Perspective

If you’re a strategist then you too know intern and junior positions are hard to come by. But you also know that there are plenty of them and many different kinds if you look hard enough. After a visit at an agency a recruiter explained their intern program and said it was only available for rising junior and seniors. I was confused as most places typically look for recents graduates instead. I confirmed by asking if graduating seniors could apply for the program and specifically if they had strategy positions open. The recruiter responded by telling me that there were open account exec positions and told me that strategy internships don’t exist, and that I would have to start out as a project manager or account managing position. I was confused, but had heard similar things before. He repeatedly told me how hard it is to start out being a strategist, and that there, I couldn’t do that. It threw me off, and I almost felt offended because he wasn’t willing to hear me out. He had no idea who I was or what my background was. But hey, I barely knew him either. I left feeling like I didn’t want to be a part of a place that blatantly ignored young strategists. 

On the flip side, I have to thank him. I know that strategy is hard to start out in. But i’m going to do it, and want todo it ten times more after this conversation. Here’s to strategists, because we all know how necessary (and awesome) we are!!

- Gabi Deckelman