So those of you who follow the blog will know we ran an application and interview process in late 2012 to find potential Planners to join our team for a three month placement in 2013.

We were graced with over 500 applications, from all around the world and from all different backgrounds. Thank you to everyone who made the effort.

Eleven candidates came to see us for an interview day. The kitchen flooded, we lost power, we couldn’t offer anyone a cup of tea, but we made it through together. Everyone put in a strong effort and really impressed our judging panel.

Since then, we have been lucky enough to confirm this week three young Planners who will be joining us each for three months this year. More on them once they arrive.

In the meantime, we have collated all our feedback from the applications to help you next time. Here’s our top W+K ten application tips.

1.    Understand who you’re talking to

This is a Planner's bread and butter – understanding your audience’s needs, desires and motivations. You need to show this same understanding when applying to be a Planner. The person reading your application probably has a pile of over 50 applications sitting in front of them. How do you make sure yours is noticed? Make it simple for them to read it and quick for them to find your best bits. 

2.    Speak to your audience personally

Show you understand them, show you know who they are. Like with W+K, show you understand our values and culture, that you’ve gone further than copying and pasting our website homepage.

3.    Be careful with ‘zany’ applications

In a bid to stand out, don’t damage your application chances. Gimmicky language and CVs that the reader has to ‘decode’ can make it hard for us to get to your best bits. Be confident in allowing your application to speak for itself.

4.    Keep it simple

When writing briefs, Planners need to be able to distill complex information into a straightforward solution. Treat your application in the same way. Don’t overwhelm us with information; give us a topline so we want to read on. You may have life-changing genius on page 23, but that’s no good if we stopped reading at the third paragraph.

5.    Research, research, research

Show you’ve done all you can to get to the bottom of a problem. Read a book, do a Google search, download a market report. But even better get out there and speak to people, go to watch people shop in Tesco, see what people are saying online, ask your friends, your mum, your six year old nephew. Get as many opinions and facts about the problem as you can.

6.    Then, FILTER

Now you’ve got all your data, separate the ‘useful’ from just the ‘interesting’. Interesting is great, but useful helps you solve your problem.

7.    Structure your argument

So important! Think about the argument you want to make with your answer. Say it, say it, and say it again. Use the introduction to set up the problem, the bulk to go into depth and the conclusion to draw it all together in an inspiring way. Use formatting to help signpost the reader though your argument – bold, italics, bullet points.

8.    Present it well

Planners spend their days having to present information to people and how you do this can make all the difference. We’re not saying style over substance, but don’t underestimate the power of a well-styled document. What’s more, considering the presentation of your answer forces you to prioritise the most important points.

9.    Sweat the small stuff

We're all human, we get that. (And thanks to those avid readers who spotted the cunningly encoded mistake in this very post!) However, taking the time to proof read can make all the difference. We spotted spelling mistakes, typos, untitled CVs, questions missed out, clients' names spelt wrongly and even our own name spelt wrongly!

10.   MOST IMPORTANTLY show us who you are

We’re an agency made up of people. People we like. Curious people. Funny people. Smart people. People who cook. People who run. People who have hidden talents. Show us you are one of those people. We want to see more than just the stuff that makes you fit the job description. We want to know about you, because you're great.

Thanks again to all who got involved, we only wish we could squeeze you all in!

Portland, Ore., January 10, 2013 — Leading independent advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) announced today two new additions to its global executive management team: Colleen DeCourcy and Mark Fitzloff, who will serve as global coexecutive creative directors. Along with these additions, partner and Global Chief Operating Officer Dave Luhr will assume the role of president, and Dan Wieden will become chairman of W+K’s global management team.

Also announced was the promotion of Joe Staples to executive creative director of W+K Portland. Staples will replace Fitzloff on the Portland management team, partnering with Susan Hoffman and Tom Blessington.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a chairman, but now I are one—albeit an active one,” said Wieden smiling. “Between Dave and Mark, we have 40 years of proven W+K experience, respect and leadership. This level of talent and experience gave me the confidence to search outside the agency to find a third global management team member with digital expertise. Colleen brings an energy and a knowledge base that is second to none. I am convinced that our next 30 years are going to be pretty damn exciting.”

In his role as president, Dave Luhr will continue to steward W+K’s commitment to outstanding creativity and independence. Luhr has been with the agency since 1986 and became managing director of the Portland office in 1992 and a partner shortly thereafter. During his tenure, Luhr has touched nearly every piece of agency business, but his deepest impact has been helping to expand the company from being just one office to the largest independent network in the world. Luhr has been responsible for implementing a consistent agency culture and commitment to great work across the W+K network that has allowed each office to have the autonomy to attract clients and manage its own bottom line.

W+K welcomes Colleen DeCourcy from Socialistic, a social media content and design shop she founded in 2010 as chief creative officer and CEO. While at Socialistic, she won coveted accounts Red Bull and Fast Company, two of the leading content marketers in the world, and led work for Showtime, Coke and GE. Prior to this role, DeCourcy was the first chief digital officer for TBWA Worldwide, setting the network’s global digital strategy and leading digital efforts for adidas and Pepsi. DeCourcy’s career has included the roles of chief experience officer at JWT NY and chief creative officer at Organic, where she led creative on Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge. In 2006, she was named one of Advertising Age’s “Women to Watch.” DeCourcy is an outspoken critic of discrimination in the workplace.

Mark Fitzloff brings 13 years of leadership at W+K to his new role as global coexecutive creative director. He first joined the agency in 1999 as a copywriter, working on the AltaVista, Nike and Coca-Cola accounts. As creative director on Old Spice, he helped breathe new life into the dated, iconic American brand. In 2008, Fitzloff was appointed to the Portland management team as executive creative director, and he continues to lead work that both wins awards and pushes the clients’ bottom line. In this role, working alongside Coexecutive Creative Director Susan Hoffman and Managing Director Tom Blessington, Fitzloff’s leadership has helped transform Portland both creatively and financially, pushing the office to create some of the most beautifully honest and ambitious work in W+K history. Under the leadership of this team, W+K Portland has won accolades including distinguished agency of the year honors from a number of leading industry organizations and publications. Fitzloff and Hoffman have been the most award-winning creative directors on Creativity’s Awards Report for the past three consecutive years.

Joe Staples joined the W+K network in 2004, serving as a copywriter on the 2006 Nike World Cup campaign. Following that successful execution, he moved to W+K Portland in 2006, where he worked on Nike, Starbucks and Heineken. Prior to this promotion, Staples served as the creative director on Chrysler and Dodge.

“This agency is blessed with an abundance of amazing talent,” said Luhr. “And we only add to that talent with the hiring of Colleen DeCourcy. When you combine Mark Fitzloff’s proven creative leadership and Colleen’s digital expertise, our goal of becoming the best agency of the digital age should be that much more attainable. I look forward to teaming with Mark and Colleen and continuing the culture and heritage that this agency stands for.”