Adcraft Detroit, with its more than 2,000 metro Detroit area members, is one of the oldest and most respected advertising organizations in America.

Since its establishment in 1905, Adcraft’s mission has been to bring Detroit’s advertising, marketing and media community together in order to make connections and grow.

Adcraft focuses on education, professional development, networking and community service, as it cultivates the next generation of advertising professionals.

“Our job at the end of the day is to help students succeed in the industry,” said Adcraft Director Michelle Rossow in regard to the organization’s substantial focus on education.

For 27 years, Adcraft has been doing just that, in part, by hosting AdCon, the largest annual advertising career conference in the Midwest. There, Adcraft gives students the opportunity to get their foot in the door of the advertising industry.

“It’s an industry based on connections,” Rossow said. “At AdCon, you are linked directly with recruiters.”

The field of advertising is moving so quickly, explained Rossow, that it is hard for young professionals to realize the amount of opportunities that are available. She believes this is where Adcraft can help.

Rossow explained that AdCon is effective in presenting the variety of options out there because it partners with agencies both large and small.

This year at AdCon, attendees have the opportunity to participate in three of the eight breakout sessions offered. These include account management, strategy, media planning/buying, analytics, social media, creative, public relations and start-ups.

After the breakout sessions, attendees can take advantage of a career fair, a new component Adcraft added this year.

“Employers come to AdCon armed with full-time job and internship opportunities,” Rossow said. “There are 60 to 70 industry folks in the room happy to talk one-on-one. If you have a question they can’t answer, they will walk you over to somebody who can.”

Kim Madeleine, an advertising professor at Oakland University and previous Adcraft member, stressed the benefits of Adcraft and AdCon.

“It’s good for advertising students to belong, as it gives them opportunities to network with advertising and PR professionals in the area,” he said.

However, students do not have to be majoring — or in the case of OU students, minoring — in advertising to benefit from attending AdCon. In fact, Rossow encourages students in many different majors to take advantage of AdCon’s resources. For example, she suggested that graphic design majors take advantage of AdCon’s professional portfolio reviews. She also encouraged English majors to come network with copywriters.

Rossow believes that, if you are creative, a strong writer and a critical thinker, there is a place in advertising for you.

AdCon will be held on November 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wayne State University. For information and to register visit adcondetroit.org.