from the director of career services
The school of advertising art is dedicated to providing ongoing placement assistance to all alumni, including recent and past graduates interested in advancing in the fields of advertising, graphic design, and marketing/communications.
I am personally committed to upholding these high standards of placement assistance and enhancing the placement success saa has achieved to date.
Whether I am hand delivering a resume to a potential employer for a graduate, individually counseling a graduate to help them develop a strong job-seeking strategy, or networking with professionals in the design industry to inform them of the quality of education our graduates receive, I promise to assist every graduate until they are gainfully employed.
saa provides an extensive two-week job preparedness seminar prior to graduation. We cover every topic from interviewing skills, professional development skills, and business etiquette needed for graduates to successfully meet their career goals today and in the future.
I look forward to working with you upon your graduation from saa!
Joanie Spain
saa Director of Career Services
877 300 9866 x 110
introduction to career services
Boasting a career placement rate of 94%, saa takes career services very seriously.
Students receive information about the field of advertising art throughout their two-year education by instructors and guest speakers who work in the advertising field. Upon graduation, graduates receive a weekly report of current advertising employment leads. Also, graduates receive comprehensive, updated mailing lists of prospective employers.
Joanie Spain, Director of Career Services communicates with each graduate regularly in providing job leads, offering advice and evaluating interviews. This communication continues with each interested graduate until he/she secures full-time employment in the advertising field. saa offers continuing placement assistance and a graduate may request placement assistance again at any time.
The graduate of saa will be ready to enter the job market by having prepared a professional portfolio of his or her artwork. saa will assist its graduates in choosing where to seek advertising employment depending on the interests and strengths of the individual student. saa cannot guarantee employment for any student. The quality of the graduate’s professional education in accordance with the job-seeking skills they have been taught will qualify them for jobs in the advertising, graphic design, and marketing and communications fields. saa also provides the skills necessary for a graduate to become a freelance advertising artist.
job seeking tips
job tips #2: Be proactive! [networking]
You have many resources available to you--use them all! Let friends and relatives know you are job-hunting. Talk to the Career Services office at your alma mater and contact former instructors in your field.
Check websites for regional professional association meetings and plan to attend a few. Look for local chapters of these national associations:
- AAF: American Advertising Association
- AIGA: American Institute of Graphic Arts
- Ad 2: Young Advertising Professionals
- IABC: International Association of Business Communicators
Attending meetings of the above or others is a great way to network while also keeping up with the latest developments in the industry. If you're serious about meeting new people and building a network, volunteer to help out at the sign-in table. You will get to meet everyone coming into the meeting while demonstrating the important qualities of initiative and cooperation. Be sure to bring your business cards! In addition, professional association websites typically have job banks or links to job openings. Make it a habit to visit these sites regularly to check for new opportunities.
Explore registering with employment agencies or placement services, particularly if they specialize in graphic design, marketing, or advertising. Talent Zoo is a national example. There are regional services like this as well.
Be proactive! Your dream job rarely comes delivered to your door like a pizza.
Statistics show that most job opportunities come through recommendations of friends and colleagues.
job tips #1: Do Your Research
Before a job interview, research the company thoroughly. Doing your homework can help you to stand out from the other candidates. Some noteworthy items include current or previous clients, work produced for clients, names of employees and/or management, and history of the company.
Information about the company can easily be found on the company’s website. If the company does not have a website, search for press releases previously written about the company. Networking with members of professional trade organizations may also help you meet employees of the company who can provide you with information.