Hi everyone,
I’m a neurodivergent single parent (main carer with little to no support system) who broke into the ad world as a junior strategist two years ago. After that role ended, I’ve only managed sporadic freelance work—not nearly enough to keep me (and my daughter) afloat.
I’ve had a few near-misses: shortlisted for second/last interviews, great feedback on my CV and portfolio, but inevitably passed over for more experienced candidates. The industry feels even more cutthroat than when I first applied—even Lego seems easier to build than a solid career path right now!
What I’ve tried so far:
- Building out spec campaigns in my spare time
- Networking on LinkedIn and created a brilliant LinkedIn profile
- Upskilling via short courses (some bite-sized D&AD modules, etc.)
- Joining loads of online strategy communities and WhatsApp group chats (my sofa is the new networking hub—childcare won’t let me out much!)
Recent wins in the last year (just not full-time):
- Selected for a well-regarded industry programme—huge confidence boost!
- Freelanced on a campaign for a household-name brand
- Won an award for my strategic work 🎉
What I’d love your wisdom on:
- Rapid ways to demonstrate strategy chops without a full-time role (volunteering? pro-bono briefs?)
- Neuro-inclusive agencies or recruiters who get that my brain works a bit sideways
- Clever CV/portfolio tweaks that shout “hire me—I’ll deliver fresh ideas!”
- Any hidden channels for junior roles (not just the usual job boards)
usual job boards)
Also, if you work in ad strategy (or know someone who does), an introduction would be absolute gold dust.