A job in advertising. For people trying to land their first (or second), getting there can be much less than half the fun. Over the next few weeks, we'll be asking ad folks who hire their thoughts on getting in. 1) How can one person rise to the top in a sea of similarly qualified applicants? I know some CDs that will vehemently disagree with me here -- they claim they'll hire an applicant based on the quality of the work in their portfolio, period. That plus whoever is cheapest. However, any CD who isn't lazy will look for hidden potential that might require some nurturing in an applicant. The best way to get noticed and to really show off that potential is to make your portfolio a creative execution in and of itself, complete with a theme, a concept, or an idea. Your submission should represent how you'll "sell yourself" -- advertising YOU -- it is in its entirety perhaps more important than any single example of your ability. Really do it up -- make your portfolio / pitch clever, unique, and memorable. You'll beat any other similarly qualified applicant hands down if you do it right. Hell, you'll beat people MORE qualified. 2) What's the biggest mistake you've seen a person make while trying to get a job in advertising? I have seen some woefully under-qualified people shop their books around, and it makes for embarrassing situations. If the work is amateurish, boring, tame, or outdated, it makes