John O’Toole

Advertising Copywriter |Creative Human!| 😎✌🏼🕺

Let’s chat 💬 630-254-6566 | johnotoole930@gmail.com  

Behold, the riveting tale of my work life so far, conveniently condensed into this thrilling document. You're in for a wild ride – it's my resume :)

Experience 

Freelance Copywriting, 2023 – Present

Senior Copywriter / Creative Direction 

  • I’m your word maestro, ready to craft ideas for any cool project that comes my way. Here’s a glimpse of some recent fun:

Invisalign / Conceived, penned, and executed a vibrant spec campaign that truly dazzled—so much so that I personally presented it to the client.

Quigley-Simpson / Brought the Instacart Mastercard to the bright lights of Times Square with a dazzling billboard and dreamed up Gen-Z savvy concepts for the Marriott Bold Card.

/ Co-created, crafted, and sold a nationwide TV spot for Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card—because earning points is the ‘Biggest Flex’ of them all.

EarnIn / Spiced up the social scene for the payday app everyone’s talking about.

J. Schmid / Crafted engaging LinkedIn posts for Kansas City's dynamic business consultancy, Entrepreneur to Enterprise (e2E).

BASIC/DEPT, 2022 – 2023

Senior Copywriter 

  • Concocted some snazzy words for Google Store, giving those Google Pixel phones and Pixel Tablet the verbal VIP treatment.

  • Led the charge on campaigns like Summer Deals and Holidays, even took the mentor hat for the juniors. 

  • Crafted digital content and proactive campaign ideas for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

  • Added my touch to Arc’Teryx’s ruggedly refined brand book.

  • Wrote scripts showcasing Adobe’s brand spanking new AI features.

Sidecar Health, 2021 – 2022

Senior Copywriter 

  • Played a crucial role in shaping the vibe and voice for a startup in the health insurance game.

  • Revamped Sidecar's website with conversational language, developed member welcome kits.

  • Created, crafted, and launched a digital campaign catering to freelancers.

Quigley-Simpson, 2016 – 2021

Senior Copywriter

  • I whipped up words, took the lead, and cooked up all-encompassing campaigns for pretty much every Chase credit card, plus Starbucks, Budget, Lyft, Paycom, and even BeWaterWise.com.

  • Brought in and looked after the newbies in the copywriting crew.

 

FCB Chicago, 2013 – 2016 

Copywriter 

  • Crafted words and cooked up full-blown campaigns in every direction for Cox Communications, Michelob Ultra, Kentucky Fried Chicken, T-Mobile, and Valspar. 

RPM Advertising, 2013 

Junior Copywriter 

  • Learned the ropes on clients that included BMW and Hollywood Casinos. 

Frequency Television, 2008 – 2009 

Writer/Producer 

  • Wrote, produced, and created programming for the station (including a show called Get Tipsy that was not about drinking).


EDUCATION

Chicago Portfolio School, 2012 – 2013 

Copywriting 

Columbia College Chicago, 2006 – 2009 

Bachelor of Arts in Television – Writing/Producing 

ETC. 

  • Former looper (I still quote Caddyshack all the time). “I enjoy skinny-skiing, going to bullfights on acid…”

  • Got this silly running blog on Instagram. It's kind of a big deal (not really). Follow @JohnRunsHard for some not-so-athletic adventures.

  • Proficient in multitasking: Managed two daughters, countless eye rolls, and maintained dad-joke supremacy with exceptional flair. 

  • I love mentoring advertising students from my alma mater. Consider me the Gandalf of ad advice –“You shall not pass without a killer campaign idea!”