For more than 35 years, the 4A's has helped member agencies identify diverse talent with its Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP). Through MAIP, the best and brightest multicultural college students participate in full-time, paid summer internships at 4A's member agencies across the country.
With busy schedules and demanding work loads, recruiting a diverse cross-section of candidates can be a challenge for any company. For agencies that participate in MAIP, the 4A's recruits and screens qualified candidates, developing a database of finalists from which agencies may select their interns. An extensive screening process ensures that the prospective interns have the ability to perform successfully during their internships and will develop the skills necessary to blossom into stellar entry-level candidates.
Because the 4A's provides housing and travel assistance for all selected interns, agencies may choose interns from across the country without the candidate or agency having to worry about making these arrangements.
Interns are available for placement in the following agency disciplines: account management; creative (art direction or copywriting); broadcast production; digital/interactive design; media buying/planning; strategic/account planning; print production; project management; public relations; and traffic.
Agencies benefit from participating in MAIP by:
- Receiving a talented pool of diverse intern candidates without spending time and resources on recruiting efforts
- Having early access to up-and-coming multicultural advertising processionals through the program screening process, the internship itself, and the MAIP Career Fair at the end of the program
- Participating in a cost-effective method of developing entry-level employees who will understand your agency's culture and meet your required skills and qualifications
- Directly contributing to the increased number of people of color pursuing careers in the advertising industry
- Publicly demonstrating your agency's position as a diversity leader among 4A's member agencies, and the industry overall.
The 2009 MAIP work period runs from June 8 to August 12. For more information or to register as a host agency, download the MAIP Agency Information Packet and MAIP Agency Application for the 2009 program at the 4A's Web site.
Diversity Recruiting Beyond the Entry-Level
More than 2,000 people of color have completed MAIP since the program's inception and many are active members of the MAIP Alumni Association; 4A's member agencies are encouraged to use the alumni association as a resource for recruiting diverse talent at a variety of professional levels.
Agencies interested in considering MAIP alumni for open positions may submit a job posting to Angela Johnson Meadows, manager, 4A's diversity programs. These positions will be shared with the alumni community via e-mail, newsletters and postings on the MAIP alumni Web site and social networking applications.
To submit a job posting, simply complete the MAIP Alumni Job Posting form.
