Summer Job Search Tips: 5 Ways to Land a Job While Enjoying the Season

The hiring slowdown works in your favor if you know how to use it. Here's how to stay visible while still catching some rays.

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

4 min read • Originally published July 11, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

4 min read • Originally published July 11, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Last updated: January 2026

Summer doesn’t mean your job search has to stop. And staying active doesn’t mean missing out on the season, either.

With a few smart strategies, you can keep your search moving forward while still enjoying the weather. Career expert Alex Twersky shares how to make it happen.

1. Set Up Job Alerts

Companies do slow down hiring in the summer, but plenty of organizations still need to fill critical roles. Just take a look at our job board for proof.

Setting up job alerts lets you specify exactly what you’re looking for and receive emails when matching positions are posted.

“Job alerts can give you the best of both worlds: notification when something interesting pops up without being tethered to your computer and hunting for opportunities daily,” says Twersky.

2. Use the Smaller Candidate Pool to Your Advantage

With fewer companies actively hiring, it might be tempting to pause your search until fall. But staying active during the slower months gives you a real edge.

“By not dropping off the grid completely during the summer lull, you may be in a better position to apply for jobs because your competitive pool will be smaller,” says Twersky. “Smaller because some of them will literally be spending time by a pool when the temperatures rise.”

While other job seekers take time off, you can gain visibility in an otherwise crowded market.

3. Learn Something New

Think of summer as prep time for the fall hiring season. One of the best ways to use the extra breathing room is by learning something new related to your industry.

“Adding to your skill sets during the summer recruitment lull can position you better for landing the right job when the fall hiring season gains steam,” says Twersky.

How to identify skills worth learning:

Scan several job postings for positions you’d want
Note the required skills where you feel less confident
Bridge the gap with a targeted course or certification

Quick skill-building tip: Look for short, focused courses that teach specific industry skills. Even a few hours of learning can make a difference on your resume and in interviews.

4. Up Your Networking

Summer is the perfect time to strengthen your network or request informational interviews at companies you’ve been eyeing.

“People are usually in a more relaxed mood over the summer,” says Twersky. “That makes them more open to requests for informational interviews and the like.”

Take advantage of the good weather by suggesting a meeting at an outdoor cafe near their office. The casual setting can lead to more genuine conversations.

5. Get Some R&R

A job search is best executed with a fresh head, so carve out time to actually enjoy the summer.

“The worst thing you can do is be cooped up indoors while the sun is shining and all of your friends are taking time off for vacations or other seasonal entertainments, while you’re sitting indoors, AC blasting, in the glow of your LCD screen,” says Twersky.

Dedicate time to clearing your mind and focusing on what you want in your next role. “When you’ve done that,” says Twersky, “hit the GO button and apply all of the clarity, focus, and passion you have to find the job you want and start the fall off on a new career path.”

Ready to start your search? Browse open positions on the Mediabistro job board and set up a job alert to stay in the loop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is summer a good time to look for a job?

Yes. While hiring slows down slightly, many companies still fill critical roles during the summer months. The reduced competition can actually work in your favor since fewer candidates are actively applying.

Do companies hire during the summer?

Absolutely. Some hiring managers use the slower pace to focus on filling positions before the busy fall season. Companies with fiscal years ending in summer or fall often ramp up hiring during these months.

How can I search for a job without spending all day at my computer?

Set up job alerts to receive notifications when relevant positions are posted. This lets you stay informed without constantly checking job boards. Dedicate specific time blocks to applications and spend the rest of your time networking, building skills, or enjoying the season.

Should I take a break from job searching in the summer?

Brief breaks are fine and can help you recharge. However, completely pausing your search means missing opportunities and losing momentum. A balanced approach works best: stay active with alerts and occasional networking while still making time to relax.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Resumes & Cover Letters

How to Get Your Resume Noticed in 15 Seconds or Less

Make your resume stand out from the competition with these quick fixes

By Alisha Tillery

@Nicole8151

Alisha Tillery is a freelance journalist, essayist, and PR agency director whose work spans culture, lifestyle, business, and women's issues. She has written for ESPN, ESSENCE, EBONY, and AARP, and brings 15 years of storytelling experience to her work with small businesses, nonprofits, and education clients.

4 min read • Originally published December 15, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Alisha Tillery

@Nicole8151

4 min read • Originally published December 15, 2015 / Updated March 19, 2026

You may spend hours (or days) writing and agonizing over your resume, but once it gets in front of a recruiter, HR staffer or hiring manager, each will spend just 15 seconds deciding whether to pass on or pursue you as a candidate.

Since your CV will get attention for less time than it takes to order a cup of coffee, it’s essential that the document include the key components to boost your chances of getting called in for an interview. Before you apply for another job, retool your resume to do the following:

1. Emphasize Relevant Experience

Too often, an applicant will give equal space every position he has held, even those that don’t relate to the job on the table. “The person reading your resume needs to know what you do, where have you been and how you got there,” advises David Gaspin, senior director of talent and human resources for tech consulting firm InRhythm.

It’s a point that’s particularly valid for career changers looking to break into media, or media professionals looking for a change. “If you’ve had three different careers in your lifetime, and you’re applying for a job that matches one of them, highlight that one,” says Gaspin. “I’m not interested in your nursing career if you’re trying to be an editor.”

2. Focus on Results

Founder and chief talent officer of .comRecruiting, Jane Turkewitz, says that effectively communicating accomplishments in past positions is a major struggle for some applicants. “The biggest thing people need to do when they write their resumes,” says Turkewitz, “is figure out how to tell the story on paper that shows that they’re better than the guy next door.”

Don’t describe your previous job duties; show what you did with them, using metrics that matter. “If you just say, ‘I write merchandising proposals, I do promotions, I create events,’ it doesn’t mean anything,” says Turkewitz. “What I want to see when I’m hiring somebody is ‘I created an event program for this client that brought in an extra $2 million of business.’”

3. Use Keywords and a “Screener-Friendly” Qualifications Summary

Many large companies rely on applicant tracking systems to pre-filter resumes. Others task screeners, real people who quickly sift through resumes, to find those that best match job specifications. Either way, if your resume doesn’t include the words these systems are scanning for—say, “social media manager” or “content producer”—it may get overlooked.

A well-written qualifications summary at the top of your resume, a few brief sentences outlining why you are the best person for the job, can catapult your resume to the top of the pile. “This is an opportunity to showcase your accomplishments,” says Sharlyn Lauby, author and publisher at the HR Bartender.

Also avoid repeating the same skills in every position you’ve held. If you managed the Twitter account at more than one company, only list it at the most recent position where you worked. “Err on the side of listing a few things of pure awesomeness,” says Lauby. “In an interview, you will get asked about them and you can knock the socks off a recruiter.”

4. Be Creative—Especially If It’s a Job Requirement

For many media positions, such as those in graphic design or fashion editorial, you’ll likely use the right side of brain more than your left. Why not give your future boss a preview of your mad creative skills with your resume itself?

Gaspin recalls a memorable resume with headings renamed to fit a design position. “Instead of ‘Experience’ and ‘Education’, his headings were ‘Making,’ ‘Thinking’ and ‘Learning,’” he says. “He thought about how he was actually putting himself across.”

Before you get too liberal with your resume, research the company as well as the position itself to gauge whether a form-breaking CV might go over well. And no matter how unorthodox you decide to make your resume, it should always remain appealing to the eye.

5. Cut the Fluff

You only have so much space on your resume to fill with your work experience and accomplishments, so don’t waste it on irrelevant information—high school jobs, college club memberships, the meaningless phrase “references upon request”—that won’t help you stand out from the competition!

If you’d like your resume to stand out even more, consider getting the help of a pro. Mediabistro’s Career Services offer everything from a quick resume edit to several sessions of career counseling to tackle your CV, networking skills, career transition and more.

Topics:

Be Inspired, Get a Media Job, Get Hired, Productivity, Resumes & Cover Letters

Skills & Expertise

Best Career and Media Books to Boost Your Job Search and Skills

Hone your inner bookworm this holiday season to get inspired about the biz

By John Lombard

4 min read • Originally published June 29, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

4 min read • Originally published June 29, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

There’s no better way to spend holiday downtime than by picking up a book that’ll inspire you to up your skills or your search for that perfect job. So go on, grab a book off the list and fill your brain with industry knowledge and top career advice.

Career

1. Knock ‘Em Dead 2016: The Ultimate Job Search Guide, by Martin Yate

To land the job you’ve been vying for, and manage the twists and turns that come with a long and successful career, turn to this job search guide. Yate’s to-the-point style of writing gets to the heart of what you actually need to do to get noticed, including maximizing your social networks to land more interviews, crushing the interview itself and negotiating your salary.

2. Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media., by Aliza Licht

This global fashion communications exec—and former Twitter phenom—tells her story of the business as she shares secrets, advice and real talk to help you leave your mark on the industry. In her book, Aliza confronts the issue of today’s working world, where personal and professional lines can often get blurred, emphasizing the importance of a strong sense of self.

3. Now What, Grad?: Your Path to Success After College, by Chris Palmer

If you’re a soon-to-be or recent graduate, chances are you’re filled with worries about landing a job, paying off student loans and navigating the workplace. Rather than sit there and stew in your anxieties—think Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate—you could just pick up Palmer’s book that acts as a guide map for succeeding in the real world.

4. Welcome to the Real World: Finding Your Place, Perfecting Your Work, and Turning Your Job into Your Dream Career, by Lauren Berger

If you’re just breaking into the industry, consider this a must-read. Lauren Berger, self-proclaimed Intern Queen, writes about the new workplace (and the one your parents can’t offer advice on, since everything’s changed!). Use this as a handbook to help guide you through your first on-the-job experiences.

Media

5. Contagious: Why Things Catch On, by Jonah Berger

Sure, we can’t exactly predict when a video’s going to go viral, but we can look at the science behind why things take off. Here, Jonah Berger looks at what makes things wildly popular, and shares techniques for helping information spread. If you work in media, this might spark ideas about how to design messaging, ads and shareable content—or, at the very least, can give you a fresh perspective.

6. Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, and Advertising, by Ryan Holiday

Now more than ever, companies are moving away from traditional marketing and into a new frontier of growth hacking, or using multiple platforms and channels to expand your business while figuring out on the fly which works best. You or your company may already use some of these practices, but this book can give you a fuller picture of why building and engaging your audience in various ways is so effective and how you can fully adopt it in your office, or for your own personal ventures.

7. Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Create Radically Successful Businesses, by Joe Pulizzi

From the founder of the Content Marketing Institute, this book explains a new model of marketing in which the product is second to building audience using awesome content. If you work in marketing and are looking to gain an even more in-depth idea of the power of content, you’ve got to check out this read.

8. Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content, by Ann Handley

In Ann Handley’s opinion, we’re all writers. And it’s true if you think about it: If you have a site, you’re a publisher, and if you post on social, you’re a marketer. Of course, this doesn’t mean we’re all out-of-the-box amazing writers equipped for the needs of a content-driven market. And that’s where this book comes in, giving you expert guidance into the process of content creation, so you can thrive in this digital world.

9. #AskGaryVee: One Entrepreneur’s Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness, by Gary Vaynerchuk

The social media star Gary Vaynerchuk just rolled out his latest book that tackles the most useful and interesting questions he’s addressed on his YouTube show, #AskGaryVee. If you work in digital media, or are just doing your own freelance hustle, check out this book and others written by Vaynerchuk, like Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

Interview Tips

How to Sell Your Soft Skills During a Job Interview

Your abilities to lead, collaborate and listen to others can set you apart from the rest of the pack

By Dan Schawbel

4 min read • Originally published August 23, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Dan Schawbel

4 min read • Originally published August 23, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

How to Sell Your Soft Skills During Interviews was originally published by the American Marketing Association.

Soft skills—those personal qualities that allow you to work well with and get along with others—can help you in an interview if the other candidates have the same basic skill set for the job. This is especially true if you can relate your soft skills to the company and the position you are applying for.

During the interview process, many candidates feel pressured to only focus on their hard skills. While it’s important to highlight these skills, it’s even more impressive when you can explain to the interviewer your soft skills and strengths that relate to the position.

Want even more help on your interview preparation? The counselors with Mediabistro’s Career Services can help you refine your interview skills in a one-on-one session.

Soft skills are the qualities that can set you apart from other candidates when applying for a job. Although it’s necessary to have the desired knowledge and experience in order to qualify for the position, the manner in which you apply your experience in the workplace is what makes you stand out.

Hiring managers want to know if you have the ability to lead, collaborate and listen to others. Essentially, they want to be positive you are truly the right fit for their company.

If you’re wondering how you can sell your soft skills during your next interview, check out these helpful tips:

Select Your Best Skills

To prove you have the right soft skills for the position, you must carefully select the best ones you possess. Choose three or four skills you believe define your work ethic and focus on them during your interview. It’s also important to relate these skills to the position you’re applying for, the company’s needs, and the culture of the company.

For example, if you’re applying for a position where the majority of your work will take place in a group setting, you’ll want to emphasize your ability to collaborate with others, communicate effectively, and resolve conflict if necessary. Once you select the soft skills that best describe your work ethic, then you can support them with examples from your experience.

Back Them Up

Now that you’ve selected your best skills for the position, it’s time to support them with real experience. Remember, you want to sell your soft skills in a way that will catch the hiring manager’s attention. Many people overlook the power of soft skills, so if you can use examples from your experience to support them, it will make you a much stronger candidate for the position.

To illustrate your soft skills, you want to use a situation from your experience to support your abilities. You could also select an accomplishment story to serve as an example, too. First, you want to make sure you describe the situation or event where you had to utilize your soft skills. Explain to the interviewer the specific skills you used and how you had to implement them. After you describe the scenario, explain the positive outcome of the event. This way, the hiring manager will know exactly what you have to offer and how your soft skills and strengths can make a positive impact on their company.

Explain Why

After highlighting your best skills and illustrating them to the hiring manager, you must explain how they make you the best candidate for the position. Soft skills are transferable abilities many people have to offer. For example, if your strengths happen to be adaptability and teamwork, then you must explain how the employer will benefit from your abilities. It’s important to keep in mind that soft skills are the qualities that will help you land the job.

Being able to highlight your soft skills during an interview will definitely set you apart from other the candidates applying for the position. Through using anecdotes and success stories from your experience, you will be able to sell your soft skills in a memorable way that will help you land the job.

Dan Schawbel is the author of Personal Branding Blog.

The American Marketing Association is the pre-eminent force in marketing for best and next practices, thought leadership and valued relationships, across the entire discipline of marketing. Its online publications include posts on industry trends, career advice and more.

Topics:

Get Hired, Interview Tips

Interviews

Talk Too Much During Interviews? Here’s How to Fix It

Cut the rambling—and improve your performance

By John Lombard

4 min read • Originally published October 4, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

4 min read • Originally published October 4, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Think back on your last interview. Did you talk to the point where the hiring manager’s eyes glazed over?

If so, you probably rambled on a little too long.

Here, we’re talking with media pros to learn why over-talking can ruin your chances of landing the job, as well as a few steps you can take to make sure you never do it again.

Talking Too Much Hurts Your Chances

Sure, it’s not the worst thing you could do in an interview, but it can hurt your chances of getting the gig. Nicole Williams, career expert and founder of WORKS by Nicole Williams points to a quote from Pauline Phillips (creator of the Dear Abby column): “The more you talk, the less you are listened to.”

“Interviewers are of course looking to learn about you and get a sense of your personality,” says Williams. “However, what they really want is someone who is succinct, articulate and pensive.”

Another thing to consider is the interviewer’s schedule. Dan Auerbach, operations director at Intuitive Digital, says the interviewer often schedules back-to-back interviews with several candidates. So, if you ramble over your allotted time, you risk disrupting the interviewer’s entire schedule.

Be Prepared

If you enter an interview without fully preparing for questions, you’ll be sure to ramble. To fix this, Williams suggests conducting a mock interview with a friend and recording the interview. In review, you can tell where you stumble, where you’re a little too verbose, and what responses can be polished.

“Being comfortable with what you are saying and how you structure your sentences is very important when it comes to interviews,” says Williams. “You don’t want to give one-word answers and you certainly don’t want to dive into a five-minute spiel.”

Polish your interview skills, impress the hiring manager and dramatically increase your odds of landing the job with a mock interview.

Deal with Silences

One of the oldest tricks in the book is the interviewer waiting longer than usual to respond after you’ve answered their question. Sometimes, the interviewer is simply taking notes; other times, he or she sees how you’ll fill the void.

“People typically see this as they didn’t answer the question properly and would fill that space with more information, typically stuff that may hurt their chances,” says David Blacker, managing principal of digital marketing agency Venerate Media Group.

Rather than continuing to answer the question, Blacker recommends asking, “Did that answer your question, or were you looking for more clarity?”

FAQs: Enhancing Interview Skills and Managing Over-Talking

Q: Why can talking too much during an interview be detrimental?

A: Talking excessively can hinder your chances because it might lead to less engagement from the interviewer, indicating a lack of brevity and thoughtfulness. It also risks overrunning the allocated time, potentially disrupting the interviewer’s schedule.

Q: What steps can be taken to prepare for an interview?

A: Prepare by conducting mock interviews with a friend and recording them to identify and polish areas where your responses may be too long or lack clarity. This helps you structure your answers more effectively and avoid rambling.

Q: How can one ensure they are not over-talking in an interview?

A: Be concise and articulate in your responses, delivering clear and relevant information without unnecessary details. Practice structuring your answers to questions in an informative yet concise way.

Q: What should you do when faced with silence after answering a question in an interview?

A: Embrace the silence as a normal part of the interview process. If you feel compelled to fill the void, ask the interviewer if your answer was sufficient or if they need further clarification instead of continuing to talk.

Q: How does being overly verbose affect the interviewer’s perception?

A: Over-talking can make you seem less articulate and possibly less confident in your answers. Interviewers appreciate candidates who can express themselves clearly and efficiently, reflecting good communication skills and respecting the interviewer’s time.

Q: What role does preparation play in avoiding over-talking?

A: Adequate preparation allows you to answer questions more confidently and concisely, reducing the likelihood of rambling. It helps you anticipate questions and structure your thoughts ahead of time.

Q: How can mock interviews help in reducing over-talking?

A: Mock interviews provide a safe environment to practice your responses, helping you identify when you’re prone to over-talking. They allow you to refine your answers and improve your ability to communicate effectively and concisely.

Topics:

Get Hired, Interview Tips

Hot Jobs

Freelance and Contract Media Jobs Are Quietly Reshaping the Market

By Mediabistro

The Mediabistro editorial team draws on 25 years of media industry expertise to cover jobs, careers, and trends shaping the industry.

4 min read • Originally published March 5, 2026 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Mediabistro

The Mediabistro editorial team draws on 25 years of media industry expertise to cover jobs, careers, and trends shaping the industry.

4 min read • Originally published March 5, 2026 / Updated March 19, 2026

The Gig Economy Grew Up

Something worth watching is unfolding across today’s job board. A significant share of the most interesting new postings aren’t full-time positions at all. They’re contract, freelance, and part-time roles that demand senior-level experience and offer real creative ownership in return. These are structured engagements with clear deliverables, defined compensation, and the kind of autonomy that used to require starting your own shop.

The shift is especially visible in production and content roles, where companies are building lean teams of experienced specialists rather than staffing up with generalists. Several of today’s featured employers are small, fast-moving organizations that have designed their workflows around distributed talent from the start. For freelancers and contractors, that distinction matters: you’re joining an operation built for remote collaboration, not retrofitting a cubicle job into a Slack channel.

If you’ve been building a freelance career or considering the leap from full-time, today’s listings offer a useful snapshot of how the market values contract expertise right now. If you’re exploring that transition, our guide on leaving a job without burning bridges is a solid starting point.

Today’s Hot Jobs

AI Content Editor, Fiction and Creative at Research on Point

Why this role is worth your attention: The AI editorial pipeline is producing a new category of specialist, and this listing spells out exactly what that looks like. You’ll serve as the final quality gate on AI-generated drafts, rewriting passages that read flat or generic and ensuring tonal consistency across creative and fiction content. The $25–$35/hour rate is competitive for freelance editing work, and the fact that the company has already built a functioning human-AI workflow signals stability rather than experimentation.

What they need from you:

Experienced writer/editor comfortable performing substantive “w-editing,” not just proofreading
Ability to compare AI drafts against original human-crafted inputs for accuracy and completeness
Skill at rewriting passages that feel repetitive, generic, or tonally inconsistent
U.S.-based candidates only; fully remote and contract

Apply for the AI Content Editor position

Paid Social and Digital Advertising Manager at How To Academy

The draw here: How To Academy is a premium cultural events brand expanding its U.S. programming, and they need someone to build and run paid social campaigns that drive ticket sales across multiple cities. This is a contract retainer role, which means ongoing work with strategic depth rather than a one-off campaign. You’ll own full-funnel campaign structures across Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and more, working closely with programming and marketing teams to scale audience acquisition while protecting a carefully cultivated brand voice.

Key qualifications:

Deep expertise in paid social strategy across Meta platforms, with additional channel experience a plus
Proven ability to build full-funnel campaigns from awareness through conversion
Analytical rigor combined with the agility to manage campaigns across different markets simultaneously
Experience aligning paid social with broader marketing efforts including email and organic content

Apply for the Paid Social Manager role

Social Media Producer (Travel Required) at Showplace

What makes this one different: Showplace designs and launches high-performing Airbnb and short-term rental properties, and they want a social media producer who will physically travel to installs and job sites to capture content in the field. At $35/hour with all travel expenses covered, this part-time role (20–30 flexible hours per week) offers a rare combination: creative ownership, real-world production work, and the freedom to manage your own schedule. You’ll own the full content lifecycle from on-location shooting through publishing.

The must-haves:

Ability to shoot and produce short-form vertical video for Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and LinkedIn
Comfort being on camera and filming yourself during production
Experience managing social platforms with strategic intent, not just posting
Willingness to travel to project sites and events across the country

Apply for the Social Media Producer position

Producer and Showrunner, Sports Video Series at Mustard Squad HQ

The opportunity in a nutshell: This is a ground-floor role building a sports video series from scratch, structured as a three-month proof of concept at $2,500/month with a clear path to $4,500/month full-time plus performance bonuses if the format succeeds. You’ll research stadiums, write 10–12 minute scripts blending education and comedy, coordinate freelance hosts and videographers, and manage production end-to-end. The founder is looking for someone who can operate as a COO, making 90% of decisions independently in an async-first environment.

Ideal background:

5+ years of media production experience with a portfolio of content you’ve produced and managed
Track record managing teams and freelancers with minimal oversight
Strong written communication skills suited to an async-first workflow
Sports knowledge preferred, especially baseball, though not required

Apply for the Producer/Showrunner role

Professional Takeaways

The contract and freelance market is rewarding specificity right now. Each of today’s featured roles targets a narrow, well-defined skill set: AI-assisted editing, full-funnel paid social, on-location content production, independent show management. Generalist pitches won’t land these gigs.

If you’re pursuing contract work, tailor your portfolio and outreach to highlight the exact capability each employer is buying. Show them finished work that mirrors their workflow, reference tools and platforms they mention by name, and make it easy for a hiring manager to picture you slotting into their operation on day one. And keep your LinkedIn profile current, because contract hiring managers move fast and often start their search there.

Browse more openings on our Writing and Editing jobs board for additional opportunities posted today.

Topics:

Hot Jobs

Advice From the Pros

5 Reasons to Start Your Career at an Advertising Agency

You have your degree—now what?

By Ayana Young

Ayana Young is a communications and PR strategist with 15+ years of experience spanning media relations, lifestyle brands, professional sports, and publishing.

4 min read • Originally published July 17, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Ayana Young

Ayana Young is a communications and PR strategist with 15+ years of experience spanning media relations, lifestyle brands, professional sports, and publishing.

4 min read • Originally published July 17, 2017 / Updated March 19, 2026

For a young professional just entering the business world, an advertising agency can be an attractive fit. They are commonly known for having great culture, cool office spaces and exciting work, but also come with frequent late nights and a lot of hard work. While the hours could be better, they’re an incredible place to develop in your early career.

If you’re not sure whether an agency is right for you, here are a few great benefits to consider.

1. It will be easier to find a job

Advertising agencies go out of their way to hire, train, develop and retain young talent. They recognize the fact that young people are, to some extent, “shaping” the digital landscape, and for that reason they want their perspectives and minds in-house at their agencies. With the sea of options for young graduates, you will see that agencies will be more receptive to hiring somebody with little experience because they are highly valuing your mindset, creativity and potential for innovative ideas.

2. It will help you find what you like about business

When I first started out in marketing full-time, I had no idea what department or aspect of marketing would interest me the most. College courses give you a brief introduction to what an ad agency will be like, and what other marketing jobs are available, but you don’t truly know until you get out in the workforce.

For instance, I thought I would want to be in Account Management, managing people, relationships and process—but I quickly found that I loved digital media and doing the actual implementation. I didn’t know until I got into the workforce how addicting spreadsheets and data analytics can be. Ad agencies give you the ability to work with multiple departments, see what other individuals do and allow you to just take in what all goes into driving business results.

3. It will make you better at time management

Working at an advertising agency as a young professional will form you into an incredibly well-organized, time-management machine. It will be stressful and you will have to meet multiple deadlines in one week (or day!) but give it a few years and you’ll see that those stressful times helped mold you into a more efficient employee.

Although they have a reputation of being fun with pool tables and ping-pong, ad agency employees are some of the most hard-working people I’ve ever met. Luckily most do embrace the work-hard, play-hard attitude, so you will be rewarded for those stressful days. Either way, I’ve taken prioritization and time management learnings from my days in agency life and I now apply them universally to the rest of my life, and it’s invaluable.

4. It makes you a better sales person

Ad agency work is challenging—not only because of tight deadlines and volume of work, but also because of the need to sell the value of the work once it’s done. Meetings with clients are always sales meetings to an extent, because with the average client switching agencies every three to five years, you need to let them know you’re providing consistent value.

Additionally, you learn to sell yourself and your own value, not just the agency’s value as a whole. Personally, in regards to digital media management, I often track optimizations that I make and calculate their potential dollar value effect on the company. That’s something I learned to do by working at an advertising agency because you can tell a client, “had we not done x, you would have missed out on x amount of dollars.” As a young professional, you’re going to need to sell your value and sell your company’s value, and an agency will give you the opportunity to practice that while you are still developing in your career.

5. It lets you see all angles and perspectives

Whether you’re working as a freelancer, at an agency or in-house, it’s easy to forget that there are other perspectives and ideas out there. You think that your way of looking at things is THE way. However, when you are able to find common ground and understand other people, it makes you a better professional in whatever field you’re in.

Working at an advertising agency allows you to see their side of the marketing world, which in turn makes you a more understanding employee on the other side. Nothing is more frustrating when you work at an agency and the client just “doesn’t get it”— it’s hard to sell through ideas and it’s hard to make them realize certain things are just not possible because of timelines or other logistical constraints. When you can understand and relate, it makes everybody more efficient.

Was that convincing enough?

Hopefully it gets you to at least consider it! If I could go back in time and choose again, I would renew the “work at an agency” option over and over again. Although there are pros and cons to any career path, I think it gives you the most flexibility to learn, understand and develop at a young age. As a result, employers in the future will see you as more valuable, and your future colleagues will be blown away by your effectiveness.

Grow your knowledge in everything from influencer marketing to social media marketing with one of our self-guided online Marketing and Communications courses.

Topics:

Advice From the Pros, Be Inspired

Job Search

Job Search Career Advice: Top Tips to Land Your Next Role This Season

Why you should embrace failure, scan the job boards even when you're not looking and more

By Mediabistro

The Mediabistro editorial team draws on 25 years of media industry expertise to cover jobs, careers, and trends shaping the industry.

4 min read • Originally published March 30, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Mediabistro

The Mediabistro editorial team draws on 25 years of media industry expertise to cover jobs, careers, and trends shaping the industry.

4 min read • Originally published March 30, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Spring hiring is continuing to pick up; luckily for you, job seeker, there’s plenty of new career advice coverage to go with it. Here are some of our favorite picks.

1. Want to succeed? Let go of your fear of failure.
Along the road to success, you’re bound to fail. Why you failed isn’t important; what matters is how you got back up, shook it off and learned from the experience. If your job search or stalled career is making you feel like putting a big F on your forehead, check out this failure-friendly read from Oprah.com.

2. Not looking for a new job? Keep checking the job boards anyway.
If you want to boost your professional value and build a better career—and who doesn’t?—it’s smart to keep an eye on job boards. Looking at jobs in your field helps you better identify new skills needed to fill those roles. LifeHacker outlines the eye-opening reasoning behind eyeing the want ads, even when you’re happy at work.

3. Job seekers: You now have permission to break old-fashioned job search rules.
Cover letters are no longer “Dear Mr. Smith”; now it’s “Dear Paul.” You no longer have to go into an interview attempting to make yourself better than the other candidates you’ve never even met. And—best of all—you don’t have to apply only through an applicant tracking system. Forbes has the lowdown on all the job-search rules you’re free to break now.

4. To move forward in your career, it may be best to look back…to a former boss.
Seeking out a previous employer might just help land you your next gig. CareerRealism says a previous boss knows your work style, may know of other companies hiring and can act as a reference.

5. Want that new job? Here are 10 things not to do at the interview.
That one-on-one with your future boss is full of promise—and fraught with potential faux pas. Psychology Weekly has the skinny on what to avoid at an interview, from talking too much, talking too informally, fudging your resume, leaving your phone on and more.

6. You only have ten seconds to garner the attention of important people. Here’s how to make ’em count.
Before attending your next professional event, take in the advice from this Entrepreneur how-to: The secret is remembering the mnemonic EPIC: eye contact, positioning, intensity and charisma.

7. Worried you’re the most boring person at the networking event? No fear: There are ways to turn it around.
Ditch the small talk and the regurgitation of your resume. When it comes to meeting people and making an impression, the best piece of advice is also the simplest, according to this tip-sheet from Fortune: Tap into your passion and gush about that.

8. This emerging field may be marketing’s next frontier—and key to your next job.
Experiential marketing is nothing new, but new technologies are changing the game. And adding jobs in areas like experiential event management and augmented reality. Read all about it—no special headgear required—in this Mashable article exploring new career paths.

9. If you’re playing the ‘should I stay or should I go’ game with your job, then you need to ask yourself a few important questions.
You can gain some clarity on whether it’s time to double down or cash in your chips at your current job. If you’re contemplating a change, don’t make a move without asking yourself these five questions from US News Money.

10. Looking for a job when you have a job can be tricky. Here’s how to proceed with caution.
Employ a few strategic moves—like planning vacation days in advance and scheduling your interviews during that time—to make juggling a job search while you’re still employed feel less like…juggling. The 5 O’Clock Club has tips on looking for a job when you have a job, carefully and with tact.

11. Bad news: Your competitors are gaining momentum in their job search by optimizing their online presences. But there’s good news, too: You can catch up.
Job seekers even savvier than you are taking advantage of social media, using it to network, share relevant industry news and share work samples. Want to get ahead of the competition? Read these 10 tips from Career Girl Daily on optimizing your online presence to power your job search.

12. A bonus employers: Stop saying ‘it’s not personal’. Because, even in business, it is.
Phrases like “It’s not personal,” or, ”Don’t take it personally” are terrible work advice, according to this Harvard Business Review article. The upshot: When managers tell employees “not to take it personally,” the result is a dehumanized, depersonalized and disengaged workforce.

Topics:

Get Hired, Job Search

Interview Tips

Job Interview Horror Stories That Will Make You Feel Better About Yours

No matter how confident or prepared you are, some interviews can still turn scary

By Dana Robinson

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

4 min read • Originally published October 31, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Dana Robinson

4 min read • Originally published October 31, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Usually the scariest part of a job interview is the anticipation of it. But for some people, the real nightmare didn’t begin until one dark and stormy afternoon when they walked into an ordinary office building and opened a creaky HR office door…

The time I passed out

I contracted the flu right before my interview for an information technology position. I’d applied for the job about a year before the actual interview. In the meantime I had to take a test and wait until the HR board decided to actually fill the position. Since it took so long to get the live interview I didn’t want to postpone. It was a great opportunity, and I couldn’t miss out.

I was sick, dehydrated and of course a little nervous going into the meeting–and I wound up passing out during the interview. I had tunnel vision and I faintly heard the interviewer say that he was calling for an ambulance.

The director called me the next day to check up on me and reschedule the interview, which we did about a month later. The second interview went well, but I didn’t get the job. —Anonymous

The time I drew a complete blank

During my interview for an assistant editor position, I met with a panel of about five employees from the company. One of them asked me about my duties at my previous job, and my mind went blank. I was completely silent for about 10-15 seconds and just stared out the window at a tree while I tried to think of something to say. I was eventually able to collect my thoughts and answer the question, but the damage had been done. After the interview I felt that I wouldn’t hear anything more from them regarding the position. I was right. —Mike Rivers

The time I failed at doors

I opened a broom closet instead of the front door when I was trying to make my exit from the interview. —Laura H.

The time I couldn’t keep it together

It was just an interview for a clerical job, but I was young and super nervous. My voice was trembling, and the interviewer could see that I was a wreck. He tried to get me to relax, but once I realized that he could see that I was nervous—it just made me more nervous! A few minutes later he tried again to get me to calm down, and then things really got bad. Toward the end of the interview I started apologizing to him…a lot! He seemed very annoyed, and I never heard from the company again. —Scott Rowden

The time I was seriously grossed out

I met with one of the partners at the firm who spent the entire interview coughing and spitting…into a Styrofoam cup. —Anonymous

The time I got stung

I was interviewing to be a production assistant in New York. I was so into giving my pitch that I didn’t notice that a bee had landed on my hand. Then it stung me! I ran my hand under some cold water in the sink and then got back to the interview. But in the end I got the gig and my first broadcast credit! —Nancy Matson

The time the director fell asleep

Sure, I was available at 9 pm to come to his home/office for an interview! The job was for a screenwriter position and the writer/director was there along with an assistant and another job candidate. Eventually, the other candidate and the assistant left, so then it was just me and the writer/director. He kept asking me if I would be willing to do secretarial work in addition to script work.

By now it’s about 11 pm and he’s still asking me interview questions. Then he starts to kind of… fall asleep in the chair in front of me. At which point I’m like, “Okay, so, yeah! Let’s continue this later!” And I got out of there. —Laura Bahr

The time I nearly suffocated

I interviewed with a tobacco company fresh out of college. The people interviewing me smoked the ENTIRE time. As I sat there struggling to breath and feeling a sore throat coming on, they asked me if I was a smoker. I said no. I was pretty sure that at that point I didn’t get the job. I was right. —Marcia Perry-Jones

The time I didn’t know what I was getting myself into

The job advertisement was seeking a copywriter for an “industry trade magazine.” It turns out that the industry was porn. I would have been writing for a sex toy magazine to be exact. The interviewer warned me that taking the job might negatively impact my ability to work elsewhere, and then he sent me home with several copies of the publication and told me to call him if I was still interested. I never called him back. —Anonymous

Topics:

Get Hired, Interview Tips

Climb the Ladder

How to Answer “What Is Your Desired Salary?” in a Job Interview

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published December 13, 2019 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published December 13, 2019 / Updated March 19, 2026

There’s always a point in the job process when you are asked the dreaded question: What are your salary expectations?

This might be a line to fill out in the initial application, a standard part of the HR phone interview, or a conversation with the hiring manager after the pool has been narrowed to a few candidates. Regardless of when the question arises, you need to be prepared to give an appropriate answer that won’t undervalue your worth or jeopardize your chances of advancing in the interview process.

Before you hit “submit” on that job posting, keep these tips in mind for answering the “desired salary” question whenever it comes up.

Deflect the Question as Long as Possible

Ideally, the salary discussion should be a signal that an offer is on the way. But not all companies have that perspective. Sometimes hiring managers will ask early on in the interview process for your salary expectations, perhaps even before you’ve met anyone in person. The last thing you want to do is be caught off guard and blurt out a random number, especially when you don’t really know yet what the position entails.

In reality, the best time to discuss salary expectations is at the end of the process, after you’ve had an opportunity to learn about the position and demonstrate how your experience is a good fit. If asked for your desired salary at the beginning of the recruitment cycle, you can reiterate your interest in learning more about the job before giving a concrete answer. Similarly, if your desired salary is asked on the initial job application, you can write “negotiable” or “commensurate with job expectations.”

Not to mention, it’s extremely important to reiterate how excited you are for the chance to work at the company and in the position itself. As a candidate, it’s important never to let it look as though you’re only after the money the job offers. Companies want candidates who are invested and passionate about the work, so remind hiring managers that you are!

Don’t Give Away Your Salary History

Sometimes, instead of asking for salary expectations, a hiring manager will ask you what your current salary is. Often, the tactic is to offer you a slightly higher salary than you’re currently making, but the offer might still be below market rate or what the company can actually pay. Not to mention that in some states, asking about past salary is illegal.

On the flip side, many people switch careers or industries over time, and sometimes this involves taking a pay cut. If you are moving from a more lucrative industry (like engineering or financial services) to a typically lower-paying industry (like nonprofits), you might be comfortable taking a lower salary—but the bigger numbers in your salary history could scare a hiring manager away.

To avoid these issues altogether, focus all discussions instead on the salary data you’ve collected (more on this in a minute), how your qualifications meet the job description, and what you expect your salary to be for the new position.

Be Prepared With Research

It’s not just enough to want a specific salary. You need to see how your work experience and the job itself fit into larger market trends. Online resources like Glassdoor and Salary.com provide insight into salaries for specific positions, companies, industries, and locations. You can also use one of the salary calculators offered by PayScale or LinkedIn to get a more personalized look at your worth in the job market. These will also take into account your educational experience, location, and other factors that would statistically affect your potential salary.

One additional factor you should consider is whether you will be an exempt employee (which means you are not eligible for overtime) or nonexempt employee (which means you are eligible for overtime). During the interview process, learn what your expected hours will be and whether you will be working nights and weekends. Armed with this additional information from the company itself, you will be better equipped as you conduct salary research to determine a fair wage.

Give a Range Rather Than a Single Number

So you’ve done the research, deflected the question until it’s almost offer time, and now you are ready to share your desired salary. Rather than lock yourself into a specific number ($50,000), it’s better to offer a range ($50,000–$60,000). When determining your range, the higher number can be aspirational; the company may offer you the upper range, but if not, the lower range appears more “affordable” by comparison. Of course, make sure the lower number in your range is still high enough for you to be comfortable accepting the offer.

Remember to Negotiate

If you receive an offer that’s lower than you expected, it never hurts to ask for a higher salary or to learn what additional compensation opportunities (bonuses, merit raises, commissions, etc.) are available. In addition, you might consider negotiating other benefits such as vacation time, tuition assistance, and remote working options. Remember, you can say no to an offer that does not match your desired salary, based on your industry research, work experience, and job responsibilities. The job that deserves you is out there somewhere, and it’s okay to keep looking.

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

1. Set Up Job Alerts

2. Use the Smaller Candidate Pool to Your Advantage

3. Learn Something New

4. Up Your Networking

5. Get Some R&R

Frequently Asked Questions

Is summer a good time to look for a job?

Do companies hire during the summer?

How can I search for a job without spending all day at my computer?

Should I take a break from job searching in the summer?

1. Emphasize Relevant Experience

2. Focus on Results

3. Use Keywords and a “Screener-Friendly” Qualifications Summary

4. Be Creative—Especially If It’s a Job Requirement

5. Cut the Fluff

Career

Media

Talking Too Much Hurts Your Chances

Be Prepared

Deal with Silences

FAQs: Enhancing Interview Skills and Managing Over-Talking

Q: Why can talking too much during an interview be detrimental?

Q: What steps can be taken to prepare for an interview?

Q: How can one ensure they are not over-talking in an interview?

Q: What should you do when faced with silence after answering a question in an interview?

Q: How does being overly verbose affect the interviewer’s perception?

Q: What role does preparation play in avoiding over-talking?

Q: How can mock interviews help in reducing over-talking?

The Gig Economy Grew Up

Today’s Hot Jobs

AI Content Editor, Fiction and Creative at Research on Point

Paid Social and Digital Advertising Manager at How To Academy

Social Media Producer (Travel Required) at Showplace

Producer and Showrunner, Sports Video Series at Mustard Squad HQ

Professional Takeaways

1. It will be easier to find a job

2. It will help you find what you like about business

3. It will make you better at time management

4. It makes you a better sales person

5. It lets you see all angles and perspectives

Was that convincing enough?

The time I passed out

The time I drew a complete blank

The time I failed at doors

The time I couldn’t keep it together

The time I was seriously grossed out

The time I got stung

The time the director fell asleep

The time I nearly suffocated

The time I didn’t know what I was getting myself into

Deflect the Question as Long as Possible

Don’t Give Away Your Salary History

Be Prepared With Research

Give a Range Rather Than a Single Number

Remember to Negotiate

Lea Weatherby