While you’re contemplating what to get last minute for how to wow someone with craft and care, I’ve been creating the ads that help you decide. Being a creative producer often means following major holidays and crafting reels and creative to align with marketing goals. From wardrobe, location, to props, models, and crew, I’ve been at every part of the process. When people ask what exactly I do, I say creative direction because it best encapsulates the processes of working with brands to producing, art direction, editing, and distribution. I recently asked a creative agency to look over my portfolio to help me bring clarity to my resume to cut through the noise of other applications when applying to new roles.

Here’s the tip that stuck with me most: Choose the trade or skill set you are showcasing and lean into all experiences that will help you get a position in that line of work. When hiring managers are looking at resumes they are looking at previous experience that specifically aligns with the role they’re hiring for. So even though you want to show your vast skill set, sometimes a jack of all trades is a master of none. I’m proud of being able to learn many different trades but when crafting resumes for applying to jobs, clarity is essential. Get to the point and fast!

I’m McKenzie, a creative director and educator in Chicagoland. I’m fascinated by human behavior and have been on a journey to uncover the connections that motivate action and change. If you’re interested in creativity, mental health, personal development, or neurodivergent writers, check out my other posts or my work at mckenziejean.com