The Collective Ego #1: Interning

By / December 17, 2008 /

Out of the gate for our revitalized advice column we received this question:

“Are the rumors true about crazy, 80 hour weeks for interns at Crispin? If they are, is it worth it? Is it true that working for a big shop first is better than, say, getting an internship at a small shop? Is it true that it’s much harder to go from a small shop to a large one? Did I hear correctly that Crispin is paying their interns now?”

Thanks, CU Ad school student

The Egotist’s Response: It doesn’t matter if the rumors are true or not. CPB has an intense internship program no doubt, but it’s CPB. And CPB is the hottest agency in the whole world. Period. Your experience there will tell you whether or not you should be in advertising. If you impress them, you may get a job at the hottest agency in the world. That’s how things go up there. If and when you get in, work your ass off, work even more, and once you’re ready to pass out from exhaustion, go find a CD, ACD or ANYONE and ask if you can give them a hand.

If 80-hour weeks scare you now, then perhaps this isn’t the right industry for you to be in. We’re not saying that ALL great agencies work their people (and their interns) that intensely, but many do. So if it’s a red flag for you, CPB is probably not the place for you.

Regarding the size of an agency (small shops vs. large shops), that’s a fairly irrelevant criterion to apply. Read some of our responses to your question from other very smart people and you’ll see why.

From someone who works at CPB: “As with any situation, it’s what you make of it. I interned at small shops and always worked late and made an incredible experience for myself out of a normal internship.

If someone is timid about the hours and the investment, the Crispin internship probably isn’t for you. However, if you are a real go-getter, it could be one of the best experiences of your life and you might walk out of here with some killer book pieces.

It’s not the kind of internship where you are shoved in a corner and forgotten about until someone needs a coffee run. They get to work on a lot projects and treated as juniors, not as task runners. So if you are thinking to yourself, “I’d need an internship on my resume so I have some sort of experience before I graduate.” This internship probably isn’t for you.

As an intern, at any shop, you should be clawing at every situation to get your hands on the work in any way possible. And once you do get your hands on it, you should be killing it in every way possible to stand out. Internships are not resume fillers they are opportunities to stick out as a “holy shit we have to hire that person” potential employee.”

From Norm Shearer at Cactus: “My advice on interning and entry level jobs is fairly unexciting and bland, but I stick by it anyway. I feel entry level experiences, or any experience for that matter is 1% based on where someone is and 99% based on what someone does with the opportunity. People should take opportunities based more on factors like: Do I like the people at this place? Am I comfortable with them and can I be myself there? Will I get access to all types of people and the leaders or people who shape the decisions? Will I get a chance to make a dent and a meaningful contribution? And so on.

There is no equation to what makes for success in this business, or any business for that matter. That’s why it’s so damn fun. I’ve met types from both ends of the spectrum, those who are self-taught, and those with pedigree. And there are geniuses and A-holes on both sides. But the ones who get it, who truly get it, don’t really care what your background is, but more what type of person you are and if you have a decent idea that can make a difference or inspire others. We all are making it up every day and faced with the vulnerability and short lived life of our ideas…. and it all takes a bunch of hard work and guts to keep at it everyday. So just make a decision, dive into the deep end and go.”

From Jonathan Schoenberg at TDA Advertising and Design: “There are very few internships in which students can really benefit from the experience. So often I meet students from portfolio schools who were disappointed by the experience because they did not have a purpose at the agency and time was wasted. Structured internships I like a lot for our students at CU are Leo Burnett’s summer program that is awesome and CP+ B’s program which might be demanding but is certainly very inclusive and a great opportunity. I do think a small shop is great because you are going to be a little closer to the action but it is relative if nobody has the inclination to spend time with you. In terms of tda I think it is a nice place to be but we only take one or two people a year and they come from my advanced portfolio class at CU.”

From Steve Whittier at Factory: “Try to get an internship at an agency that’s strength is in the discipline you are looking to go into. It you want to be on the Account Service side, look for an agency that manages their clients well and that has a well-structured program where you get an opportunity to work on briefs, schedules, etc.

If creative is your thing, look for the place that does the kind of work you want to do. If you want to be an AD, find a place that is strong on design. If copy is your focus, find a place with strong writing that has a variety of writing styles and strong senior writers.

Three last things. Does the agency have a well-managed intern program? If it’s not, you may not learn anything. What is their track record of hiring interns? If they hire from the intern ranks, this may lead to something.

The last thing is don’t start the conversation off by asking if the internships are paid and then get sideways if they don’t. An internship program is not a right, it’s a bonus. Be appreciative.

We currently do not have a program. We have in the past. Like any agency program it takes time, effort and resources. Be respectful of that. As far as how hard anyone works their interns or if they pay them, I have no idea but that should not be the point. The point is that they are offering a chance. They are not making you pay, and after 4 or 5 years of college, even an unpaid internship is a pretty good deal.”

From Leif Steiner at Moxie Sozo: “Internships fill a critical gap between design school and a real-world agency job. The vast majority of design-school graduates are strong on theory, passion and drive but weak in practical experience. A well-chosen internship at a studio that matches a student’s goals is as valuable as a degree. Paid or unpaid, it is more important to find a position that fosters growth. We spend a lot of time educating our interns and we expect them to behave as professional designers. As I write this, it is 10:17 PM and there are two interns working in the studio right now. Are they ready for a salaried job? No. Will they be in a few months? Absolutely.”

From Mike Sukle at Sukle Advertising & Design: “I’m sure interning at an agency like Crispin is a great experience. But the right small shop can offer you a really interesting learning experience also. At our shop an intern is exposed to all aspects of the business, from planning through execution. You would work along side our teams to create work and be allowed to sit in on client meetings and presentations. While you might do your share of errands, you’d be treated like one of the team. We also really try to get interns to get some work produced for their books. All in all if you’re at a good shop, that’s the important thing. Not so much the size of it.”

“We have super talented employees that have come from the really big shops. And equally great ones that have come out of virtually nowhere. While a name like Crispin or Wieden will always get your resume a second look, the real determinant is what you know and can demonstrate about the business. At the end of the day if you do good work, are smart and not too much of a jackass, you’ll probably do just fine no matter where you intern.”

So there you have it. Solid nuggets of pure gold for our young, street-urchin ad student. And the cost to you, the reader, absolutely nothing but a few minutes of your precious time. So keep the questions coming. It’s only a neuroses if you hide it.