A creative returnship programme for women, non-binary and gender non-conforming folk, now in it’s 6th year.
Applications are now closed
Want to get back into adland? Kickstart your career with us
Returning to the creative industry after a career break and unemployment can be difficult - an outdated portfolio, new industry tech, trends and terminology, and a worry that you’re just not good enough. The ad industry moves fast. Whether you’ve been out of work for 5 years or 6 months, you can feel left behind.
But CV gaps mean you’ve been doing important things with life. Whether you’ve been caring for a child. Or a loved one. Or just taken some time out. All experience matters… it’s about what you do with it now.
Creative Comeback is a program made for returning creatives. Kicked off by Creative Equals in 2019 it’s an opportunity for women, non-binary and gender non-conforming folk to return to creative work.
Scroll down for more info and FAQs.
Thanks to our sponsors and partners
The Creative Comeback Program
CCNYC is a 13 day program split into three sections:
The Workshops: A curated mix of online sessions, self-directed learning, and interactive workshops designed to sharpen your creative edge and foster collaborative dynamics.These are run online by the world-class educational organization D&AD
Creative Exploration:
The opportunity to tackle a creative brief from Diageo, with the support of an experienced Creative Mentor. You will approach it as a solo creative, or as part of a team.Presentation Day: A platform to exhibit your creative response to the Diageo brief before an audience comprising Diageo representatives, your Creative Mentors, and industry peers. This is more than a presentation; it’s a testament to the inclusive ethos of our program, ensuring every creative voice is heard and acknowledged. This is on the 16th Feb, in-person in Manhattan.
This is your opportunity to:
Reframe, retrain and reboot your creative career
Discover how the creative landscape looks today and where you fit now
Learn about creative and technological advancements including Gen AI
Get your creative juices flowing by working on a brief set by Diageo that you can use in your portfolio
Receive training on how to best utilize LinkedIn and how to refresh your portfolio
Hear from talent and career specialists
Network with creative professionals from our agency partners
Get 1 x years free subscription to Adobe Suite
If you have any questions about the program please check out our FAQs below or reach out to emma@creativeequals.org
Who is this program for?
Creative Comeback NYC is open to women, non-binary and gender non-conforming people who have previously worked in the advertising or media industry in a creative role (such as an art director, copywriter, conceptual designer, content creator, or similar) and are currently on a career break (eg maternity, illness, caring duties) or have been out of work for a minimum of 6 months and want to return to employment in the creative advertising industry in New York.
You will need to:
Have the right to work in the USA. We can only consider applications from candidates who have American citizenship or hold a valid visa / Green Card.
Have previously worked in the creative advertising industry in a creative role.
Have not worked for a minimum of 6 months in the creative advertising industry.
If you are unsure whether the program is for you, please check out our FAQS below or reach out to us for guidance at emma@creativeequals.org
Thanks to our mentor/partner agencies and outreach supporters!
“I can’t thank you enough for the Creative Comeback program. It was a massive boost to me, in self esteem, feeling positive, seeing opportunities and the hope of building a career again.”
— CreativeComeback 2020 participant
“The Creative Comeback course was a roll call of world class tutors and mentors who pushed us to our own personal and professional best.
I have come out the other side with a shiny new toolbox of strategies and practices, much more confidence, invaluable industry contacts, and a group of cheerleaders - mentors, tutors, clients and fellow creatives - who will always have my back.
If you get a chance to take this world class course, grab it and do not let it go. It will change your life.”
— CreativeComeback 2022 participant
FAQs
APPLICANT INFORMATION
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Any woman, non-binary or GNC person, who is looking for employment in the creative advertising, marketing and design industry.
You must have the right to work in the US. We can only consider applications from candidates who have American citizenship or hold a valid visa/green card.
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Once applications are open, there will be a link to the application form. Submit your information to be considered for selection to the 2nd stage.
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1st Stage applications Open 4th December 2023
1st stage application process closes 5th January 2024
2nd stage application process closes 12th January 2024
Successful applicants will be notified by 15th January 2024
Onboarding 1hr online session 24th January 2024
Program starts Wednesday 31st January 2024
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Yes. This program is only open to people who have previously worked in the creative advertising industry as an art director, copywriter, conceptual design, content creator, or similar role.
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No.This program is for creatives who have been out of work for a minimum of 6 months or more.
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Yes you can, as long as it’s only the odd day here and there.
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If you are working in a job outside of the creative industry and would like to return to a creative role you can apply. However you must be able to attend the full 13 day program schedule.
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Unfortunately not. This program is only open to women or GNQ folk who have experience working as a creative in the advertising and design industry.
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Unfortunately not. This program is suited to women and GNQ folk who have already spent time working as a creative.
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This program is open for people who want a creative career in New York and are able to get to Manhattan for the final day.
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In the application form we will ask you for:
A CV ( don’t worry if it’s a little out of date)
A portfolio ( a website or PDF of work, again don’t worry if it looks out of date)
You shouldn’t need access to anything high-tech to be able to complete your application. As long as you have access to a mobile device or computer, and a reliable internet connection you should be able to complete the 1st stage application process.
SELECTION PROCESS
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The Creative Equals team will review all applications. We will let you know as soon as possible whether you have got through to the 2nd stage.
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All 1st stage applications will be reviewed for suitability by a panel of people who work or are familiar with the creative industry.
If successful, there will be a 2nd stage where we will ask you for a creative response to a small brief (no more than 1/2-1 days work).
After reviewing your creative response, we let you know whether you have secured a place on the program.
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There are up to 30 spaces available.
THE PROGRAM
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The program is 13 days from Wednesday 31st Jan 2024 - Friday 16th February 2024
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The program is run virtually via Zoom from Wed 31st Jan - Thurs 15th Feb, however the final day ( Friday 16th Feb) is in person in Manhattan. You must be able to attend this.
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The program will run virtually from 10:30am-2:30pm from Wednesday 31st Jan - Thursday 15th Feb.
On the final day ( 16th February) the hours will be in person from 10am-5pm in Manhattan. You must be able to attend this full day.
From the 5th Feb onwards you may find that you will want to spend some additional hours in your own time working on a creative brief and having catch-ups with your mentor.
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Yes. You will need to be able to attend the full 13 days. Days 1-12 will be online and the final day will be in-person in Manhattan on Friday 16th February.
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We expect you to commit to the full 13 days of the program.
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We’re committed to building an inclusive cohort irrelevant of age, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability or ethnicity.
If you require any adjustments or have any accessibility needs to attend the online program and the final day in person, please let us know in the application form.
We also understand that financial barriers can be a hindrance to participation, and we don't want that to hold anyone back. If you require financial support for travel or assistant costs during the program, please let us know by ticking the relevant box in the application form.
We'll review your request and do our best to assist you. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from our program, regardless of their financial situation.
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Access to a mobile device or laptop
Access to a quiet space with reliable internet connection
To be able to attend all 13 days of the program schedule
Childcare/caring duties ( if applicable) covered during the program hours
To be able to attend the presentation day in person at Diageo’s HQ in Manhattan on Friday Feb 16th.
POST PROGRAM
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It’s important to us that you finish the program feeling confident about re-entering the creative industry.
However we also understand that in some cases a little more support is required. If this is the case we will offer you a mentor who will support you with your return to work over a 3 month period. -
Some of our partner agencies will invite you all to attend an agency open morning where you will get the chance to hear about their recent campaigns, the structure of their departments as well as get an understanding of what their CDs look for in a creative.
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We love working with agencies! Whether this looks like mentorship or sponsorship or helping run a session/workshop - we’d love to chat about how we can work together. Please email emma@creativeequals.org.