Someone’s Getting a Job. Is It You? – by Brad

The economy blows. Advertising firms are still trying to make sense (and money) from the digital revolution. The unemployment figures get scarier by the month. Who the hell can find a job nowadays? Creative people. That’s who. In fact, after The Big Ad Gig takes place this fall, a few lucky ones will find themselves gainfully employed at impressive global advertising companies (yes, they still exist).

The second Big Ad Gig’s big event on September 30 in New York. By that time the candidates will have been chosen, the work will be ready to present and the judges will be poised to make a decision about who gets added to the payrolls. It’s all done live, in front of an audience at the Times Center. So you know, no pressure. Those judges, by the way, are some pretty big names: Ty Montague, Andrew Keller, Tham Khai Meng, Andreas Combuechen, Jimmy Smith…you know, creative directors who can put you on the payroll and get you an office and stuff. But you got to show them what you’re made of. The deadline is August 23. Directions are on their website, thebigadgig.com.

Now here’s the inspiring part. Last year, a handful of budding creatives were out of school, working menial jobs and just trying to scrape by. Anna Lippert-Haczkiewicz came to Chicago from her native Poland to get a portfolio together at the Chicago Portfolio School. She was working at Starbucks. She entered. Her idea was among the winning entries. She got a 30-day gig at Atmosphere Proximity that turned into a full-time job as an art director. That’s where she is today. Recession be damned. If she didn’t enter, she’d probably still be making tall lattés today. Or folding sweaters at the Gap. Or spending another frigid Chicago winter staring out the window.

But she’s not. She’s working. As are two of the other winners from last year – at Ogilvy and Saatchi & Saatchi. In real creative departments. Getting real paychecks.

I know in the end it’s only very few people who end up employed. But hey, it’s a way in. If you’re one of those people who just can’t get a email returned about a job opening, this could be your chance. They’re asking for entries. They want to hire someone. There’s nothing to lose.

So, are you in?

Brad Mislow is, well, Brad Mislow.