Summer has finally passed, and cooler weather is knocking at the door. Welcome home, Fall! The time for football, pumpkin spice lattes, and a casual existential crisis of wanting to completely change your life. It’s a good thing September is National Self-Improvement Month! 

Is now the time to finally pursue your dream job? 

As the seasons change, we often change with them. It’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and ask yourself, ​​Am I truly fulfilled in my career? If you’ve ever dreamed of working in the creative world as a copywriter or art director, there’s never been a better time to make that move.

At book180, we see career changers and college grads step into the advertising industry every day, building stunning portfolios and landing dream jobs without the debt or years-long programs. Read on to understand why now might be your moment to take the leap toward a more fulfilling career. 

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Why September is Your Career Reset

Self-Improvement Month is all about investing in yourself. Whether it’s learning a new skill, setting personal goals, or completely changing your professional trajectory.

For many, the biggest act of self-improvement is pursuing a career that brings purpose and excitement. The advertising industry thrives on fresh ideas and bold thinkers, making it a perfect space for those craving a creative challenge. 

September is also a natural reset point. With the year’s final quarter approaching, companies are re-evaluating needs and seeking new talent. It’s a strategic time to align your professional growth with market opportunity.

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Is It Time to Chase Your Dream Job?

How do you know it’s time to reevaluate? Here are some common signs:

• You feel uninspired or bored by your daily work. 🥱
• Your body is giving you signs it’s not happy (anxiety, depression, exhaustion). 😓
• You crave creative expression and collaboration. 🎨
• Your growth has stalled, and you’re hungry for a new challenge. 👀
• You find yourself constantly daydreaming about other careers. 💭

These aren’t just feelings, they’re signals. Sometimes, changing your job can lead to a whole lot more self-improvement in terms of physical and mental health and overall happiness.

Research even says that only about 21% of employees feel completely fulfilled in their jobs. If you’re not one of them, you’re far from alone. A creative career could be the fresh start you’re seeking!

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How Portfolio School Prepares You for Your Dream Job

Breaking into a completely new career might feel intimidating or even impossible at times, but the right preparation can make it exciting and achievable.

At book180, we’re passionate about helping aspiring creatives learn the ropes of advertising in just 6 months—without having to quit your current day job or move to a new city to build a strong portfolio.

We’ll prepare you for your dream job search, and help you land it. 

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📚The Classes: Our classes are designed to emulate real-world experience, and the instructors are all industry professionals.

From learning the tools in Adobe Creative Suite, honing the craft of Copywriting and Art Direction, building campaigns from start to finish with a creative partner, to learning how to build a website to showcase your portfolio of work.

We work with students closely to ensure their time in classes is time well spent. 

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💻Build a Portfolio: In advertising, your portfolio is your passport. Starting the process of building an online collection of your most creative thinking is what will land you a job in the end.

Most Portfolio School programs require up to 2 years of in-person coursework, which isn’t easy to do with a day job or a family to care for.

We recognized the barriers in the more “traditional” portfolio schools and built a program that broke those walls down so dream-chasers like you could create agency-ready portfolios in just six months. 

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🤝Network with Intent: As you prepare for your dream job pursuit, it’s a great idea to begin connecting with industry professionals and alumni on LinkedIn. Ask questions about the industry, job market, expectations, and get feedback on your current situation.

It helps talking with others, especially when you learn they might have been in your shoes at some point in time!

Consider attending virtual events or workshops (which we also host for non-students) or in-person networking events in your city to build your rolodex of connections. 

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📝Get Feedback: Mentors are lifesavers when breaking into a new industry—especially advertising.

We offer our students mentorship from industry professionals, giving them the opportunity to have someone in the industry vouch for them during the job hunt, help refine their work, and serve as their own personal Gandalf. 

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Don’t Be Scared To Change Your Path

The job market is constantly evolving, and creative thinkers are in demand more than ever. Companies value problem-solvers, storytellers, and visual thinkers to drive campaigns and connect with audiences.

Post-pandemic shifts have opened doors for career-changers who want flexibility, diversity, and impactful work. The best part? At book180, you don’t need to spend a fortune or set aside a full year or two to pivot. 

Growth, self-improvement, and professional change all require taking bold steps and a whole lot of faith. Our students have ranged from parents, caregivers, recent graduates, and full-time working professionals.

Each of our graduates decided to take that leap of faith, and now (we can only assume) wake up feeling a little more excited to go to work each day! 

Pursuing your dream job is scary, we won’t lie about that. Leaving behind somewhere you may be comfortable at but no longer compatible with is a challenge that requires courage and commitment. But changing your career can be the greatest act of self-improvement there is. 

If you’re feeling the pull and think it’s time to explore new opportunities, drop us a line. We frequently speak with individuals, schools, advertising clubs, and more about breaking into the industry and the knowledge you need to do it. Fall 2025 Applications for book180 are waiting for you until September 12!

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