During their internship, the “young bloods” will gather valuable skills while also being exposed to the international tools and methodologies and most up-to-date training from TBWA\Worldwide.
The team of interns was chosen following an in-depth selection process by James Porter, executive chairman of TBWA\Group\Durban, Eira Sands, company training and new business director, and all department directors. Porter says that it was not mandatory for candidates to have specific training for the industry. Rather, they needed demonstrate a creative way of thinking and a hunger to learn.
All interns were then assigned to a specific area in the agency relevant to their studies. This year, these areas are design, art direction, copywriting, multimedia, media planning, client service and strategic planning.
Sands, who places the interns in the relevant departments and mentors them for the duration of their internship, comments, "TBWA\Group\Durban pays the interns, so that they not only gain work experience but get paid for their contributions, too. It's so important for their development and motivation that they feel that they are making a difference, as well as learning."
Going forward, once the contract has ended, suitable interns will be offered full-time employment by TBWA\Group\Durban, or, if there are no relevant positions available, will be assisted with finding employment.
Porter concludes, "It is our aim that our interns are exposed to as much industry-specific training as possible, both through on-job training and in our formal training sessions, to ensure that Durban's advertising industry is well-stocked with talented young individuals who can begin to contribute to the industry as early in their careers as possible."
