“…We don’t need lots of grads, just the very best.” If you’re the very best, keep reading.

DDB Group Australia has kicked off its Grad Program for 2015, asking those with advertising and marketing careers in their dreams to create a “Big Hit” for a “Little TV”.

The DDB Group Australia Grad Program is tough. That’s because it offers an actual job at the end. Successful candidates are given a full time position within the DDB network.

This year’s theme, “Big Hit, Little TV”, is about answering the need to stand out in a cluttered market, an increasing challenge faced by clients on a daily basis. The group is looking for grads to demonstrate that they have a real understanding of current media and how to create opportunities for themselves within this landscape.

Entry opened on September 1 and all applications must be received by 5pm September 30 2014.

Applicants need to create 30 seconds of “amazing content that will make them a big hit on DDB’s online channel, Little TV”.

Last year’s graduate, James Pope, now a business coordinator on the McDonald’s team has this advice: “When applying and on interview day, grasp what is unusual and extraordinary about you and turn up the volume – make a clearly defined brand for yourself. On the day, it’s like a heightened performance version of yourself, but it has to be grounded in truth and authenticity.”

Investing in the next generation of industry talent matters a lot to new DDB chief executive officer, Andrew Little: “The Grad program continues to be a huge success with many of our leading talent starting out as Grads, including our former CEO and newly appointed CEO of New York, Chris Brown. It provides an opportunity to get a foothold in an industry that is infamous for its difficultly in gaining experience when starting out. Being provided an opportunity with such a network as DDB is invaluable.”

Chief creative officer DDB Sydney, Toby Talbot, explained, “DDB Group is in a unique position to not only influence, but shape popular culture through our incredible client roster and sheer media presence in peoples’ lives. With that responsibility comes an obligation, I believe, for us not to be predictable but instead help consumers reappraise and at best fall in love with our brands. Sometimes in only 30 seconds. For me, that’s what ‘Big hit, little TV’ is all about. Not an easy brief. But then we don’t need lots of grads, just the very best.”

Last year’s graduate program took in 150 applicants. Seven were offered positions. One of these was Stephanie Cusack, a business coordinator, now, on the Telstra team.

“I wanted to work in a creative industry and a grad program was a great opportunity to learn the ropes from some of the sharpest minds in the business. DDB invest a lot of time and effort training their grads and employing them on permanent contracts – the variety of prestigious clients was also a drawcard.”

Are you a DDB star in the making? Find out here.