Advertising & Media Internship Programme
CAANZ is the industry association representing New Zealand’s Advertising and Media agencies.
Collectively our members number around 100 agencies with over $1billion in billings. Surprisingly
there are only about 2000 people in the industry to make it all happen - which is your first clue that
job opportunities are not in huge supply.
The second thing to know is that, as we recruit grads on behalf of our members, we are only looking
for the sharpest, most passionate and genuinely curious young people. You need to be able to listen,
learn on the go, and be a keen observer with the confidence to voice your opinion.
The key assets agencies have are their people. We are a creative industry first and foremost (yes,
media is exceptionally creative) but we need great relationship management, exceptional
organisation and manic attention to detail if we are to deliver the goods we promise.
We are also fundamentally business professionals with serious budgets, small margins, often there
are executive boards and shareholders to keep happy, not to mention highly demanding clients who
drive the briefs, pay the bills and deserve the best we have to offer.
Think you can do it? Of course you do, but you now need to understand that we will get a hundred
or more applications and probably place around 15 – 25 interns at the most.
Unless you can demonstrate that you’re serious about advertising we suggest you don’t apply. If you
have the passion, smarts, energy and can sport a thick skin without losing your sensitive touch, then
please do apply.
Do your homework, get to know the industry, and do your utmost to impress the hell out of us from
here on in.
How the internships work
Successful candidates will be offered a nine-month placement in a leading advertising or media
agency. They will be mentored, paid $32k per annum (pro rata for the duration of their placement)
and receive the best industry training possible – on the job. They’ll also undertake a Foundations of
Advertising and Media programme while on placement in their agency which will expose them to
the broader industry, other agencies and some of the theory and research behind the work we do.
Candidates also have the opportunity to attend various industry functions, awards and speaker
sessions throughout the internship and to network with their peers. On completion of the
internship, it is not unusual for those candidates who have proved their worth to be offered full-time
employment by the agency, however it is not guaranteed.
Most placements are based in Auckland, as the bulk of the industry is here, however, we can explore
placements in other city centres pending a great intern and willing agency.
On the job
In general as an intern you will be pretty much thrown in the deep end regardless of your role. This
may include:
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managing frequent contact with clients
providing support to ensure successful management of projects
researching, writing reports, attending meetings (internal and external)
filling in contact reports, drafting budget reconciliations
undertaking competitive reviews under supervision
analysing swathes of data until you go cross eyed
learning to run data management programmes and mine them for trends
and… if you’re smart, you will keep asking for more, clean up all the jobs no-one else wants
to go near, tidy up after a meeting and offer to do whatever is needed to get the job done.
You may be working on multiple projects and juggling many balls at once for numerous
stakeholders. We cannot emphasise enough how essential great organisational and communication
skills are. And both of these skills start with the ability to listen.
For a creative industry we have a lot of processes and methodology that require focus, drive and
tenacity to keep up with so you also need to work from both sides of your brain at the same time.
Easier said than done.
A broad sense of humour and strong team spirit are essential too. This industry is like a big,
passionate, happy, crazy family where relationships endure through changes in agency, international
location and across decades. Respect and good manners for those around you, regardless of
position, will ensure you are always welcome at family gatherings.
Range of internship roles
The key internships are:
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Account Service (Suits)
Media Assistant
But variations on the theme may include:
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Trading Assistant
Digital Planning
Digital Assistant
SEO
Media Planning
And a potential range of similar titles pending agency and specialisation
By all means have a preference for the area you would like to move into, but keep an open mind.
Exact internship roles will depend on the agencies participating. Last year these included the likes of:
OMD, DraftFCB, Saatchi & Saatchi, MBM, JWT, Vivaki, and PHDiQ.
Entry criteria for candidates
Applicants must:
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Be a New Zealand citizen and/or permanent resident
Not be currently employed in an advertising or communications agency in any capacity
Possess a university degree in any discipline – we really don’t care what it is, because it
essentially tells us that you’re smart and you can apply yourself. But the more interesting
the better eg. science, psychology and philosophy are all good (just make sure you
completed your degree less than a year ago or you will graduate in time to commence an
internship in February 2013).
Candidate selection
Complete all sections of the application and submit to CAANZ no later than 8am on Monday 3rd
September 2012.
All candidates will be advised of the outcome following short listing on Friday 14 September.
Shortlisted candidates will then attend a meeting with CAANZ Industry Development Manager at
which further industry information will be provided, and the assessment process will begin, including
both team and individual activities.
For candidates who impress the next step is the selection day where they do a 10 minute
presentation to a panel of senior industry figures from within the participating agencies.
Those agencies will rate candidates and advise CAANZ of their preferred choices.
Each agency will also present and give candidates an insight into what being an intern at their
agency might be like. Candidates will have the opportunity to rate agencies and will advise CAANZ of
those they prefer.
From this point CAANZ advises both the agencies and the candidates of the opportunities available
to them and works with them both to complete the process. This may include a visit to one or more
agencies, meeting and being interviewed by key staff, and undergoing individual agency recruitment
processes.
Agencies are not obliged to make an offer if they are not convinced there is a suitable candidate for
them so this presentation is absolutely critical to candidates’ success. Should two or more agencies
be interested in a single candidate, the candidate’s preference will be considered.
The ability to present in an engaging, informative and personable manner is rated very highly in this
process and in this business. Your personality should come through, this is not a vanilla industry or a
place for the faint of heart, so if presenting leaves you paralysed with fear and devoid of words, this
is not the place for you. Similarly, if you have no ‘inside’ voice and a tendency to rave uncontrollably
or talk primarily all about yourself in an irritating way when you’re nervous, get a handle on it now!
Key 2012 Dates
Monday 3rd September Applications must be completed and submitted via the application link no
later than 8am
Friday 14th September Shortlist decided and advised (in or out, we’ll let you know)
Week of 24th September CAANZ meeting and assessment commences
Week of 1st October Agency presentations and final assessment phase
NOTE: Presentation dates are subject to change pending availability of agencies to participate. You
will be given as much notice as possible however you will be expected to make yourself available – it
is all about showing willing in your first few years and appreciating that you will not always know
why things change and it is not important that you know, just that you are able to adapt.