Charlotte. Junior Creative - Advertising

Charlotte is a twenty-four-year-old Junior Creative based in London. She has been in the Advertising industry for two years.

How did you get into your field? What inspired you?

‘I would always stop in the street and read the billboards and think how clever they were. I admired the creative thought process behind them. This is what fundamentally inspired me to give it a go myself.’

‘I was also really interested in “unconventional” advertising such as experiential (unique brand experiences and pop-ups) and the power of making people feel something.’

What did you study at school and university and did this help you get into your field?

‘I had no idea what I wanted to do or be when I was at school, but I chose the subjects I loved; English Literature, English Language and Art, and I tried something new with Psychology and Economics.’

‘Following my A-Levels, I applied to do a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at Leeds College of Art (now Leeds Arts Uni) as I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I came out of the course with a huge passion for Advertising so decided on the Creative Advertising degree at Leeds Arts Uni, combining my love of Leeds with a creative thinking course that would allow me to do anything in the creative industry. This really helped me get into my field as they had great connections to the industry and secured a lot of placements, helping me land my first job.’

Do you recommend any particular studies, courses or degrees for your field?

‘I’d recommend choosing a broad course that explores a wide range of the industry, especially a creative thinking course as this can be applied to any job in any creative field.’

What does an average day look like in your role?

‘It is sooo varied! Depending on what pitch is in and what shoots are coming up the skill set I need to use and my day will flex completely. I spend most of my time planning, art directing, content creating and copywriting for fashion social media accounts.’

What is the best part of your role?

‘The best part of my role is how, as a Junior, I’m encouraged to get involved with every single piece of client work and pitch. So I’m constantly learning and working with seniors which is invaluable for job progression.’

‘I am also responsible for a recognised brand’s Instagram account. Being relatively new to the industry, this gives me a great sense of ownership and pride over a project that not a lot of Juniors get!’

What is the worst part of your role?

‘I feel like it would be the same with any creative, but when you’re working on a big pitch and have dreams of working with brands but then not winning the client, that’s really disappointing!’

How important is work/life balance to you and how much spare time do you have?

‘Work/life balance is super important to me. I use my downtime to recharge and refresh and I try to make sure I have as much of it as possible. Sometimes I might be really productive or I might just binge watching Netflix!’

‘However it is difficult, especially living and working in fast-paced London, so I find I don’t have a great deal of free time in the week. I aim to make up for that on the weekends though!’

Do you have any hobbies?

‘Yes! I have a food Instagram account where I document all the places I like to go, the food I like to eat and what I like to cook at home. I like to read a lot and spend time creating illustrations as I find it really therapeutic. I also write a weekly blog which keeps my creative juices flowing :)’

Do you have any advice for people looking to start a career in the same field?

‘The age-old saying is true; it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Get out, go to events, speak to creatives and network. Also, don’t be afraid to do anything to get your foot in the door - even if that means sneaking into an ad agency when the fire alarms are going (trust me it works!)’

Have you ever experienced any uncertainties about your career? What did you do to overcome them?

‘Finishing University without a job was scary. I set myself up well and had a number of placements lined up but still had a lot of months in a pretty dark place worrying about when I would land my first job. The thing that got me through was adjusting my mindset and believing in positive manifestation (there’s plenty of books that can help) and having blind faith that it’ll all work out.’

Who is your biggest female inspiration and why?

‘My mum - she’s always believed in me and supported me in whatever I’ve chosen to do. She also taught me how to own who I am and to use that to my advantage, along with not taking any sh*t!’