Some of us were lucky enough to be invited back to an agency after a visit for “a coffee and a conversation”. Some of these came from an outstanding resume and portfolio, but in my case it was the fact that I bombarded them with e-mails and customized LinkedIn invitations. The junior level employees were almost always eager to help with tips and New York life advice.

Most of the advice was similar to what Deb and the rest of the amazing advertising staff has been pushing into our brains for years, be persistent, be confident in yourself and your work and outwork everyone around you. Others had some tips I never really thought about.

Although I won’t share all of my newly obtained knowledge, I will share one piece that may increase your chance of getting in internship in the city of your liking ten-fold. Alter your address on your resume to a more local address in relation to the agency.

For example, if you want to work in SF and you have family or a close friend that lives in the area, put their address as your current address. A junior account executive from Miami changed her address on her resume to her Aunt’s in Brooklyn, and immediately got ten times more responses towards applications and cold e-mails. If they say, “come in tomorrow” make something up to give you a few extra days that will give you time to figure out travel plans.

It’s not lying, it’s “stretching the truth”.

-Alek Weltin

5/14/2017