J Walter Thompson has launched a career development programme to bring young people from outside of the traditional talent pools into the advertising industry.
Called Jump/Start, the internship programme aims to attract students and recent graduates from backgrounds such as theatre, film, creative writing, tech, product design and innovation.
It is designed to “bridge the gap between classroom education and hands-on application,” giving participants the chance to work in an agency setting on live briefs. Participants will be paid monthly for a three-month internship.
“We’re pushing the boundaries of the typical advertising internship program by arming you with the best briefs of the agency, a one-on-one mentor and real production experience,” the Jump/Start website reads.
In Asia, Jump/Start kicks off first in Hong Kong and Sydney. It will be led locally by the chief creative directors of the local offices, which in Sydney is Simon Langley and in Hong Kong is Craig Howie.
Worldwide chief creative officer Matt Eastwood said: “Across the board, one of the biggest trends we’re seeing in our industry is the convergence of traditional categories. With Jump/Start, we’ve designed a program that supports creative talent from beyond these traditional confines. Growing a diverse talent pool is essential to our ability to deliver better and more innovative ideas to our clients.”
He added: “I owe great thanks to the many people and agencies that helped me throughout my career, and especially as a young university graduate. That’s the sort of support we want to replicate for the next generation of great creative minds.”
