Graduate Trainee Program underway with 39 grads placed within 16 Sydney-based agencies
Now in its thirty-second year, The Communications Council’s Graduate Trainee Program has cemented its place as the leading advertising and marcomms training program with 39 university graduates from 22 different universities and faculties placed in 16 different Sydney agencies for 2013.
Graduates’ training is now well underway with the graduates (pictured) having completed an intensive five-day live-in course at Sydney University Village last week. The Summer School program focuses on bridging the gap between academic insights gleaned at university and the practical knowledge needed to excel in the agency business with grads required to do assignments, briefs and presentations, simulating future employment.
Experts in best practice in account management, creative strategic planning, PR, digital, media planning and strategy provided an introduction to the graduates. Lectures included Rob Belgiovane, Ray Black, Al Crawford, Kat Thomas and industry heavy weights from Droga5, OMD, WiTH Collective, VCCP, Pulse Marketing, UM, The White Agency and The Ideas Bodega.
The Summer School moves to Melbourne University early February where speakers will include Adam Ferrier, Ted Horton, Melinda Geertz, Carl Radcliff and Peter Biggs.
For graduates at the participating agencies, their attendance of Summer AdSchool was the first phase of an extensive training program. They will be meeting regularly throughout the year at host agencies to further their immersion in the business.
The program has become a widely recognised industry training program over its 32 years of existence, known for its long history of delivering bright young talent to the industry.
It has a seen over 400 graduates complete the program, including the successful alumni Michael Connaghan, CEO and executive director STW Group, Matthew Melhuish, head Australian Agencies Photon Group and Steve Anastasiadis, former general manager, Saatchi & Saatchi.
7 Comments
They all look so bright eyed and hopeful about their futures but have they really taken a decent look around them at those ahead of them?
There are many people in their early thirties who feel vulnerable in their roles
as there are very few people older than them above them. They are no longer the fresh new thing. They have done some hard work to gain experience and see that in the end anyone with more experience than themselves is soon removed for new fresh thinking. They can see their use-by date fast approaching
So here’s the latest lot as a gesture from the Communications Council that the industry is actually looking after the future.
I was talking with a bunch of fresh new things with 2-3 years experience earlier this week and was amazed but not surprised with the degree of disillusionment they have in the industry and the lack of career path and longevity they see in the industry.
Beyond courses and posturing there is a distinct lack of mentors to guide them through the minefields as most with this kind of experience have been made redundant.
Sadly the latest lot will also become cannon fodder all to soon.
Quick! Run! There are far better opportunities outside the industry.
In reply to Cannon Fodder above – reactions from grads in the office reading the comment are as follows:
“We’re fucked.”
“Nah, we’ll be fucked when we’re old.”
“That’s alright then.”
We’re an optimistic bunch.
Poor sad, cynical fodder for the cannon.
Surely you heard that advertising is for optimists.
Like those A-Graders listed in the various 30-Under-30 lists.
Lay off your ‘talks to fresh young things’ and share your woes with a taxi driver.
This year the blokes mentoring the grads are a little older than thirty – gainfully and happily employed (what you might call optimists) …and FYI I think you’ll find the AFA/Comms Council have been training grads for 30 about years … hardly what you call a ‘gesture.’
@Cannon Fodder
There are many people in their early thirties who feel that they’re just getting started. I’m one of them. Take your harping somewhere else.
@Cannon Fodder God you’re miserable!
@Cannon Fodder
Recently lost your job? I know the bitter pill can be hard to swallow. Chin up digger.
Having a degree counts for very little in Australian advertising. Providing that you understand this and also realize that the industry offers very little in terms of mid term job security (i.e. once you are over 30) you should pursue any opportunity offered. Cannon Fodder’s tone is off-putting, but the point about career opportunities once you get into your 30s is not new.