Many years ago I heard Sir George Martin speak at an advertising conference. For those unfamiliar, Sir Martin had come to be known as the Fifth Beatle for it was he that had produced so many of their classic albums. Sir Martin related the events in making Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely-Hearts Club Band. As he took […]
When it comes to your career, it is rarely a smooth, easy path. In an effort to help guide you along your journey we’re starting a new series, JPL FAQs. We’ll be sharing some of the questions we hear repeated and the answers to help alleviate those worries. We hope it helps. Q: How can […]
I have reviewed thousands of portfolios and interviewed dozens upon dozens of job candidates. That experience taught me one thing about career success: working at the wrong job starves career potential. Many of those not offered positions with our agency had stayed too long in the wrong job. Their work wasn’t where it should have […]
Countless athletes who were average on paper ended up in their sport’s hall of fame. Drafted in the late rounds, if drafted at all, many attended small colleges with even smaller sports programs. They defied the odds, overcame skeptics, and forged legacies. Tom Brady, the quarterback of the New England Patriots, is a relevant example. […]
That moment may come in the first three months or the first anniversary of your first job. Maybe, if you’re thick-skinned, you don’t feel it until your second anniversary. It’s the moment you say to yourself, “This isn’t what I thought it would be.” Four years of college, tens of thousands of dollars in student […]
Not long ago a recent college graduate lamented how agencies wouldn’t respond when she sent her portfolio for consideration. After learning that she had sent her work to some of the hottest agencies in our industry, I told her they had responded. Silence means no. I told her not to be offended by a non-response […]
Most academic advertising programs are inadequate in preparing a graduate to enter his or her career. Those who walk across the stage into premiere positions are those who act as an ad professional before they become one. Know where the best work happens. In an interview, be able to cite the best work and who is […]
Want to get into a better agency? Give your portfolio the following stress test: 1. Is there award winning work is present? Anyone can win an award in our industry. But there is only a handful that matter to the best agencies. If you’re in the US, these top the list: The One Show, Cannes […]