Expert: Sean Trapani - 3/30/2009

Question
I'm a journalist with 6 years' experience writing for various celebrity and entertainment magazines. Some of the big ones (and also small start-ups). I want to get a job as a copywriter, and just discovered this whole "portfolio school" business. Now, I have a portfolio of clips, obviously. Most of those clips are art-driven and, therefore, collaborative, creative works. Is this enough to get my resume considered?

Thanks.

Answer
Hi, Melody

If your question is "get my resume considered..." ...by an ad agency, the answer is probably 'no.'

There is a huge difference between how a trained journalist thinks about a copywriting project, and how a copywriter does. There is a difference in tone, structure and objective between the two (differences too involved to get into here).

If your question is "get my resume considered..." ...by a portfolio school or graduate copywriting program, then the answer is probably 'yes.'

Full disclaimer, I'm a professor at one of those MA-level schools. But I am also the graduate coordinator (the one who approves graduate applications). I haven't seen your work, but your background is a perfect fit for the writer who wants to transition into copywriting.

Look into Creative Circus, Miami Ad School, Brand Center (VCU), SCAD and the University of Texas at Austin. Those are my recommendations.

Best of luck with your search. This business needs good writers.


ST