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Finance Grad Trying to Break Into Copywriting

by Shamikh25
5 replies
Hey everyone, I just joined this forum but I've been reading through the threads on this website for a few months now.

I'm writing because I just graduated from NYU with a degree in finance. However, for the last year I've been growing bored and disillusioned with finance while becoming more interested in copywriting and advertising. I was an English tutor and have been writing since I was young but I don't have anything really portfolio worthy and my working experience only incudes finance related things like working in a hedge fund and consulting firm.

I've been looking for internships to break into the field but everyone seems to require a Journalism or English major. I've also been considering working for a year, saving up, and trying to get into portfolio school. I'd first like to work at an agency first before going into freelancing. Do you guys have any advice for me? Should I go back to school to earn a Journalism or English degree? Is it too difficult at this point to break into copywriting?
#break #copywriting #finance #grad
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    I've always done freelancing so I don't have any experience about getting
    into an agency. I guess an agency can give you some experience and
    credibility but I'm totally biased towards freelancing. How a journalism
    degree makes you a copywriter I'm not sure. But they can set any standard
    they want because the agency is theirs. As a freelancer you determine
    what's needed--and that's usually what the client demands.

    -Ray Edwards
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  • Profile picture of the author shawnlebrun
    I've done and do freelancing, and also built up my own agency here in town... and the one thing I look at, among almost all others, is the person. I want someone of integrity who has a great personality and attitude... because the skills can almost always be taught.

    Some say that salespeople are born, not made, and that's horseshit.

    Sure, being a major introvert may stop you from getting into personal sales, but when you're putting pen to paper, you can be as shy as they come... you can learn the skills you need.

    Oh, and almost any agency will want to know what you've done, for past work. if you don't have any, make some. Write some letters, get some samples, work for free to build your book.

    I'd also read Scientific Advertising and my life in advertising by Claude Hopkins to get some of the ideas/language down... and also Olgilvy on Advertising has a section, if I remember right, on working at an agency.
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  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
    Keep in mind that there are two skillsets here that overlap - if you're going the agency route, you'll be using more advertising-based skills including understanding how the graphics/taglines/messaging all fit together. They typically like portfolios demonstrating these skills, whether you get together with friends and build out samples or go to portfolio school.

    Marketing copywriters do more of the sales-with-words heavy lifting, with or without a focus on the graphic aspects. Agencies are a whole different animal.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanmcgee
    You might be interested in this job posting:

    · Financial Copywriter, Agora Financial - Baltimore
    Agora Financial is looking for a persuasive writer who can develop big ideas for our five franchises. If you can tell a great story, are interested in a new and rewarding challenge, and the opportunity to make a six-figure income, email us here.
    https://sites.google.com/site/agoraj...al---baltimore
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    http://theryanmcgrath.com
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  • Profile picture of the author sethczerepak
    Originally Posted by Shamikh25 View Post

    I don't have anything really portfolio worthy and my working experience only incudes finance related things like working in a hedge fund and consulting firm.
    Then you do have something to start with because you have industry specific experience. Frankly, I'd prefer to hire an average copywriter who knew the industry as opposed to an experienced one who didn't. Relevancy is huge for copywriting clients. The most common question I get is whether I have experience or samples in the client's industry.

    In fact, relevant experience is so important that I no longer mess with topics or niches I'm not experienced in. Too much room for sounding ignorant and missing the mark when it comes to communicating in the language of the industry if you know what I mean.

    If you decide to do it, I suggest target the financial adviser niche and using the "I'm one of you..." angle to build client relationships. As for the writing, rewrite copy (by hand) from other successful copywriters in your niche. Do that one hour a day, every day for a year. You'll get there.
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