Kevin Lynch remembers how challenging it was as a young creative staffer to find his first agency job. It was tough to get a portfolio seen and difficult to receive good feedback.
"You learn that it's persistence above brilliance that can pay off," he said.
That's why Lynch, a vice president and associate creative director at McConnaughy Stein Schmidt Brown in Chicago, has spearheaded the agency's new Student Portfolio Review program.
One night each month, starting last week, agency creative staffers are making themselves available to talk with aspiring art directors and copywriters and review their work. Future dates for sessions are Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9 and Nov. 13.
The agency has sent posters announcing the program to recruiters and top advertising schools around the country.
"Other agencies probably see this as a cheap way to see the best talent first," Lynch said. "And, sure, that's good, but we hire about as often as they name a pope, so that's not the main reason for doing this."