Check out what our grad, Ong Sue Yin, has to say about Sparks!

"Because once you actually emit that one, single spark, it actually liberates you!"

"You'll never believe the things you can achieve..."

"You will remember this day for the rest of your life..."

- Ong Sue Yin, Copywriter, Dentsu Utama


For more info about Sparks, click here: Sparks
To inquire, email Janet Lee at janetlee@95percent.com.my or Jonathan Chu at jon@95percent.com.my

Check Out Our Grad, Grace Look, Speak About Her Sparkalicious Experience

Grace Look
95% Graduate
Now working at Mind Valley

For more info about Sparks, click here: Sparks
To inquire, email Janet Lee at janetlee@95percent.com.my or Jonathan Chu at jon@95percent.com.my

Sparks Training Overview!

For all the dreams you dreamed,
And the dreamer in you who dares to dream,
Who knows no limits and
never lets himself forget that,
This one's for you.

Sparks: Your Starting Point

We've all had them at some point in our lives: great dreams and aspirations, that tells us what we want in life, and who we want to be. Just that as we grow a little older, we sometimes lose track of those dreams as we attend to the list-of-priorities that comes with growing up. What if you found out that those dreams had never disappeared but had been waiting all these while for you to claim them?

Sometimes all it takes is a little nudge to start the ball rolling. You can start to realise and achieve those dreams again. And that is what the Sparks Training is designed to do.

It is a 3-day training that will guide you to reach greater heights and overcome obstacles that stand in your way. You'll have a clearer direction of what you want, and how to bring out your inner strength. It is a journey like no others that will lead you to discover more of yourself than you have ever know.

To find out more, come to the Sparks Training Overview that will be held at the academy on the mentioned dates below. You'll be guided to see the possibilities of achieving your dreams that will have you begin to see the world anew.

Sparks Training Overview on 29/5
Date : 29th May 2010 (Saturday)
Time : 10am-1pm
Venue: 95% The Advertising Academy. 80A, Wisma Dicklin, Jalan Bangsar, 59200, KL
Fee: FOC

Sparks Training Overview on 9/6
Date : 9th June 2010 (Wednesday)
Time : 8pm-11pm
Venue: 95% The Advertising Academy. 80A, Wisma Dicklin, Jalan Bangsar, 59200, KL
Fee: FOC

Sparks Training Overview on 13/6
Date : 13th June 2010 (Sunday)
Time : 3pm - 6pm
Venue: 95% The Advertising Academy. 80A, Wisma Dicklin, Jalan Bangsar, 59200, KL
Fee: FOC

This training overview is open to all students studying in colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning.

To book your seat, please email Jonathan Chu at jon@95percent.com.my

Rudy La Faber featured in Adoi Magazine

Kudos to 95% graduate, Rudy La Faber who was featured in Adoi Magazine recently for his video submission for the YouTube Young Lions Film Competition!

Click on the tile of this post to read more

To dream is easy, but the road to achievement is not.

a 3-day training that guides you to discover a greater you

We've all had them at some point in our lives: great dreams and aspirations, that tells us what we want in life, and who we want to be. But as we grow a little older, we begin to follow our head, instead of being true to our hearts. Limitations and setbacks make those dreams grow a little more distant with the passing of each day.

Sometimes, one would stop and wonder, “Is it still possible to reach my dreams?” While some who had attempted but failed, would ask, “Why am I not getting there?” And with all these doubts, some may even question, if they ever had a dream at all.

But then again, maybe you've already achieved some things and seen some results. Yet it still feels like you could do so much more.

Maybe all you need is a little boost to take your game to the next level. A starting point, a nudge from the back. This is what the Sparks training is designed to do.

It is a training that will guide you to see a clearer direction of what you want in life, and how you can get there. It focuses on your individual growth to bring out the inner strength in you. With that, it will re-ignite the passion in you.

Seeking out the “Lost Art of Great Headlines”

Indeed, the Lost Art of Great Headlines were rediscovered and revived last Friday evening here at 95% The Advertising Academy. This was our second time conducting the three hour workshop and we had an amazing turnout of 26 eager participants.

The workshop was conducted by Janet Lee who imparted upon the participants, the various methods of coming up with great headlines.

It was truly an insightful experience that taught much and opened eyes to the many wonderful things that words can do.

Here are some interesting comments from our participants!

"Messages can be delivered through many ways, not just from only words and images" - Randy



"You writers out there think you can write? Wait till you sit in Janet's writing workshops!" - Jonathan Chu



"95% helps me a lot, especially during difficult times in my studies, like right now. Thanks 95% and thanks a lot, Janet" - Sendy



"Good headlines add a human touch to just text." - Saras



"Speak with your brain and your heart! (know your truth about product and target better) - Amelia

There is this bubbling within you – the need to inspire, to live each day differently, to touch lives. Here’s how you can channel that feeling through copywriting.

Copywriters are people who write ads.

Ads like the heartwarming Petronas commercials, or slogans like “Just Do It”, or even campaigns like Earth Hour are all conceptualized by copywriters and art directors.

Those ads, slogans and campaigns were once nothing more than a bubbling within someone, somewhere. Today, they’re touching lives and sparking inspiration.

If you enjoy writing and being creative, a career as a copywriter might just be the channel you’ve been searching for.

To find out more, come to the Me? A Copywriter? workshop. You’ll gain a clear understanding of what copywriting is and what the job involves. You’ll also get to explore your potential and how you can get into the industry.

Date : 15th January 2010 (Sunday)
Time : 3pm – 6pm
Venue : 95% The Advertising Academy, 80A Wisma Dicklin, Jalan Bangsar, KL.
Fee : RM50

For more information, contact Janet Lee at janetlee@95percent.com.my

Here's to the Innovators & Early Adopters!

Seth Godin wrote about Moore's Idea Diffusion Curve (click on the title to read it on Seth's blog) and it confirms that our Idea Rawkstarrs are definitely not the masses. They are the Innovators and Early Adopters. Rawk on peeps!

A Step Closer to a Future in Advertising

I had the chance to go for this special workshop, called “A Portfolio That Gets You Hired” here at 95%.

What made this workshop so awesome was the chance to sit down with creative directors, experienced copywriters and dynamic account executives (depending on the department of advertising you choose to pursue) and have them look at my portfolio and provide me with feedback! It’s a very rare chance to have these extremely busy (and creative) people look at some amateur work, especially so for my case.

Who are these creative directors, copywriters and account executives, you ask? They are:

Chan Woei Hern - Associate Creative Director at Dentsu Malaysia
Cheryl Low - Account Executive, McCann-Erickson Malaysia
Faisal Ahmad - Malay language copywriter, Spin Communication
KC Aui - Dentsu Malaysia, Associate Creative Director
Vincent Chan - Creative Head GanForHire
Wong Sai-Meng - Creative Director, Womb Creative
Zac Labang - Director / Strategic Planner at Lucideas

I personally had the chance to speak with copywriters Chan Woei Hern and Vincent Chan.

I also learned about how to strategize and get ideas for an advertising campaign. It wasn’t easy, I tell you, but it was nevertheless challenging.

Long before this workshop, I had known that what I had learned in college was simply insufficient. I didn’t know how to plan for advertising campaigns, how to choose the right words to compliment my campaign and how to derive ideas from the insights that I get.



















Well, at least after this workshop, I have a better idea.

Here are some things I learned:

1. I learned how you can’t think like a student anymore! It’s time to our mindsets and working attitudes.

2. I learned that what I have now is not enough. I need to put in more effort to get something of more substance out. (Those assignments we have done in college or university? Yeah, those. They’re not enough.)

3. I learned that you need to get in touch with life, to connect with it. To be successful in the advertising world, you need to experience life, to live life.

4. I learned that in an advertisement, words and pictures are not all that matter. What matters is if the brief is met or not.

5. I realized that insights are not easily gained, but are powerful when gained.

6. I learned more about my strengths and weaknesses, and I am ready to work on them!

7. I got a better picture of what creative directors are looking for.

As for what the other participants learned, many of them shared that they now had a better idea of what creative directors are looking for. Many were pumped up to redo their portfolios, but we definitely left without a discouraged heart.

When’s the next time this workshop is organized? Well, you gotta stick around to find out when.

P/s: Good things don’t come by often.

By Jonathan Chu

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I am Jonathan Chu, 20 years of age, the new intern in 95%. I love music and writing, and am convinced that basketball is a far more interesting sport than football (you can scream “boo” now) and Mozart doesn’t make you smart.

“If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.” - T. Alan Armstrong

Making a career switch into advertising

We’ve got some tips dedicated to those who want to make that career switch but are wondering about how they can go about it:

I don’t have a related degree or diploma. How can I enter the industry without these qualifications?

It’s not required to have design skills or a paper qualification related to advertising to enter the industry. There are several job options in the industry such as copywriting, strategic planning and client servicing, where all you need are:
• people skills
• the ability to analyse & strategise
• posses strong general knowledge
• good writing skills
• ability to work with tight deadlines and late nights

– however the challenge is to apply these skills into the advertising context.

The advantage that you have is your life experience and skills obtained from your previous jobs that would add a fresh quality to your work as it is a very people-culture industry.

The bigger question is whether are you willing to build on your skills and immerse yourself into the advertising just as an ad person would?

What do I need and where do I start?

Like every job application there would be your resume that lists your experiences and achievements during the course of your career. However if you’re coming from a totally different industry you may not have certain experiences that ad agencies are looking for. The answer lies in your portfolio – the ticket into a career in advertising.

An advertising portfolio will consist of work that reflects your creativity, ability to strategise (even in the creative industry you need good solid thinking) and understanding of the brand-positioning approach behind a particular product. Basically it is where you are able to showcase your abilities and catch the attention of your future employers!

If you’re not sure about what it takes to build an impressive portfolio, join us in our “A Portfolio That Gets You Hired” workshop this Saturday. You'll understand how to start building your portfolio and prepare yourself for an interview that could change your life. Email felicia@95percent.com.my or call 03-2287 7095 for more info!

Next Intake : 23rd February 2010

Idea Rawkstarrs is a 3-month training for Copywriters, Graphic Designers, Account Executives and Marketing Executives who aspire to be outstanding.

If you have no background in advertising and you just want to be more creative, this will improve the quality of your ideas.

AWAKEN YOUR CREATIVITY

Everyone is born creative, but many people stop being creative when they grow up. Some are ok with this, but most are not. Have you ever met someone who is always talking and talking about ideas but not doing anything about them? Maybe that someone is you?

That's a sign of your innate talent wanting to be heard. Your creativity is begging to be set free!

Whether you're already nurturing your creativity or still questioning it, the seed is already there. It may be latent but it is there.

For this seed to germinate, you need a catalyst. An alarm clock of sorts, to shock it out of inertia. Then it can start to grow and bloom.

IDEA RAWKSTARRS IS YOUR CATALYST

In this training, there are no textbooks, no long lectures. You'll learn by questioning, experimenting and discussing to arrive at your own conclusions. This develops independence, confidence and originality.

Many have described the training as a roller coaster : you'll sink deeper and fly higher than ever before, and the ride will leave you breathless and exhilarated.

Some have called it a pressure cooker : it is designed to challenge you so that you will develop strength, resilience and the bull-headed determination to blast your way through obstacles.

Some say this training provided them with a space to find themselves. Here, they have permission to experiment and make mistakes. They are free to express, explore and discover what's important to them. Dreams come to life. Goals become clear. Daily activities become energised with a sense of purpose.

The common denominator is that this is a 3-month experience like no other. It is like stepping out of your life and taking a journey into another realm. One from which you will emerge refreshed, recharged and renewed.


A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE YOURSELF AS SOMEONE AWESOME
Next Intake starts 23rd February

Get details on Idea Rawkstarrs : http://bit.ly/4AJv5C

To get more info, email janetlee@95percent.com.my

Who'll be the next Idea Rawkstarr?

Who will be the one to impress Creative Directors and Ad Agency Heads? Who will be the one who will have a portfolio that makes their classmates drool? Who has the vision and determination to launch a new career?

The next intake of Idea Rawkstarrs starts on 23rd February 2010. Click on the title of this post for training info, or email janetlee@95percent.com.my for some cold, hard truths about a career in advertising.

Some people wish and hope, others make it happen.


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Graduates speak their mind...

ONG SUE YIN
Now working as a Copywriter at Dentsu Utama
"I took a diploma and a degree in Graphic Design and felt that I wasn't getting enough knowledge to join the industry. It was a major scary feeling because I knew I wasn't equipped with the skills. And then came 95%. Their training courses were specific, thorough and experiential, unlike those pricey college modules which were too academic."
Ask Sue what it was like : sueyin@dentsutama.com

ADLIN ROSLI
From writer at KLUE to copywriter at BBDO / Proximity
"Idea Rawkstarrs was tough! I had many moments during the three months where I was thinking "what did I get myself into? At the end though, by pushing through the challenges and putting everything on the line (I quit my day job in the middle of the training!), I understood the mindset and gained the drive needed to be in advertising. Armed with what I learned through Idea Rawkstarr, I was able to make an impact in my interviews with BBDO/Proximity. Working at Proximity is fun, but the work hours can be murder! Being passionate about creativity really helps get me through. Plus, I'm loving that I'm being paid to daydream and have silly conversations with my colleagues."
Hear it directly from Adlin: (msn) adlin_1@hotmail.com

RUDY LA FABER
Marketing & IT graduate, from freelance magazine writer to copywriter at Dentsu Malaysia.
“If you said I was going to be a writer at a big agency a year ago, I would have laughed at you. I didn't know a thing about advertising. Now I'm a writer at Dentsu. Most of my friends are pretty sick of me talking about my job. I can't help it though, I love it too much. For the first time ever I can wake up, head to work and not complain about anything at all."
Talk to Rudy: twitter.com/rudylafaber