Quite often, when I’m browsing through ads for copywriters, I see that employers are looking for copywriters with ‘agency experience’. Having never worked for an agency, I always thought that I was missing something and felt almost a bit of a fraud. However, having looked into it in a bit more detail, I’ve discovered that I needn’t have worried.
It would seem that all that working for an agency provides you with is an ability to work to budgets and deadlines and experience working as part of a team. So you know how to work effectively with artists and designers and marketing people as well as being able to manage costs and time . Things that any writer working in industry will have experienced anyway. Certainly, as a technical author, I’ve had to work with a wide range of people, including printers, designers, engineers, sales staff, projects staff, administrators etc. etc.
So nothing to get het up about? Not quite. Unfortunately, it would seem that there’s an element of snobbery when it comes to taking on copywriters and that means those without agency experience are at a disadvantage. It’s a tough world. So if you are like me and don’t have agency experience, I suggest you really highlight all of the skills and experience you do have that match those that you would have learned in an agency environment.
Reminds me, must get back to that CV.
