Bull’s eye

Learning the nuances needed to become an ad maker at Ogilvy, was Jainam’s dream come true

Unlike the selection procedure of other companies where one has to go for an interview, Ogilvy and Mather Ltd., had a unique approach to hiring interns. There was a competition, The Punchline , organised by our college, where teams had to create an ad. The winner would get an opportunity to intern at Ogilvy.

I was thrilled when my team won, as I had earned a two-month summer internship at the world’s top ad agency, the place famous for the legendary ad man, Piyush Pandey, who had made blockbuster brands such as Cadbury, Asian Paints, Fevicol.

Getting comfortable

I had several doubts which were all put to rest when I entered an office with creative people brainstorming in informal wear, calling each other by their first names despite the age gap. I worked as a client servicing (account management) intern for two months and got the opportunity to work for a plethora of well-known brands such as CEAT tyres, JSW Steel, Rajasthan Royals, Castrol Oil, Jana Bank, and so on.

My mentor was an amazing person to work with. On the first day, he said, “Client servicing is all about patience and humility. Without these two, one cannot delight customers.” I did primary research for a leading tyre brand and made a questionnaire.

My work ranged from making decks for the client pitch, to brainstorming ideas for the brand’s campaign. I had to do market research of the competitors for Castrol Oil, which Ogilvy called Competition Review. I also handled an account for a major steel company where I contacted the marketing team and set up meetings with its creative department. The work was hectic, but getting feedback from clients made it worthwhile.

Working there, I realised how different real-life problems were, from the theory lessons taught in class. While my internship was unpaid, the lessons I learnt were invaluable.

I learnt how to be creatively effective in conveying a message through ads, the importance of teamwork, and satisfying clients. My experience changed my perspective about the advertising industry — I learnt that a successful campaign was all about storytelling.

Jainam Vora is studying at Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics Shares University.

Courtesy: Internshala, an internships and trainings platform (internshala.com)