The Clemenger Group, responsible for Bonds “The Boys”, Dolmio Pepper Hacker, Toshiba Made in 17 Hours and Samsung Slideliner launches its 2017 Graduate Program this week.

The highly sought after program, dubbed ‘Curious Minds’, has become known for attracting Australia’s brightest and most inquisitive young minds, who have gone on to build successful careers in the advertising and marketing industry.

“This year we’re broadening the application criteria, we’re keen to hear from the brightest talent. They might be a graduate or someone with other achievements, we’re looking for smart, interesting, ambitious and curious minded young people looking for a start.” said Kim Boehm, Clemenger Group’s director of talent management.

2015 Sydney Graduate, Jess Gill, who graduated from the University of Sydney, said “The Clemenger Group Graduate Program is fantastic, as at the end of the program you effectively have had work experience in two or three companies. It’s the only grad program in the industry that does this, and seeing as today’s campaigns are multi-faceted – more digital, experiential and relying on PR for push – the experience across these different companies is extremely valuable.”

Clemenger Group has run its graduate program for 10 years and has employed over 100 graduates as a direct result of the program. Boehm said that while the Group hires people for a variety of marketing and communications roles, the Curious Minds program is generally suited to those seeking account management positions with the opportunity to complete three rotations in different communications fields.

“We’re not only looking for account managers, but we’ve found that the best way to make the program meaningful for the graduates is to set them to work on real projects with real clients. So we start them off in account management and whilst most tend to stay on this path at the end of the program we’ve had others who have switched to roles in strategy and creative,” said Boehm.

Emily Perrett, Managing Director Clemenger BBDO Sydney said: “Some of our best talent comes out of the Grad program – across Planning, Creative and Account Management. The Program is going to be bigger than ever this year, we can’t wait to meet the 2017 Group”.

The program is a full time paid role for ten months, starting in late January 2017. Applications close September 27, 2016. The program, which runs in Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand, is open to current or recent graduates interested in exploring a career in advertising and marketing communications.