At the ‘Creative Britain in Golden Square’ event held this week, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham launched a new, free online self-assessment tool that identifies if you have what it takes to succeed in the ad industry.
This unique online psychometric tool, designed and developed on behalf of the IPA by digital agency V-On and management consultancy AgencyPeople, will tell you if you have ‘Diagonal Thinking’ ability. It is designed as a recruitment tool to encourage applicants from all backgrounds to consider a career in advertising.
The culmination of a five-year project, and with over 100 advertising luminaries tested, the ‘Diagonal Thinking’ tool validates the hypothesis that to get to the top in advertising you must be both a linear and lateral thinker - you think 'diagonally'.
Says Andy Burnham, Culture Secretary, “It's vital that we make sure every young person has the chance to discover skills, the ambition to pursue their passions and the opportunities to convert their talent and enthusiasm into a successful and rewarding career. The new ‘Diagonal Thinking’ tool will help spot those who have what it takes to succeed in advertising. And with hundreds of new apprenticeships already helping to nurture raw talent and turn dreams into reality, I'm optimistic that our success in the creative industries is set to grow.”
Says Hamish Pringle, Director General, IPA, “We very much hope this tool will be become a standard part of the recruitment process and help IPA member agencies attract a more diverse and talented workforce. It's about how you think, rather than your background that really makes you successful in this business.”
Says John Gage, Founding Partner, AgencyPeople, “As ‘Diagonal Thinking’ reveals what makes someone successful in a creative environment, we hope that the self-assessment tool we’ve developed will help agencies to recruit exceptional people from more diverse social ethnic and educational backgrounds, so attracting large sections of society who wouldn't currently consider the creative industries as a career option. Moreover in the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to recruit and invest in the right person for the job.”
The self-assessment tool is available online now at
www.diagonalthinking.co.uk.