As part of our week of virtual work experience, Agency Bootcamp, Sookio founder Sue Keogh spoke to Rajen Mistry from branding agency Are&Be.

Together they share essential tips for people looking to get into careers in marketing, branding, or design, and offer insights into life in creative agencies and how you can find a job in one!

Watch the video below to learn more about:

• Raj’s own journey to becoming a branding agency founder. What were the things he did early on that set him on this path?

• What is a branding agency? What roles would you expect to see, how does it differ to Sookio?

• Essential skills you need to succeed in a creative agency

• Hybrid working in a visual field

• How to get a job! What Raj is looking for in employees who apply? And what makes a good, CV, covering letter, and interview nowadays?

Raj specialises in brand strategy and brand identity design, working with ambitious founders and business leaders in digital health, health tech, and b2b technology.

Formerly Creative Director at leading agencies Omobono, Golley Slater, and Green Cathedral, Raj is full of insights into life at the creative agencies where he’s worked.

In 2019 he founded branding agency Are&Be, based in the Bradfield Centre just over the road from us.

Part one: Raj’s journey to becoming a branding agency founder

The chat gets started with a closer look at Raj’s early career as a designer and his transition to branding agency founder. This is a different type of agency to the one we have here at Sookio, with a focus specifically on brand development, brand identity, and brand awareness.

Raj offers some insights into his early career, such as:

• The importance of a supportive environment

• Using your early career as a learning experience

• The different types of agencies he’s worked in, adjacent to branding, marketing, and design

Head to 02:16 to find out more.

Part two: What is a branding agency?

What goes into the development of a branding agency - and what do branding agencies really do? Raj talks through the day-to-day work of Are&Be, from brand awareness through to brand guardianship, providing valuable insight for anyone aiming to work in this field, including:

• What inspired the naming and founding of Are&Be? What does Raj’s role involve?

• The diverse sectors and industries the company works within

• Where Are&Be’s work begins and ends, and the tools they use

Start the video at 16:32 to hear all about the importance of branding.

Part three: Essential skills you need to succeed in a creative agency

What does it take to work in an agency environment? How do you overcome your nerves to share ideas when you’re in a junior role?

Sue and Raj discuss all this and more:

• How to present yourself well on CVs, and grow confidence in the workplace

• The importance of writing skills, communication skills, and storytelling

• Building a personal brand

Catch up with us at 23.43 to learn the skills required for agency life!

Part four: Hybrid working in a visual field

Hybrid work is here to stay. But what does that mean for those working in a highly visual, collaborative environment?

Find out more about:

• Collaborating on Zoom and Teams vs in-person

• The techy tools that can help make visual projects work remotely

• Why you should build positive interactions with your team

Press play at 33.45 for Raj and Sue’s take on hybrid working in the creative industries.

Part five: How to get a job!

Finding work in a branding or marketing agency can be highly competitive, but it’s certainly not impossible!

Discover how to stand out in a crowded field by:

• Building a winning CV and cover letter

• Getting a recruiter’s attention

• Tailoring your application to the industry and the role

Join us at 38.51 for a look at how to find work at an agency.

Hungry for more career inspiration?

Check out our videos on how to get your CV in jobhunting shape and how to stand out early in your marketing career to develop more agency know-how.

For more learning opportunities from Sookio, take a look at Sookio School on Skillshare, packed full of insight and inspiration to help you build your marketing career.