You are not signed in. Sign in.

List Books: Buy books on ListBooks.org

Pick Me: Breaking into Advertising and Staying There »

Book cover image of Pick Me: Breaking into Advertising and Staying There by Janet Kestin

Authors: Janet Kestin, Nancy Vonk
ISBN-13: 9780471715573, ISBN-10: 0471715573
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
Date Published: July 2005
Edition: (Non-applicable)

Find Best Prices for This Book »

Author Biography: Janet Kestin

NANCY VONK and JANET KESTIN are co-Chief Creative Officers at Ogilvy & Mather, Toronto. They've won many industry awards, including Cannes Lions, One Show Pencils, and Clios. They've judged these shows, CA, and many others. They are also coauthors of the popular "Ask Jancy" column at ihaveanidea.org, a premier site for advertising students and young creatives.

Book Synopsis

Advertising is a fantastic industry, but actually getting a job (or even your foot in the door) can seem next to impossible. Whether you're a student or a young professional loaded with questions, this one-of-a-kind guide shows you how to land a job and how to thrive once you're in and the pressure is on.

Authors Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin are seasoned creative directors and longtime creative partners. In Pick Me, these industry leaders answer your toughest ad career questions, like:

  • Is advertising right for me?
  • How do I build a killer portfolio?
  • How do I get an interview with the elusive creative director?
  • Should I accept an unpaid internship?
  • How do I find the right partner?
  • How do I beat creative block?
  • How do I avoid burnout?

Plus, fourteen industry superstars share their insights and explain how they broke into the business. You'll hear from Bob Barrie, Rick Boyko, David Droga, Mark Fenske, Neil French, Sally Hogshead, Mike Hughes, Shane Hutton, Brian Millar, Tom Monahan, Chuck Porter, Bob Scarpelli, Chris Staples, and Lorraine Tao.

Forget the clichés, this is advertising as it really is. If you're hell-bent on making it, this informative guide will put you on track for a career in one of the most exciting businesses on the planet.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction : the view from down here1
1Was I really put on this earth to do ads?5
2School daze9
It's all about the osmosis, baby
3What's a good ad, anyway?15
How to do great creative work without being clever or talented
4Portfolio preparation : like giving birth, only more painful28
Don't send a fake foot to "get your foot in the door", and other things to consider when putting your portfolio together
5Getting a job in this lifetime : it can be done38
How I got my first job
6Internships : purgatory, rip-off, or free education?59
How can I exploit thee? : let me count the ways
7What place is right for me?68
My two Australian/Singaporean/English/American cents/pence
8Money - not that you care about that75
Money. How much? How soon?
9Fear and self-loathing : snap out of it81
10Brainstorming techniques (you're going to need them)85
Brainstorming. Or, making ideas happen, as opposed to waiting for them
11Awards. Yes, they matter. How the judges decide90
Orson Welles never won an Oscar, but you can win a Telly
12Boss problems : try not to kill him. Or sleep with him100
13Partner problems : do you need counseling, a divorce, or a gun?104
This is my partner, Elspeth. No, not that kind of partner, my "creative partner"
14Copywriting110
Don't you dare read this : you'll spoil the research
Radio, can you see it?
15Art direction119
16Account executives : they're people, too122
17Identity crisis127
You know how to make God laugh? : tell him your plans
18Am I in the wrong place?136
19Ethics in advertising : not necessarily an oxymoron139
20CD life [be careful what you wish for]147
21Women : the vanishing act152
22Age[ism] : is 39 the new 65?156
Avoiding future shock
23Staying sane in an insane business163
I blame it all on Darren Stevens
24Miscellaneous : the best chapter of any book169
25Strangest questions : maybe even better than miscellaneous174
26What I know now that I wish I'd known then179
27What I look for in a junior186
28A century ago, we were juniors, too192
AppThe inspiration grab bag201

Subjects