Advertising School

Ep. 21Aim high, work hard. So, yeah, I think it’s pretty common knowledge that my big professional goal is to one day become an advertising copywriter, which is something that I’ve been inching closer toward for a few years now. This career path is what my university studies are aimed at, I’ve been getting some good work experience with a nursing education company over this past year (by doing their marketing and advertising, and some other stuff too), but I think my biggest miss as far as opportunities go, it was definitely my COVID bungled mini-internship at one of the main advertising companies here in Melbourne. Haha, maybe why I’m so shattered, they do heaps of the beer commercials.

In hindsight though, to be honest, I don’t think I was ready for this internship when it did pop up. I was still trying to get a grasp on the industry, still trying to work out who the main players were and the professional bodies, then I hadn’t really got my head around many of the systems, design kinda prerequisites or creative aspects either. Whereas today, I feel like I’m much more abreast of this stuff. Yeah, with knowing nobody in the industry nor having any networking connections, I did find it tough to find out this “technical” stuff, and mainly because I was coming from a place outside of an organisation. Maybe if I was in a specific advertising degree at uni more mentors would’ve been available, only I’m doing creative writing and marketing. Close but no cigar.

Still, I do see this advertising copywriter career as a long-term thing, so I am okay in taking my time here. Or, I was. Or maybe better put, it’s about time to make a move. You see, starting in February next year is this thing called Award School, which it’s a twelve week intensive for advertising copywriters ans creatives. I actually heard of it a few years back, but the advertising “gatekeepers” kept spruiking how hard it is to get in (which is true, there’s only 200 spots available Australia wide), so lacking the self-belief in my own abilities I just sorta whimpered away. But I’ve grown a lot since then, both as a person and in my talents, so I’m ready. This year I’m havin’ a crack.

I feel it deep in my be-jebus, I haven’t wanted anything this badly for ages. Well, obviously apart from moving into my new digs, oh then there’s the Yuto Horigame Nikey SB Dunks, haha. Nah seriously, this Award School thing, this is something that’s super important to me. This is opening the door to my dream, in fact, this is two feet in the door. Award School, this is where all the big companies recruit from – and it’s also run by lots of the senior staff from these joints too. Then, a lot of the guest lecturers come from these companies as well. So, yeah, this course is one big advertising industry fuck-fest, which I love this idea. Be the dumbest person in the room as they say.

Anyhow, the application process for admissions is opening right now, and I’m trying to get right into the thick of it. I handed in my first practice brief yesterday, I’ve been emailing with some of the admission staff already, then I’ve been watching some of the old enrolment related lectures as well. Bit keen Mr Draper. Then, next week I’ve got my first webinar, which this will cover the next hoops I’ve gotta jump through. Like the application process is pretty full on; it has four parts that includes a personal story, two creative briefs, then I dunno the forth yet. Probably something related to experience and/or psychology.

But pretty cool huh? Far out I hope I get in, it could be life-changing. I’ll have to wear a suit and tie to bed

Fingers crossed. Nevertheless, in the mean time, I’ve really gotta get stuck into creating this adversity business and writing these online comes. February is coming, the clock is ticking. Much love.