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Hello! I’m an aspiring copywriter (or aspiring anything at this rate) and since June I have applied to 90+ jobs without success.

Though I understand it’s not a great time to be looking for jobs, I can’t help but think I’m doing something wrong! So, I was wondering if anyone had any game-changing CV/cover letter tips, or just general advice, to help boost my employability? (A few motivational quotes wouldn’t go amiss either!)
Holly Johnson
Holly Johnson
Writer

Replies9

  • Holly Johnson
    Holly Johnson
    Writer
    @Vikki Ross Thanks for the advice Vikki!
    More recently I’ve been adopting a different type of proactive approach and will definitely being following your tips. Hopefully it’ll pay off soon!
  • Vikki Ross
    Vikki Ross
    Copy Chief
    Hi Holly,

    Here's some advice - hope it helps:

    Get ready
    Is your CV up to date? And your portfolio or website? What about your profile? You’ve got one right? On The Dots, LinkedIn, Creativepool, Working Not Working?

    And do you know where you want to work? Or who you want to work for? Why? Do your research. Sign up to all the industry newsletters like Little Black Book, Best Ads, Ads Of The World, Adweek. See who’s doing what where. Sign up to brand newsletters too – the ones you want to work for – so you always know what they’re up to.

    Get going
    There’s no time to waste and there’s no need to wait. Take control of your career. Write to the people you want to work for – tell them why them. And why you. Do a quick search on Google, LinkedIn, The Dots, Twitter and agency websites to find email addresses. Not the generic ones – the specific ones. You want someone to actually get your email.

    And email anyone who inspires you. Be interesting and interested. You never know, you might contact someone just as they’re looking for someone like you.

    Get busy
    We have all the tools, resources and channels we need to make something. Now. We don't need to ask for permission, respond to a brief, or wait for a job. We can just get on with what we want to do, what we want to create and what we want to show for ourselves.

    So make something. Make the thing you've always thought about making. Write the article you've always thought about writing. And share it with the world. Or look into the campaigns you love, develop them further and share your work with the person, team or agency who worked on the original. Show them what you've got and what you can do.

    Also, follow #copywritersunite on Twitter to connect with other copywriters and see any jobs shared.

    Best of luck and best wishes,

    Vikki
  • Holly Johnson
    Holly Johnson
    Writer
    @Olivia Macioti thanks for the advice Olivia!
    It can be quite a disheartening process unfortunately, but I am definitely open to pursuing other opportunities in the meantime.
    Though I’m not much of a poet myself, I have read a fair share in my degree and I’d love to give it a go!
  • Holly Johnson
    Holly Johnson
    Writer
    @Samuel Barker Thanks for your reply!
    I agree, the only thing to do is to keep on pushing forward; surely there’s got to be something!
    Luckily I accepted an unpaid content writing role for an online jewellers (www.londonde.com) which has been keeping me busy over the summer. Though I’m really grateful for the experience and have developed a decent portfolio, I can’t really sustain unpaid work for too much longer. Hopefully we’ll both find something soon! Best of luck:)
  • O. Macioti
    O. Macioti
    Graphic Designer & Social Media Manager
    @Samuel Barker has some great advice. I'm not a copywriter, but as a recent Graphic Design graduate I've been having the same exact issue.
    It's heartbreaking to send out so many CVs and not even get an automated response letting you know you're not the right fit for the company, but don't let it get you down; and, even more importantly, don't let it slow you down.
    Participate in and throw any possible projects as you can, and refine your skills every chance you get. It won't just help you find more confidence and approach situations that might be uncommon to you, broadening your horizons, but you can use every single one of those occasions to build up your portfolio and look more palatable to companies and agencies.
    No recruiter is ever going to know whether the experience you have on your CV comes from unpaid or paid positions, you might as well collect as much as you can and challenge yourself while you're at it.
    I'm not sure what type of writing you do, but, if you wanna dip your toe in the waters and figure out if collabs could be of interest to you, you could join the zine I'm co-creating. We've had some people submit poems, and we'd love for you to write something for us, should you wanna.
    (I'll drop you an email to contact just in case you'd like some more information, but don't feel pressured – I just figured I'd share! artificialfeverband@gmail.com)
    Bottom line, it's like Samuel said. Create content if you can!
  • Samuel Barker
    Samuel Barker
    Writer and Editor
    In the same boat as you, it's so easy to get disheartened but we've got to just keep on pushing through until we find the job that is the right opportunity for us!

    Are you doing any freelance writing/blogging/content creation in the meantime? It's something I'm working on getting started in as I keep applying to copywriting jobs.

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