Ad Industry’s Talent Crisis is a Symptom, Not a Disease

ANA was brave to issue a "scathing report" (per AdAge) on the lack of talent in the advertising industry.  Certain outsiders were fingered as contributing to the talent problem: universities that "aren't keeping pace with the industry's changing needs" and consultancies and tech giants that are offering "more generous salaries and perks."  (Shame on them!)  On top of this, Millennials remain an enigma -- why aren't they more eager to enter the industry?  What ANA did not describe were the day-to-day operations of advertisers and agencies that have turned the advertising working environment into a relatively unattractive one for job-seeking graduates, a trend that has been in swing and gaining momentum for the past 15 years.  Blame the universities and consultancies if you will, but advertisers and agencies need to take personal responsibility for some of the industry's talent crises.