Working with other creatives, Creative Copywriters use their excellent writing skills to create and deliver imaginative campaigns and copy for their clients.

As a Creative Copywriter you’ll work alongside other copywriters and designers / art directors within the creative department of the agency. You’ll work from client briefs to conceive, develop and produce effective marketing campaigns.

You’ll focus on providing the written words (the copy) for any marketing campaign, while the design team will deal mainly with the visual images. Copy can include:

• writing for web advertising, social media and mobile applications
• creating headlines, slogans, catchphrases, straplines and body copy for print advertising and leaflets
• creating scripts for radio jingles and TV commercials

Responsibilities

As a Creative Copywriter, you’ll need to:

• work in partnership with the design team to form a creative team working on creative briefs
• handle multiple client accounts, working on several campaigns at once, sometimes under pressure and often to tight deadlines
• familiarise yourself with your clients’ products and services, the target audience and their competitors’ activities
• liaise with clients and interpret their briefs
• develop creative ideas and concepts, often in partnership with the design team / partners
• present ideas to the for approval and development and then to your clients
• write clear, persuasive, original copy through the various iterations of the project
• proofread copy to check spelling and grammar
• amend, revise or redevelop adverts or campaigns in response to feedback from the creative director, account team or clients
• oversee campaigns through the production stage to completion
• liaise with production companies, photographers, typographers and designers
• keep up to date with popular culture and trends
• monitor the effectiveness of marketing campaigns

Working hours

Working hours are generally 10am to 7pm. However, it’s normal to work long, irregular hours when meeting tight deadlines. This may include working in the evenings and some weekend work. Part-time work and secondments may be difficult to obtain.

Self-employment or freelance work is possible for experienced copywriters.

What to expect

• you’ll generally be office-based but may be required on TV shoots, radio recordings, castings, or in editing suites. You may also visit clients, undertake research in public areas or visit different locations to help with creativity
• you will be based out of Kolkata
• the work may be challenging and highly pressurized, but it can also be exciting and rewarding
• Dynamic, fast-paced creative industries attract a young workforce, and ageism is rife

Professional Competencies

Although copywriters come from a range of backgrounds, creativity and the ability to write well are key requirements. A degree in one of the following subjects may increase your chances:

• creative advertising
• communication or media studies
• English
• journalism
• public relations

Postgraduate study isn’t essential, but it may be worth taking a vocational course in advertising, particularly if your degree is in an unrelated subject.

Skills

You’ll need to show:

• the ability to write good, clear copy in a variety of styles, with accurate spelling and grammar
• strong analytical skills
• excellent teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills
• the ability to form strong working relationships quickly
• logic, creativity, and imagination
• the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• strong organizational skills
• self-motivation, flexibility, stamina, and the ability to adapt
• confidence, enthusiasm, and determination
• accuracy and attention to detail
• the resilience to accept criticism of your work
• commercial awareness with the ability to understand the target audience
• an interest in popular culture, new trends, and styles
• good research skills
• administrative, IT, and proofreading skills