In order to win a paid internship at Saatchi & Saatchi X, graduates will be given 30 seconds on Friday to impress senior managers with an ‘elevator pitch’ that demonstrates their advertising skills.
This is the second year that the advertising agency has run its ‘Saatchi & Saatchi X Boot Camp’ training programme using the quick-fire presentation technique.
Although unusual in that such pitches are not usually conducted in actual lifts, the idea originated among US venture capitalists who were keen for entrepreneurs to present their ideas in a quick, simple way – the amount of time that it took to take a ride in an elevator, in fact.
The ‘X lift Pitch’ is due to take place from 9am on 27 April at the firm’s offices in Great Titchfield Street in London, but hopefuls have been asked to sign up to the event on Facebook so that it is aware of who intends to participate.
The Saatchi page on the social networking site will also provide candidates with more information and practice tips, but it said that there were no set rules. The idea is to encourage applicants to use their creativity in order to see what they are made of.
Claire Knight, Saatchi & Saatchi X’s regional HR director, said on the company’s LinkedIn page: “We wanted to create something fun and completely different from other agencies to give you grads a chance to demonstrate your advertising skills. You have 30 seconds face-to-face with the Saatchi & Saatchi X decision-makers – no hoops, no hurdles.”
On the day, applicants will be expected to bring their CV, take a number and join the queue to make their pitch.
If successful, they will be asked to attend a short interview, before numbers are whittled down again to take part in a day-long Saatchi X Boot Camp, which will involve working with one of the agency’s teams on a live brief.
The final winners will then be offered a six-week paid internship in the creative, planning or account handling departments respectively, but the ultimate aim is to offer one or more interns a subsequent year-long job contract.
