March 26|2008

Dear Jancy:  I am in my second year of a three year diploma in Graphic Design. I am feeling the pull towards advertising but my portfolio needs work. I am working on strengthening my portfolio, although I am more of an ideas person. Is there any way that I can get into an intern position sooner rather than later even if my portfolio is on the weak side?

The better agencies look for graduating seniors as interns. You would have to be really exceptional to compete with a year left to go. You admit your book isn't in good shape so realistically you should focus on getting your book to brilliant at school.

If you want to move into advertising you should make that happen at school. The time is now to start learning the very different skills that go with becoming an agency art director. And you don't learn that through an internship---that's what school is for.