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August 16|2008
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Dear Jancy: I've recently moved back home to Calgary after graduating with a marketing diploma in Ontario. While in school, I got internships writing press releases for an auto maker and did some event-marketing gigs around Toronto. As a people person, I really loved how creating communication was different in each environment.
Although I majored in marketing, I have always had a love for advertising. I know the 'suits' get some flak in this business, but given my foundation on the client side of the fence and my appreciation for good creative, I think I'd make a wonderful accounts person at an agency. I've also got a strong spine and a handsome face to boot!
Now that I'm home, what places should I shoot for? Do shops even recruit Jr. accounts services guys these days? Will my past PR experiences help me here? This is a side of the industry that doesn't get a lot of attention, so I'd appreciate your perspective.
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 You have some good experience to draw on as you explore the possibilities in account services. Tell Trent Burton at Taxi in Calgary we sent you for some in-person career advice. He's the creative director (and worked with us as a writer when he was new in the business). We bet you're not as handsome as he is. But he'd never, ever reference his good luck in the gene pool, and like us he'd advise you not to bring it up again. That little caution to one side---you could find an interesting next step in advertising. Trent could tell you the lay of the land in his market. Good account people are hard to find anywhere; show up with your enthusiasm for the industry showing and knowledge about what's going on in ad land (there are sites galore including this one that can help you get on top of trends and best new work globally) and he, like others, will have time for you. Good luck.
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