The agency talent crunch is all too real — and with summer intern season gearing up, looking for good talent is top of mind. That’s why digital agency Organic is putting prospective new hires to the test with a “Random Brief Generator.” Intern hopefuls are sent a direct link to the generator, which was created in-house, and are then given a (somewhat bizarre) random creative brief.
The assignments themselves are hardly typical. These are Frankenstein briefs, cobbled-together from array of variables that ask applicants to “help” a certain demographic do something using a piece of tech, at a specific place. For example: “Help Conan the Barbarian kick some tires using augmented reality at a nursing home” or “Help Gandhi eat healthily using wearables in a grocery store.”
The “variables” in the brief generator are a mish-mash of the types of clients Organic has, the technologies it’s working with or are excited about, and the audience it wants to attract.
Hopeful interns then get 48 hours to come up with a concept, submitted in any medium the applicant wants. A team at Organic will look through and invite people to the final interview round. There are 11 slots open across disciplines — the agency wants creative minds not just in the creative department, but also in the technology and accounts side of the business.
In the past, the company recruited local talent through more traditional methods, going to smaller schools or asking for referrals from employees. This year, trying to do something new, the company asked for suggestions from employees on how they should look for interns.
“We are attracting people who really want to do something unique, different and have a say in what they do,” said a spokesperson. “Finding the right type of intern and someone who fits our culture is the most important.”
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