The class of 2020 is graduating into a world turned upside down. For marketing students, they are entering an industry in an uncertain time, where many of the largest firms are facing budget cuts or hiring freezes.
Klick has stepped in to give these recent graduates a leg up. The agency is holding a virtual portfolio review on May 27. Graduating creatives will be able to meet with a leader from Klick for feedback on their portfolio and a chance to ask questions about the healthcare advertising industry.
“This year because of what’s going on in the world, individual portfolio reviews may not be happening, internships may not be happening,” said Rich Levy, Klick Health’s chief creative officer. “I went to our leadership and said we should do something for this group of people who are really getting the short end of the stick. We at Klick are used to working virtually and giving feedback virtually, so we’re uniquely situated to do something like this.”
The virtual event is open to any student worldwide from the class of 2020. There will be a keynote from Levy before the one-on-one sessions and it will end with a virtual happy hour.
The event will also give students the chance to hear about the opportunities in the healthcare marketing industry, typically not a first choice for creative students coming out of college.
“There’s never been a time where people are more aware of their health,” Levy said. “For students graduating who want to make a difference in the world, there’s no better career or opportunity right now than helping people be informed to live longer, better, healthier lives. This is an exciting time to do something good in the world and be in an industry that’s still growing despite the situation we find ourselves in with the global pandemic.”
Participants need to register by May 25 to attend.
Klick expects upwards of 250 students to register for the event, based on early interest and registrations, Levy said. So far, registration includes students all over the world, from the U.S. and Canada, where Klick is based, to graduates in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The Klick team is matching up these students with employees across disciplines, including creatives and staff from its strategy, branding and other teams.
“For these students, all of their celebrations have been cancelled, everything they were working toward was canceled or put on hold,” Levy said. “Anything we can do to help them will be greatly appreciated and we will hopefully see hardworking loyal employees who understand that companies are going out of their way to help them. Everything they worked for seemed to have evaporated and they don’t know what the future is going to hold. Our responsibility is to show them there’s a way forward.”
