Ad Agency told me to bring in samples of my writing?

Question

I was asked to bring in samples of my writing for a job interview. What do I take if I've never worked at an agency? In my resume I have listed that I've won a few creative writing awards. Do I take those? Eventhough they were 5+ years ago. I've also written for some online zines. Are they only looking for ad copy?

Answer 1

As a former creative director, one of the problems I have with some advertising schools and ad programs, is that they don't teach their students the importance of preparing a creative portfolio. A creative portfolio is absolutely critical for a person seeking a job as an art director or a writer.

As for content... don't worry that you have only sample ads to present or that they are a few years old. And don't despair over the fact that they were written for a web based forum. The creative director (or other person interviewing you) is mostly interested in seeing how you think and determining whether or not you have the flair they are looking for in a writer.

When you present your work, offer a brief recap of the assignment. Then allow the person to read your ad all the way through. Too often times, the person being interviewed rushes through their work without allowing sufficient time for their work to be reviewed. Don't worry: if your work is bad, the interviewer will get through your portfolio in plenty of time. :-)

Also, at the end of your presentation, you might ask the interviewer if there was anything that they think you should take out of your book or consider revising. This will show them that you respect their opinion and that you are not overly conceited about your work. Some writers and art directors are very bad about accepting criticism of their work, so show your prospective employer that you welcome it. It will help you improve the quality of your work, which will only serve to help you the next time you present it.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Take anything that you have that's good.

They'll likely want to hire someone who knows ad copy--and radio/tv scripts--but that depends on the level of experience they're looking for.