Tips for Standing Out When Applying for Agency Roles

Since the Golden Age of Advertising, brands have been vying to produce the most alluring, buzz worthy or provocative creative ideas to establish themselves as the best in category, most exciting new kid on the block or disruptor of an already dominated vertical.?

A lot's changed since the beginning of this time. But for forever and always, success will be boiled down to great talent. Great talent will always be the heart of great ideas, great relationships and great work. In light of the unwavering desire to work with top tier talent while competing with the demand of a growing talent market, our Director of Talent, Lesley Thompson , wanted to share some thoughts on what catches HER eye in candidates when trying to fill a role or simply stay connected.?

1. Connect direct. If you're perusing a job board and a posting catches your eye, track down the individual responsible for hiring that role - be it on LinkedIn, the company website or whatever means. Instead of sending your application into the Indeed.com abyss, send that person an email directly! Or second best, a direct LinkedIn message. I'm checking email first thing in the AM and constantly throughout the day. I will get back to you more quickly if you hit my inbox (and my email is on the Cutwater website and LinkedIn)!

2. Research beyond the research. Perhaps I'm stating the obvious, but it's like dating. When you can spit some deepdive facts about the company or people that aren't obvious to gen pop, from a recruitment standpoint, you have my attention. :)

3. Use your network. If we have a mutual LinkedIn connection (or elsewhere) ask them to connect us and refer you! I will just about 10/10 be willing to have conversations with referrals coming from within my personal network. This is such a solid strategy that in my opinion, shouldn't be passed up.??

4. Flex up, if and where you can. If you're short on the type of experience being sought in a posting, use what you DO have in your favor. Play up relevant coursework you may have completed or if switching careers look at how you can transform previous duties and accomplishments into transferable and applicable experience as it relates to the role you're going after. ESPECIALLY when a lot of the hard skills a job requires can be taught on the job, play up your sparkling soft skills - motivation, determination, drive, ambition.?

5. Bring something to take away. When you're at a networking event, you can usually tell who's there representing a company. At least one of those people is your foot in the door to starting conversations with said company. Have a little something on hand for them to keep and remember you by. This used to be a business card (still cool in my book!) but get creative.?

6. Thank you, and goodnight. This isn't going to be a dealbreaker for the right candidate, but we still love a nice thank you after the interview! If you have it in you, why not?