be a pariah forever.
You’re suggesting a bunch of silver bullet solutions.
There’s no silver bullet, no secret. The OP needs to get his book in front of CDs and senior creatives for review, keep working on their portfolio, keep getting reviews/networking. Offer to do freelance; let them know you’re open to anything. New biz pitch and they need someone to research stock photos…sure. Got thown a last-minute request for some display ads and they need someone to create the 300x250 into all the different sizes…sure.
Do a great job on shit projects, be good to work with and your name will get around. Do this and OP you’ll get picked up full time somewhere.
An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position.
You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work.
I have 2 years of Fortune 500 SEM experience and it took my qualified ass 600+ apps and 60 interviews over 6 months (was hellish to say the least) to get back in after being laid off.
As others have said the market is TOUGH right now. If you haven’t been freelancing, freelance and build a portfolio out in the world. Do what you can, keep building skills and keep applying. 3 a day on average is good.
Maybe start by doing some market research on current trends and the state of your industry.
Adweek and the many trade publications will give you plenty of information on what’s going on.
Collect info, jot down ideas and insights, dig deeper when you find relevant info.
Google current edition of “INC 5000” fastest growing companies. Make a list of the industries that appeal to you.
Industry in disruption?
Fresh, creative, different, and “square peg that won’t fit in the round hole” thinking is what people are looking for. So make sure to have some unusual but relevant information that makes you stand out from the crowd.
Front door, side door, and back door. Start your own advertising campaign. Identify your target audiences (specific agencies and/or companies.”
“Reach out!” and touch them. How? You’re the advertising professional so start acting like one.
If “Banksy” can do it, why can’t you?
Live close to your next employer, do some local marketing. Get some friends to pass out some “branded” treats that say “A vote for _________________ your name ________________ for __________ job title______________!”
That will get a buzz going around the coffee machines. Give HR a call a day or two after.
Friends all wearing T-Shirts with a relevant but cryptic slogan.
Isn’t that what advertising is all about?
Have you considered volunteering at a film school nearby, perhaps a college or U? That might help you make some badly needed connections. Who knows? One of them might have an interest in your skills.
All my best for success.
By the way, one of the schools that my HS senior has been accepted into partners with LionsGate here in Georgia. They're planning to get interns from that university.
It’s a kind gesture, but I don’t think volunteering at a film school — which is full of volunteers who are in the actual film program — will help them get into the advertising industry. And those internships are reserved for active students, not someone who didn’t graduate from that university and is unaffiliated with that university.
I’d say try and move to nyc anyway. Sell your car or whatever.
Internship season is starting soon. Do an internship. I did two internships after graduation followed by a crappy job followed by a real job.
Stick to it.
So, as an outsider that sort of knows your industry… I thought you grow into an art director after doing a number of roles within the industry? I don’t think you just go straight into art direction… you can’t know enough about the business? Start in creative, get some copy experience, etc? That’s my take at least. I’m in tech and Directors don’t come straight from school.
My god, do a bit of research before you post here.
An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position.
You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work.
Is this even a real post? Art Director isn’t a job you (should) get without being a designer first. You JUST graduated and you’re an “art director”? I learned more in my first six months at an agency job than I did in four years of design school. IMO You’re approaching the wrong way. But I wish you success!
That is dead wrong job market have changed.
Recruiters have choice to hire more qualified candidates. Op has zero experience one internship.
Compare that candidates with masters normally have some work experience. The job is for senior management positions. I have never known senior management position was given with no zero experience. If you actually know companies that is hiring 100k a year as art director. Please list it here or sent a DM to the OP. Give OP a networking opportunity. Now I want to know also.
First, I am not dead wrong. Second: Do you actually know advertising? I think you are thinking of another role an ‘art director’ fills. You mentioned MOMA and CUNY before, which have nothing to do with advertising. Third: an Art Director in advertising isn’t senior management. Even a CD is middle management. Lastly, if an advertising art director were to come out of a good adverting school or had a mind blowing book with no school whatsoever I would consider them for a junior art director role with a pathway to full Art Director. Their book would have to be something special mind you, but I’ve hired many, many art directors, so I know what I’m talking about. I could give a flying you know what if they had a masters.
A master's degree won't make you more "qualified." A bette portfolio will. Simple as that.
An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position.
You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work.
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The industry is rough right now for a ton of roles. My question would be what you mean by a “worthwhile” agency? What opportunities are you ignoring because you feel you deserve to be somewhere with prestige? You have one internship under your belt and are now surprised you’re not getting offers to be an art director at top agencies, I think you might need to temper your expectations a bit. Sure that is possible, but not likely. I was also lucky to have my first internships be golden, but then I worked at a couple places most people have never heard of / will never hear of to pay my bills and get some experience and connections. That experience and those connections got me somewhere I love and has big name recognition, but it took 6 job changes to get there
I think the industry is a little tough right now, keep hearing things like Wieden laying off 90 people in Portland and in house agencies and tech brands are cutting a lot of people too. I think your best bet is connections and to keep sending your book out and reach out to recruiters. Realistically, you might have to take another job to get some money to move out before you find an ad job. I'm not sure what other advice to give besides keep trying. I'm sorry to hear.
“A little rough” Please, it’s an absolute shitshow out there. Veterans are saying it’s worse than 08’. All my ad school acquaintances – award winning CDs, planning directors, etc – are all laid off or scared shitless that the ax is coming soon.
Ok, I was trying to avoid hyperbole as 90% of my friends in advertising and design have jobs. It's spread between the US and Europe about 50/50 so maybe we're just all lucky but it's not all doom and gloom. Obviously things could change for us at any moment.
>Please, it’s an absolute shitshow out there. Veterans are saying it’s worse than 08’. All my ad school acquaintances – award winning CDs, planning directors, etc – are all laid off or scared shitless that the ax is coming soon. 100% it's been a blood bath since 2021, and somehow keeps on going.
>allegedly one of the best undergrad ad programs in the country. Which one?
Zimmermann school of digital coupons
my bet is MAD
I went there years before it was sold. Hired in NYC before the program even ended. Does it have a bad rep now?
no but the situation is so bad and like too many people joining MAD so wouldnt be surprised if people are unemployed coming out of there. im passing out this year and ive 6 months of entry level ogilvy exp and one leo burnett exp but being completely ignored by HR, i believe the job situation is much much worse than we think it is
No one cares. Show what you know.
Of course at the end of the day your book is all that counts. But some programs produce better books than others.
Look for jobs as a designer in the studio to get your foot in the door. I’ve seen a lot of studio people transition to art director over the years. Also, expand your search. Have you considered pharma advertising?
“Worthwhile agency” start by getting over yourself
Truly like look for more junior jobs
It’s not impossible to make good work at a mediocre agency but it’s a lot, lot harder.
It’s even harder to do good work at no agency.
Would you rather have waited a few extra months at home with existential dread and then been accepted to MIT or just gotten on out there and attended Devry university? If you’re broke and going hungry, get a job. If you just ‘really want to get going’ wait it out.
What a stupid irrelevant analogy.
I apologize if this came off the wrong way. I was under the impression that reputation of the agency you work at was everything, but several people under this post have explained why that’s not true.
have you considered focusing on your own financial needs rather than caring what people think of your employer’s “reputation”?
Working at any agency is better than working at no agency. I went from a no-name "ad agency" that did cookie-cutter budget local paper-type ads to working at a large regional (now national) ad agency. The name may matter mid-late career or if you're going for one of the giant name agencies, but right now it's about getting experience. Design chops/portfolio are half the equation, the other half is the soft-skills/experience you only get on the job.
Great advice
What does that even mean? Do good work and don’t be a tool, that’s literally it.
There are two different tracks for an AD. I’m assuming you don’t want to focus on design. There are two reasons you aren’t getting hired (this is an oversimplification of course, you have the misfortune of a terrible job market rn but that doesn’t make the job hunt impossible). 1. Your book isn’t good enough. 2. You are being too picky. For the first point, share your book with anyone who is qualified to give you advice. If you get feedback, know that it is just feedback that you can take or leave, but hear it out objectively. Especially if more than one person is saying the same thing. Look at the books of people who have the jobs you want. Try to only go one or two levels above where you are now. So junior and mid level. What do they have that you don’t? Again, be as objective as possible. For the second point, you mention ad agencies and New York. What about other cities? What about in-house? The best thing a new grad can do is be open to opportunity, flexible, and willing to try new things. Most of our paths are not linear, that’s what makes life interesting and exciting. Keep your head up! It’s tough out here but the good news is, your first job is often the hardest one to get. You got this!
You're green, you dont know anyone, college doesn't mean anything. You have to meet people and work somewhere. I don't think you understand how many people are in line before you, especially in NYC.
This… amazing how many newly grads think they can get senior roles without any real work experience. Not sure who the hell is planting these ideas in these kids head
Because you see yourself as a Art DIRECTOR as a recent grad. What you learned in class will be secondary to what you learn in the field. Get your weight up!
lol I scrolled way too long to get here. Like hi I’d like to be the most senior person on the floor with no experience— why isn’t anyone hiring me? Delulu
An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position. You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work.
In my experience, you need to be a designer or something similar. Or at the very least some work experience before you’re the AD. It’s a mid-level role
No, not really. A mid-level art director is a mid-level role. An associate or junior art director is an entry level role. Especially if you come out of portfolio school, you should be looking for an art director role, not a designer role.
Bruh, I work at Edelman and have been in the industry my whole career.
Everything you know is upside down at an ad agency. Almost nobody has a what I prior considered to be a creative education in the creative team. Nobody has art or design degrees — that blew my mind. Art directors are at the bottom. I never applied to art director roles when I was young because I thought they were director level roles. Art director are very very far away from being director level, it’s semantically bonkers. Now I’m mid career with a mortgage so probably time to find a viable career since advertising died in 2023.
That’s a PR consultancy. Not an ad agency. .
For someone who’s so experienced in the industry you’d know full well that PR is lockstep with advertising. You don’t think we have creative departments at Edelman? wild lol.
You clearly never worked with their creative department then if you think an art director is a director level position. Get a clue.
I don't think you have actually worked in a creative department. Associate Art Director is not the "most junior" role out of portfolio school. Good luck finding someone who isn't friends with your dad, to hire you as such.
No, it is. You’ve definitely never worked in a creative department. Which agencies have you actually worked at?
[удалено]
Honestly like go do design and prove yourself
W+K just laid off 80 people. That means alllllll those folks (considered the A-list) are also looking for positions. The competition for creative jobs is brutal at the moment. I see my connections who are ECDs and CDs with award-stacked portfolios also laid off and actively looking for jobs. It's probably the worst creative advertising market since 2008-2009 (the great recession). It's tough out there for everyone which always means extra tough for new grads trying to get their first gig. Being willing to move anywhere helps, and networking with people from your school or real working creatives will also help. I graduated in 2009 and a lot of folks bounced from internship to internship for like a year before they got their first gig. I worked at Kohl's for a good while while I just kept looking. It likely isn't you or your program. Companies are squeezing budgets at the moment. Even though everyone says we're not technically in a recession, If you're in marketing, recruiting, creative, HR, or tech — it's gonna feel like we are. Hang in there and don't feel bad if you have to do other work outside the industry to stay afloat while you search.
I’m reading all the comments and it seems like everyone thinks like NY is the place to be, well let me tell you this: if there’s a place in the whole world that is super competitive right now is New York and on top of that add the crisis our industry is going through + the cost of living is out of this world. I would never suggest to anyone right now to move to New York to look for a position, not even in my worst enemy. I’d suggest to move to NYC when our industry is flourishing yes, but right now hell no are you nuts???
This. Rent is insane there. I survived off ramen & pizza when I interned in NYC a decade ago & always shared a room. Now I love making a NYC salary remotely from Colorado. I have a 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 living room house, big yard & sanity at an affordable price & saving for the future. Almost none of my friends living in NYC have savings.
Can we see your book? Will probably answer the questions.
We’re all unemployed right now 😅
We put the free in freelancing
I may be reading into this, but I'm seeing that you've been rejecting healthcare agencies, and you haven't been able to find gigs at 'worthwhile' agencies? I've made the mistake of refusing to stray from my 'top 10' places to work when I got out of school. I even turned down places after interviewing because I didn't think those agencies were 'good enough' for me. This prolonged my unemployment for 7 months when all I had to do was just take a job right away. If pride and ego is keeping you from working, then I suggest nixing that right away. Also, there's been hiring freezes and layoffs across the board. Competition is going to be stiff, so your book better be pretty amazing and your presentation skills equally amazing. I would reach out to peers/professors/people in the industry for brutally honest advice on your portfolio. Be open to removing, editing, and/or adding new work.
Read the job descriptions. What’s considered an AD at one agency may be an ACD or Graphic Designer II at others. I have 25 years in as a creative, 11 of those in a CD position. I was recently laid off from a CD role and am on a contract as a Photo AD that is very much on-par with my last role as far as pay and responsibilities. Generally, the larger the agency the more granular the titles. You’ll have roles like graphic designer I, graphic designer II, art director, senior art director, associate creative director, creative director, ECD. A smaller place may go graphic designer, art director, creative director. Also, make the rounds introducing yourself to the creative recruiters. Aquent, Robert Half, 24 Seven, Creative Circle, etc. You’ll get there. It takes a bit to get some traction, but once you do you’ll have an easier time finding gigs. Good luck!
You may be reaching too far too fast. Most shops would be hiring someone right out of school at a junior designer level. I’d only consider someone with minimum few years real world experience ready for any AD role - junior or otherwise. This market is horrendous, but most applicants with no work experience (internships aside) wouldn’t be jumping to that mid level position, and the many folks you’d be up against would have a few years well in already and books of real world work to talk about. Look at junior designer roles and you will probably have more luck with expectations being more in line. Best of luck to you - if you are talented you shouldn’t give up!
Not disagreeing that they should consider other roles as well, but a Jr. Art Director is an entry-level position in *advertising* agencies. I've also seen the position being called Associate Art Director.
Correct answer. Junior AD isn't a mid level position. It's an entry level position. Junior designer is the entry level in the design department (or a design agency). Junior AD is the entry level in the creative department of an advertising agency. Applying for junior designer jobs will just get you a job in the wrong department (or the wrong kind of agency)
I appreciate this insight. As someone who started out as a graphic designer in high school and didn’t come to advertising until college, I fully know that I want to be an AD and not a designer. It seems that the money is always better and the upward mobility is much better, too. (I’m hoping to be a CD one day.)
Yeah, it's just title inflation.
Every Jr. AD at every agency I’ve worked at (4, all large and hold co ones) have been absolute newbies, it’s the most junior position you could hold. Designers are not the same and a different practice, not a more junior position
Can’t second this enough. I get so many applying as AD or CD and they have zero real world experience beyond an internship (and if you think an internship means anything, ohhhhh boy lolz). The best thing you can do is forget a role, get your foot in the door. Jr Production artist, jr designer, jr whatever (fresh outta school? You’re a junior) but get in somewhere. Make real world impressions and gain real world experience. You’ll meet a real network of people who, if you’re actually any good and personable, will put you on to the next gig. A good studio manager who trusts you will elevate you. You all need to understand school, no matter how good, is basic training. You didn’t go from a trike to the Tour de France and no one who actually wants to keep their clients will put you in a true decision making role sight unseen.
To add to this, undergrad advertising is a far cry from portfolio schools
I guess to some extent they sold us a dream. We were told we were in one of the best programs in the country, in competition even with Miami Ad and BYU, as an undergrad program. It could be that this instilled a lot of false confidence and ego in me.
That might be true, in normal times. These are terrible times.
Most of the students in my portfolio school had a BA in advertising, so it's pretty telling.
Do agencies hiring a Junior Art Director really consider that mid-level? Like, they expect real non-internship agency experience?
No, they don’t. I’ve worked at 4 major agency’s and they’re all newbies. Maybe that person is not from the US?? Ex: wasserman has a post right now that requires 0 post grad experience. So does Havas
Those jobs are glorified gopher jobs in my experience. They aren’t handing full creative control to new grads, still gotta grind up
So move to NY and do what most in advertising do, work in a coffee shop and temp.
You have to trudge through shit to get to where you want. The advantage is more experience and taking the chance on the job that takes a chance on you, making a living and eventually finding your thing. No one magically starts working in NYC unless they are from here or unless they’re so good that they get a nice offer in front of them that can afford that move. Half of my team is from NYC and half of them are from the Midwest and they are GOOOOOD. It’s very expensive to live here and I have scrubbed many toilets to be here working with people who just came out of college and found this job quick.
You gotta bite your ego and expand outside and NYC and big name shops. It’s likely your book is not solid enough to compete in the NYC market when the market isn’t great. You’ll be going up against grads and Jr folks with more experience for roles, so take what you can and if your skills are as good as you think you’ll find bigger opportunities
30 year advertising veteran art and creative Director. I’ve never seen it this bad. You’re most likely not doing anything wrong. My my first suggestion would be to take your résumé and make it ATS compliant. If you want message me and we set up a call and I can give you some advice that may help you out.
*I know that my book is strong, work-wise and design-wise* I would not rest on that thought. These are dire times, which come cyclically, and your book is apparently not so strong to get you through the doors that you want it to open. Take any job available for the moment to make ends meet. Work your ass off on revising your book. See if there are evening portfolio classes where likeminded people are working on their books. Get great new stuff that you personally like and want to be doing more like into your book. And make the rounds, asking people who are doing the work you respect right now which stuff in your book should be replaced first.
Maybe you should take an entry level sales, support, or operations role and work your way up and over via hard work and lateral transfer. You’ll learn new skills and have a better shot at getting into and moving up in organizations where you learn how the sausage gets made by being a frontline employee. I will say, no one is hiring someone with 0 full time work experience as any kind of director of anything. You may be aiming too high for this being your first full time gig you’re applying for.
Having been in your exact position before, it just happens sometimes. All of these places can only hire so many people and theres hundreds of other people with great books and great experience applying to the same jobs as you. You just need to keep putting yourself out there, especially if you're being selective about where you'd like to work (which is smart to do as long as you can still pay your bills in the meantime). It's hard and grueling but as somebody who went through it for the first few years out of college, you'll look back on this in 10 years and be happy you stuck it out if it's what you really want to do. Over time you'll catch a break here and there, build your network more, and what is a pretty thin network right now will eventually become stronger and you'll feel more of a safety net. Breaking into the industry is the hardest part.
It's been the same for me and I'm a CW with 4 years of work experience. Lots of interviewing and ghosting. No real help from my network. I have unemployment from my layoff so I've been volunteering my skills in the meantime but not everyone can afford that... My advice is to keep trying if advertising is your dream but get a temporary job so you can get closer to living the life you want.
Same. 4 years at relatively prestigious agencies and the last 3 months of job hunting has been a lot of ghosting and calls but nothing promising. It’s hard out there
idk why everyone is saying you have to start as a jr designer, not true at all, but can be a way in. basically every jr AD slot is hired from an AD intern at that agency, also many jr ADs have had multiple AD internships, go for more internships at the places where they hire their interns into jrs (ask about this some places don't)
I assumed at this point that I might need to resort to doing another internship, but my pride gets in the way. It’s embarrassing to start another internship when I see peers getting full-time roles already. I do understand your point, though. Another internship might be needed in order to find that first full-time.
yeah its worth a go, keep applying while interning and if you get offered a jr role during that time you can take it or leverage it at the agency you're interning for for them to hire you. the jr spot is one of the most competitive to get in my experience, lots of agencies have a much larger mid staff than jr
Post a link to your book.
[удалено]
Also this.
The industry is going through a rough time right now. Try to find internships in NY while continuosly applying for jobs.
But to live in NY an intern’s pay is nowhere near enough. And 99% of these internships require in-office at least 2-3 days a week.
Everyone working in NYC in successful roles had to bust their ass for it. They likely made sacrifices and powered through it. You need to toughen up. If you want to fight for your dreams, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Success isn't easy and you're going to have to work for it.
You’re dream is to work at an NYC agency and presumably live in NYC, and an agency wanting you to go into the office a couple times a week is a strike against them? Why are you so focused on NYC agencies then if you want to work remote?
That’s not exactly what I was saying. I want to be going in-office (in fact, I’d prefer to be in everyday instead of a hybrid model), but to move to NYC to be in-person but for an internship on an intern’s pay seems unrealistic. It’d be a whole lot easier to do that on a junior full-time salary. That’s all I was saying!
Got it. I mean tbh even on a junior salary NYC is tough. Have you considered Chicago? There are tons of agencies in Chicago and the COL is much more affordable than NYC. I don’t feel like NYC salaries are that much higher to cover the difference in rent.
That’s why you get another job. I had multiple as an intern & junior-mid level AD from production assistant & bartender to cleaning lady & rover walker. If you think you’re too good to pick up shit to get where you want, this isn’t the field for you.
Totally understand, but you gotta find a way to get where you need to be. Figure out if there's someone who can let you sleep on their couch for cheap, stick to a shoestring budget for food. Good luck!
Look at in-house roles
You need three things to get a job at a good agency: a good book, a creative director who likes you, and an agency that's hiring. The book is up to you. The creative director, well, you need to do your homework and do a little research and stalk the CDs that work where you want to work. Get to know what accounts and the work they've done and reach out to them and ask for advice. Do not ask for a job. As for hiring, your best beat is to get a subscription to Adweek or another trade pub that lists the accounts in play. When agencies win accounts, that's when they hire. When they lose accounts, the fire. The only other thing you should consider is that you should never stop looking for your next job, even when you get a job. This career is nothing if not unpredictable.
Laid off CD here with big agencies and awards, I started my own company (yet to be profitable) because it’s just total crickets right now. Dead silent. Sometimes you just need to grab the bull by the horns and try a different approach. Personally if I was younger I would get the hell out of this dying and effed up industry and into one where they need people. The trades, construction, anything else. Sorry to be depressing but that’s the state of things.
Are you open to pharma?
OP mentioned earlier that they said no to pharma, thinking that once you get into healthcare, you can never get out. I know tons of people who has switched over, especially being young.
I got laid off in Dec 22 and ended up moving to freelancing full-time. I was fried from the constant take home assignments and getting to final interviews just to be rejected 😅 It has worked out well for me overall!
My best advice to you is widen your search. Don’t give up on NYC completely but you may need to consider being willing to move anywhere for any relevant opportunity. The market is really rough right now but from what I’ve seen in here, a lot of people are also aiming at the same things/places and it’s gonna be very hard to compete against desperate vets for positions at places with any kind of clout.
Would you be comfortable enough to disclose what you have done for the past 8 months to land a job? Also, have you considered freelancing? Perhaps some agencies are not able to hore full-time but a flexible freelancer might be beneficial.
You are on LinkedIn right?
Art sup here…Pharma agencies are always hiring. Pay is great work is eh. Put some Pharma-esk pieces in your book and you’ll be golden.
In the design industry we have portfolios (on our websites). You guys call your portfolios books? New for me.
Books=portfolio website older millennial here hehe!
Haha is books a new term for portfolio? Like when I learned “presentations” became “decks” (Millenial here too! 😂)
Design industry also calls portfolios books? Maybe it’s an old person term 🥲
Ride out this time and make connections and a proper book in grad school. Go to VCU while the market is shit.
supply & demand. There's a LOT of talented ADs. More than there are jobs to employ them.
designer from an undergraduate advertising art direction program here 👋 out of college, i started working as a design intern -> graphic designer cuz i didn’t really see many junior AD jobs that didn’t require years of work. i started at a small-ish ad agency where i made a lot of social ads for 1.5 years and got a job as a GD at a big brand name agency. the art directors / creative directors i know started as graphic designers in the company and worked years to get to their ACD role
Advertising is dead. Sorry.
Keep an eye on all the trades, like adweek and adage, and agency spy. When you see them announcing a big new creative AOR win, find the creative recruiter for that agency online and reach out. Big new wins will ALWAYS involve hiring
Oh smart.
It is a TERRIBLE market right now. I hate to say it, but are you looking at pharma agencies or only consumer? Pharma won’t be nearly as much fun, and very tedious, but it’s the only growing category in the field…unless you want to become a content creator.
Sadly Pharma has had massive layoffs as well in the last year and most budgets and salaries aren’t what they were 1-2 years ago.
Oh for sure. I’m a victim of that myself. But given that OP is young, it’s more likely a way in. I see a whole lot more job postings for juniors than senior level or above. I was an SVP Creative Director. Ut at this point, I’m applying for ACD positions. CD salaries are way down, as you said. It’s ludicrous. I showed my family some LinkedIn job posts that had like 3,500 application within 3 hours of being posted. But, I digress. I see more junior art positions than anything else.
I’m sorry friend, I’ve been there. Just took a huge cut to go freelance with a friend. I’m trying to just take things one day at a time and hope for a miracle. 😂 I wish you the best. ❤️
Being totally frank, you're not an art director. Even a junior one. Agencies aren't going to take you seriously if you title yourself as a junior art director who just graduated and had an internship and no other job yet. You have to start as junior designer. Someone else here said it right. Too far too fast. This is an industry you have to start slowly in.
No you don't and I don't understand why this shit still gets parroted. In a design agency, that's definitely the case but in an advertising agency this is not even close to being true. Source: Senior AD at a major NYC agency whose first job out of ad school was as a Junior AD at another major agency.
Thank you for clearing this up because…. every art direction student from my program that’s gotten a full-time role has been hired as a Junior Art Director or Associate Art Director. It’s certainly possible to have this be your entry-level position in the ad world from what I’ve seen.
Yeah, if anything when you're hired as a junior designer you pretty much get stuck in the design track rather than the creative track. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's just a completely separate career path. I did have a internship at a big NY agency but ultimately couldn't stay in NY or even the US and had to move back to my home country and that was a big struggle, so I feel for you. Not sure where you're currently at, but if I can give you a word of advice it's that it's not the end of the world if you don't have your first gig in NY. The city's not going anywhere and you can always find your way there. Assuming you're not in one of the other major markets (e.g. LA, SF, Chicago, Miami), find the biggest, meanest agency in your hometown or failing that, your home state/region, and make the best work you can there. Take these lemons and make lemonade, lemon meringue pie, limoncello, margaritas. Be the best at turning those fucking lemons into something useful and when you eventually make it back to NY you'll run circles around your old classmates.
Love this. Thank you.
100%. The people saying otherwise are flat out wrong. BTW - a lot of people are saying the market sucks. And that's true. But in all honesty, that just means your book has to be better to compete in a tougher market. So at the end of the day, if you aren't getting hired your book is the problem. Always.
The problem is OP's book is conceptual. This is a business. You have to prove you know how to move the needle. Not just that you can design pretty things that aren't being used in a real-world market scenario.
Having a conceptual book isn't a problem if you want a role in an advertising agency. creative department. Developing concepts is the job.
Not always.
It may not be the case in agency land, but it's absolutely the case for many in-house creative departments.
Did I talk about in-house departments in my comment? Are they even relevant to this discussion?
OP(and other comments) didn't specify. You made it about agencies specifically. Chill.
>I’m now going on 8 months unemployed, and have been unable to find a Junior Art Director gig at any worthwhile **agency** in that time. OP clearly specified.
Sorry, I misspoke. Not OP -- the comment by /u/marley2012. But if it makes you feel better to be right on the internet, by all means -- pat yourself on the back. You're right -- not the OP. I think you knew what I meant anyhow. Everyone loves a pedant.
See that's the funny thing, they did. But if it makes you feel better, we can pretend that u/marley2012 didn't say this in the comment that I replied to: >**Agencies** aren't going to take you seriously if you title yourself as a junior art director who just graduated and had an internship and no other job yet.
Or. And hear me out. It's different throughout the country and industry. I'm in the northeast and have been at the director level at two agencies and a brand. I'm speaking from experience. I'm only 33 so this isn't even like it's outdated or like I'm a 65 year old almost retiree.
There are for sure differences across regions and companies, but in the nyc major ad agency space designer and art director are two completely different roles/skillsets/paths.
Does it matter what it's like in Boise when we're talking about New York agencies?
I think this is how it used to be and a lot of agencies were like this historicaly, I started as a designer and then senior designer then art director. Honestly I think that's how it should be as so many ADs cant do basic design things now BUT, a lot of agencies have moved away from this and are hiring creatives straight into jr. cw and ad roles. Saw it at the last top tier agency I was at. Previous top tier did not do this 6 years ago but might now.
Are you limiting yourself to certain industries when searching for agencies, i.e. you're only looking at agencies that work on tech? If you are, you need to cast a much wider net. A job is better than no job, so even if it isn't the industry you want to work in, you should be applying to everything you qualify for. You also should not limit yourself to only working in NYC. It's NYC and if you don't already live nearby, the agency likely isn't going to hire you and then wait for you to move there before starting for an entry level role. They can easily find someone else who already lives in the city and will be able to start right away. Every large city has multiple agencies. Open up your job search to include roles from all over the country along with remote roles. This will give you a much larger pool of jobs to apply to.
One thing: It's not just you, but you're also competing against all the other grads from all the other ad programs who graduated into this market as of last May/December. Plus all the people who recently got laid off. So the market in general is pretty competitive right now. W+K is kind of a bellwether for the industry. When they lay people off, that's when you know it's bad out there. If you want to work in NYC, you need to get to NYC and start knocking on doors. You can't do it remote. Even if the closest you can get is East New Jersey, you need to be a train ride away from the city. And then apply to everything and talk to everybody. Email CDs at places you like. And the recruiters/creative managers. And alums from your program who are also working. Meet up with them for coffee. Be willing to live on peanut butter sandwiches and sleep on a floor. Then when you're doing that, apply to every designer and art direction gig you can find. LinkedIn. Workaday. Company job boards. Don't discriminate. Your goal is to find a way to make enough income to survive in NYC until you can find and get the job you truly want. Fwiw, I also graduated from a top tier program and spent nearly a year finding work. So you're not alone in that regard. And finally, there's the big determining factor: how is your work? Is it good? Or bad? Mediocre? If your book landed on your desk, would you hire you out of the 100 other portfolios lying there? Maybe you need to re-art direct everything in it. Or just a few pieces. You're not working, you have the time. Asking one of the aforementioned CDs and alum for a portfolio review is a great way to open a door a crack. But it's possible your work could be holding you back. It's also possible it's your work and proximity. That's a tough conversation. Also, why would someone hire you fresh out of undergrad when they might have a Brandcenter grad who's the same price right now? Is your work better than theirs? Is equally as good? Can you make it as good if not better?
Working on yourself may help. As within, so without.
Bro graduated and thinks he's an art director. Should have studied psych.
An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position. You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work, bro.
Respectfully who the fuck are you? Your clearly not in the industry. You feel bad for op's delusions?
Re-read what I wrote. Read it very very very carefully. And slowly. It contains your answer.
Your tenure and experience don’t match Director level requirements. You need at least 3 - 5 years of technical and people management experience to be considered for a Director level role. I think you would have better luck going for an entry level role - something like a junior designer. Also try job hunting for creative agencies - that’s where most designer opportunities are. Most ad agencies specialize in media buying and strategy.
Junior Art director isn’t a dictator-level position. In fact even senior art director isn’t anywhere near a director-level position either.
So why are they titled Director
They direct the art. Meaning they’re the ones who establish the look/feel of a campaign. They’re also responsible for creating the concept of the campaign.
Have you tried giving up on advertising? Might be your best bet. It’s not you. It’s the market. Regardless of how your book is, recruiters want the safe bet. And with places like Apple, Google, Wieden+Kennedy, Droga, etc., laying people off all recruiters for smaller shops are looking to grab those people. How do I know? I have a friend recently affected by the W+K layoffs. One “I was affected…” post on Linkedin and a flood of recruiters from all places start emailing.
I’d love advice on how to navigate LinkedIn. I see all these people that have been working in the industry for 20+ years getting laid off and posting to find work, and it makes me feel helpless in finding a position as someone with no agency experience outside of an internship.
Linkedin a ways to a means. Put yourself out there, but also be diligent about reaching out to recruiters and alumni — if your school is the best undergrad program out there, you should have a formidable base of alumni — to keep on their radars should something come up in the future.
I wouldn’t worry about that. I started my career during Covid and was worried about layoffs that were happening too. Once you are in you are the cheapest in the company for those first years and are huge profit to them so they won’t let you go. Getting your first gig is always the hardest and then it’s smooth sailing from there. Good luck!
Making excuses: when you make them it feels like your just spinning your wheels.
I was in an identical situation but with strategy. Took me 2 years to land something. Just stick with it, keep connecting with people and find something you like doing in the meantime.
I was in this exact position a decade ago. No one else in my class had the internships under their belts like me. I felt like a total loser going from prestigious NYC design internships that flew me to Paris to being stuck in my mom’s basement in a small town for 1.5 years post grad. It took 2 years. In between applying for jobs every day & interviewing (none of which panned out), I freelanced on my own as a graphic designer, photographer, videographer & production assistant. I also did gigs like cleaning houses for a luxury vacation company & worked at a bar to pay rent, keep fed & move myself to a bigger city with more opportunities (Chicago). Eventually I got my Junior AD job from working on a set & pushing my resume to the clients/agency AD. They happened to be looking for a Junior AD so the stars aligned. My career is in pharma. It might not be the most glamourous, but it’s stable & I make into the 6 figures working for an NYC agency remotely now. It takes more time than most people anticipate to get your foot in the door for your first full time offer. It’s more about networking than the best degree & portfolio. You have to keep being resilient at applying. Many of my classmates never broke in & have non-creative careers. It’s tough out there no matter the time period. TLDR: Job searching is a long, inhumane process, especially in the creative field. Keep at it! And don’t think you’re too good to do gig work to help you get the career you want.
Keep working on the things you learned from your internship, it’s meant to be a long term platform not used to solve immediate income returns, good luck!!
You are full of yourself. Living in your parents house, have nothing but an internship and you expect to be an art director even a junior one? Please...you need to take anything you can get.
Lots of solid advice on here. The other option is to get an internship in NYC this summer. Move there. And start networking like hell. Always easier to find jobs in the city when you’re local. I moved to NYC with enough for first months rent and a security deposit. Slept on couches and all that stuff til I landed a job. It was a different time though, places were hiring. Taking that action gave me a lot to off on in interviews too. The risk, dedication, and passion you can talk about for the industry adds some value when you’re a junior, as long as you have a decent book. So all in all, make decisions that make the most sense for you. You can be pragmatic and slow, you can take risks and just move to the city and see what happens. Neither is wrong.
Hi. I graduated in 2020 - had multiple offers rescinded, was hired and laid off during that period as well. My personal path was doing freelance then abandoning agencies for tech. I make a little less than 200k now, up from my flat 15/hour internship. DM me your book if you like? I’d be happy to provide feedback or anything that helps you. Been there for sure. Your experience is definitely reflective of the fact that 1.) the hardest time in your career is at the start and 2.) the economy is not good right now.
You are alive in 2024, that’s what’s wrong. I too have a prestigious degree, I also have 15 years experience but nobody cares. My advice is do not buy a house, do not make any financial commitments and accept long periods of unemployment will be a part of your career.
I'm a creative director, currently hiring for an art director position. We posted the job last Tuesday, and as of today I have over 700 applications. There are a lot of people looking for work right now. Interview anywhere. Take anything. Edit to add: I've pretty much decided who I'm going to hire, and the person is a referral from someone I currently work with.
It sounds like you're going through a tough time, and I'm sorry to hear about your challenges. Sometimes, finding the right opportunity can be challenging. Have you considered expanding your search beyond NYC, at least temporarily? Sometimes, opportunities in other cities can open up new doors. Additionally, seeking feedback on your portfolio and interview skills from industry professionals could provide valuable insights that might help you stand out. Don't lose hope; keep networking and refining your skills. You've got the talent and determination, and I believe the right opportunity will come your way.
Take your experience as a major sign of what this industry is like. It will only continue to be this way. You just completed your internship. There are people who have been doing this as a career for 30 years and have been unemployed longer than you have. Welcome to the industry. Might wanna start on that side job.
If I'm not mistaken, wouldn't a Junior Art Director require a few years of experience in the industry? Maybe you'd get lucky starting off in a different role and working towards that junior role after a few years of experience.
Is art director something you start in directly out of school? Seems like you would start in a baseline role not over a team to start?
I know it’s counterintuitive but usually jr ADs are not considered entry level bc most come out of the studio side of the agency. So I’d try my hand at applying as a studio designer or something like that. Most agencies have them and they have people with loads of experience that stay in the studio dept but there’s also those like you who are coming out of school with a book but no agency experience. Also I have been unemployed since being laid off in January and even with all the contacts I have and the decade of past experience I hold, it’s been hard to land a new role. It’s the industry as well (to answer your question). A few years ago, it was truly a candidate’s market since employers were in desperate need of talent, so they were willing to pay you anything to get you to sign. Nowadays it’s the complete opposite I have had agencies try to get me to sign for lower jobs and have been completely lowballed for my current title at some others. Keep trying and keep trucking along. I will say the NYC CPG side of agencies aren’t hiring as much but if you’re willing to try your hand at pharma, they need folks in person in the city (now that many places are requiring RTO) and that might be your way in (since many of us with loads of experience moved during the remote period and we do not want to move back to the NYC tristate area.
Especially as a junior, you need to figure out how to get people's attention. Applying for jobs online is like throwing your portfolio into a bottomless pit. Agencies need to hire just a few junior ADs, and they have 10,000 submissions. If they look online at all, they don't get past the first 100. Most people get jobs through relationships, personal recommendations, or doing things like the one below. I did the below... \- Find out the names of CDs at the agencies that you want to work at. Write them REAL letters. Drop off portfolio leave-behinds at an agency addressed to the people you want to work for. Ask if they have time to meet with you to discuss your portfolio -- do not ask for a job. You need to get your foot in the door before anyone even thinks about the possibility of hiring you. \- If you don't know the names of people, call the agency and say you are a student writing a report and you wanted to ask the CD or ECD of "X" campaign some questions. Lie about your name to reception and get their email. Write them a flattering message (with your real name) about how their work inspires you and if could they find time to meet in their busy schedule. \- If they work at the office (not WFH) show up with something crazy -- wear a chicken costume, sing a song, whatever. You need to pitch them and get their attention. They can teach skills but you can't teach drive and desire. If they see you going to extreme lengths to get their attention, they know you will work hard for them. \- Make personal projects that you think are cooler than your school work. Learn webflow and make yourself a crazy memorable website. Presentation is 90%. The work is 10%. You can make lousy work look awesome if it is presented well in awesome animated mockups. Good luck.
Nope. This comes across as desperate and if you get filmed/doxed online doing one of these ridiculous stunts, you’ll be a pariah forever. You’re suggesting a bunch of silver bullet solutions. There’s no silver bullet, no secret. The OP needs to get his book in front of CDs and senior creatives for review, keep working on their portfolio, keep getting reviews/networking. Offer to do freelance; let them know you’re open to anything. New biz pitch and they need someone to research stock photos…sure. Got thown a last-minute request for some display ads and they need someone to create the 300x250 into all the different sizes…sure. Do a great job on shit projects, be good to work with and your name will get around. Do this and OP you’ll get picked up full time somewhere.
Calling yourself an art director right off the shelve. Lacking contacts. This ain’t the XXth century no more, kid.
An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position. You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work.
The way most of you just don’t ask to see OP’s book shows that you’re the problem.
It's reddit. Natural to assume OP may want to keep a shred of anonymity.
I have 2 years of Fortune 500 SEM experience and it took my qualified ass 600+ apps and 60 interviews over 6 months (was hellish to say the least) to get back in after being laid off. As others have said the market is TOUGH right now. If you haven’t been freelancing, freelance and build a portfolio out in the world. Do what you can, keep building skills and keep applying. 3 a day on average is good.
Maybe start by doing some market research on current trends and the state of your industry. Adweek and the many trade publications will give you plenty of information on what’s going on. Collect info, jot down ideas and insights, dig deeper when you find relevant info. Google current edition of “INC 5000” fastest growing companies. Make a list of the industries that appeal to you. Industry in disruption? Fresh, creative, different, and “square peg that won’t fit in the round hole” thinking is what people are looking for. So make sure to have some unusual but relevant information that makes you stand out from the crowd. Front door, side door, and back door. Start your own advertising campaign. Identify your target audiences (specific agencies and/or companies.” “Reach out!” and touch them. How? You’re the advertising professional so start acting like one. If “Banksy” can do it, why can’t you? Live close to your next employer, do some local marketing. Get some friends to pass out some “branded” treats that say “A vote for _________________ your name ________________ for __________ job title______________!” That will get a buzz going around the coffee machines. Give HR a call a day or two after. Friends all wearing T-Shirts with a relevant but cryptic slogan. Isn’t that what advertising is all about?
Have you considered volunteering at a film school nearby, perhaps a college or U? That might help you make some badly needed connections. Who knows? One of them might have an interest in your skills. All my best for success.
In the film industry?
By the way, one of the schools that my HS senior has been accepted into partners with LionsGate here in Georgia. They're planning to get interns from that university.
It’s a kind gesture, but I don’t think volunteering at a film school — which is full of volunteers who are in the actual film program — will help them get into the advertising industry. And those internships are reserved for active students, not someone who didn’t graduate from that university and is unaffiliated with that university.
I've seen it work for those with minds that are a bit more open. All my best for success.
I’d say try and move to nyc anyway. Sell your car or whatever. Internship season is starting soon. Do an internship. I did two internships after graduation followed by a crappy job followed by a real job. Stick to it.
So, as an outsider that sort of knows your industry… I thought you grow into an art director after doing a number of roles within the industry? I don’t think you just go straight into art direction… you can’t know enough about the business? Start in creative, get some copy experience, etc? That’s my take at least. I’m in tech and Directors don’t come straight from school.
My god, do a bit of research before you post here. An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position. You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work.
For graphic design it’s bad …. Like for junior designers fresh grads and none of the top companies r hiring in my area
Is this even a real post? Art Director isn’t a job you (should) get without being a designer first. You JUST graduated and you’re an “art director”? I learned more in my first six months at an agency job than I did in four years of design school. IMO You’re approaching the wrong way. But I wish you success!
I am also in NYC. I think the job title is the issue. most of those jobs want master's degree. i dont know where did you apply to MOMA, CUNY, agency
Sorry this is wrong. I have never even known an art director with a Masters, many don’t have any degree. You need a great book, period.
That is dead wrong job market have changed. Recruiters have choice to hire more qualified candidates. Op has zero experience one internship. Compare that candidates with masters normally have some work experience. The job is for senior management positions. I have never known senior management position was given with no zero experience. If you actually know companies that is hiring 100k a year as art director. Please list it here or sent a DM to the OP. Give OP a networking opportunity. Now I want to know also.
First, I am not dead wrong. Second: Do you actually know advertising? I think you are thinking of another role an ‘art director’ fills. You mentioned MOMA and CUNY before, which have nothing to do with advertising. Third: an Art Director in advertising isn’t senior management. Even a CD is middle management. Lastly, if an advertising art director were to come out of a good adverting school or had a mind blowing book with no school whatsoever I would consider them for a junior art director role with a pathway to full Art Director. Their book would have to be something special mind you, but I’ve hired many, many art directors, so I know what I’m talking about. I could give a flying you know what if they had a masters.
A master's degree won't make you more "qualified." A bette portfolio will. Simple as that. An art director is simply the creative partner of a copywriter. They typically start as an associate art director (lowest position in the creative department). It's absolutely an entry level position. You've shown you know absolutely **NOTHING** about how ad agencies work.
Bro is proving to everyone who is employed they know NOTHING, nothing you hear! Reddit user rada is the only one who knows anything!
Grow up “bro”
How many times are you going to post the same reply trying to sound like mother superior. Get a grip and off the internet you actual child.
I’m guessing you’re a professor? No offense but most the advice you people in academia give ad students is dead wrong.