am i interesting enough?

A Guide to LandingYour First Job

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&docid=girtTcbJg-UrSM&tbnid=F4cn8XZWpHbjVM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wdcw.com%2Fabout%2Fpeople%2F&ei=hps6Ub2xCYizyAGEwYB4&bvm=bv.43287494,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNE_bBf0hpAVtGn8z8aArFVJe-R6OHQ&ust=1362881795636162

DON’T STRESS ABOUT THE FUTURE. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR GOOD PEOPLE.

“

”Tracy Wong

Co-Founder Wong, Doody, Crandall, Weiner

Every day you hear about how other students at the University

of Oregon are working at your dream company while you struggle to get the classes you need. The question on most minds is “how the hell do I get a job?” Easy. Read this handbook.

“But wait, aren’t you a bunch of unemployed college students?”

Yes. Which is why we sought out some help for this book. “Am I

Interesting Enough?” features advice from recent advertising graduates who went from the position we are in to employees of major agencies such as 72&Sunny, Weiden+Kennedy,

Droga5, Y&R and Code and Theory.

Our goal is to lower your stress rates and protect your hair.

Stressed. Pessimistic. Sun-Deprived. THIS IS YOU

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WORKCOMMUNICATIONSOCIAL MEDIA

PORTFOLIO & résumé

INTERVIEWS& INTERNSHIPS

NETWORKING& PRESENCE

WORK1 Advertising is not a normal job. To gain an entry-level job in advertising, you have to show some experience. Isn’t that impossible? Probably. After all, how can you create a good portfolio of work if you’ve never actually worked? A problem this complex requires a creative solution. So we asked some creative people. Brock Kirby of Weiden+Kennedy, Nick Sugai of Code and Theory, and Nicole Karalekas of Droga5 have some tips.

Be incredibly nuanced about execution. CD’s will find reasons to NOT like your book, and poor execution will be the first one.

The dos

WORK

Take risksand share new work as often as possible.

Pretend they only have 5 seconds. What will they see? Make those parts really excellent.

Put in personal work. People want to hire someone they find interesting and have things in common with.

Nick SugaiJr. Copywriter | Code and Theory

Brock KirbyCopywriter | W+K

James MuellerJr. Copywriter | Y&R


Nicole KaralekasArt Director | Droga5


The don’tsDon’t hold back. Clients and CDs will hold you back in the real world, and you won’t get another opportunity like this again.

Do not think that knowing about cool stuff is the same as making cool stuff.

Don’t oversell yourself: worst case, you get a job you’re not prepared for and botch both it and your reputation.

Don’t be gimmicky. Don’t go baking cookies with your website address on them just to get someone to look at your résumé.

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Brock KirbyCopywriter | W+K


PORTFOLIO & RÉSUMÉ

How important is listing non-advertising related experience?

What Makes a Portfolio Stand out?

What are some ways to start building a blank Résumé?

Good ideas can only stand on the legs of the execution. Make it look good and professional.

Don’t just list your title. Write something you learned from it. And if it is not that interesting, you ARE in advertising, so

unforgettable.

It should be apparent that you know exactly what you want to do, so they know what to hire you for. Also, be able to do anything they might require of you in that job, from boring taglines to exciting video.

Listing it is not as interesting as seeing it come to life through work. I’d much rather see life experiences expressed through creative work in aportfolio than I would listed on paper.

Join AHA or Ad Team and apply for internships.

Portfolio and proof of thinking matter more than work experience on a résumé.

Think of something that drives you nuts

creative way to solve it.

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WORKPORTFOLIO & RÉSUMÉ



Brock KirbyWriter | W+K


Brock KirbyWriter | W+K



2 Alright, so your portfolio is rocking, and you got an interview in order to see if they want you to intern for them. Wait, what? An interview?! Although commonly perceived as an ass- kissing fest, the interview is actually just another advertising project. The only difference is you’re not selling a product this time, no, you’re selling something you know much better: yourself. This is easier said than done. What do you wear? What do you say? Do you have to wait three days before calling them? And if they do end up liking you, how do you avoid being just another coffee jockey? After you stop dry heaving from the stress that comes with knowing you have to talk to a potential employer, calm down and read ahead. Tyler Kirsch from The Concept Farm and Becca Purice from 72andSunny have some advice.

COMMUNICATION

The dos The don’ts

COMMUNICATION INTERVIEWS& INTERNSHIPS

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Go in knowing what you want to take away from the interview including: information, job offer, another interview to meet more people, etc.

Be humble!You still have a lot to learn. They are looking for people who are willing to learn and be trained on the job.

Do your research. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the company you’reinterviewing with.

Don’t overdress! The advertising world is a lot more casual than you would expect. Wear something that shows your personality.

Be curious! Ask questions. If you are going to be working there, you want to make sure that YOU and not just your skills will

culture.

Don’t show up more than 15 minutes early. It will make whoever is interviewing you nervous.

Don’t oversell yourself: worst case, you get a job you’re not prepared for and botch both it and your reputation.

Don’t be generic.

yourself, about past work or experiences. Be colorful! Don’t be a bore. You won’t impress anyone.

Tyler KirschCopywriter | The Concept Farm




Becca PuriceFilm Producer | 72andSunny


Becca PuriceFilm Producer | 72&Sunny


COMMUNICATION INTERVIEWS& INTERNSHIPS

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How long do you wait to follow up after an interview?

What’s a good way to initiate a relationship with an agency?

How do you avoid coming off as just another intern?

Don’t be boring. Follow employees on social networks, set up ‘Google Alerts’ for their names so you always know when they’re in the news, and read their blogs.

Small projects orassignments can lead to big ideas. Go ABOVE and BEYOND and if they ask you to do something, do it.

Find someone within the agency who inspires you or that you can relate to and reach out to them directly.




I think it’s appropriate to give an agency a week after your interview. A follow-up or thank you email is always a good idea. It can help you gauge when to expect a response.

Following up after an interview is a must, even if you decide not to pursue employment there. But be sure to also thank them for their time and consideration.



Becca PuriceFilm Producer | 72&Sunny

3 Socialmedia

It is the 21st century. Everyone from your best friends, to your pets, to your parents (sigh) is using social media websites. Your online presence should provide more than just a glimpse into what you wore on Halloween, and it should tell more than what your favorite brand of red cup is. As a media professional, you need to use your Internet persona to provide insight on your creative process. To further illustrate the importance of a strong online presence, we interviewed 72andSunny strategist Rachel Hom and junior copywriter Tyler Carrington about their experiences with the digital world.

The dosYou need overwhelming evidence of both your existence and brilliance. Use Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Write posts as you would write headline copy. Concise, smart, and powerful.

Use Gmail (not Hotmail or Yahoo or whatever). I’m dead serious.

Take a stance on something. Add something to the conversationrather than making a safe, surface observation.

The don’tsDon’t burn bridges by putting someone or an agency on blast.

Don’t be anonymous when approaching agencies and agency people. Be friendly.

Don’t be overly modest about the work you’ve done in your online portfolio.

Choose your battles, but don’t be afraid to debate.

SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING& PRESENCE

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Rachel HomJr. Strategist | 72andSunny




Tyler CarringtonJr. Copywriter | Freelance




How important is maintaining a blog?

What are tactical ways to nework using social media?

What is the most effectiveSocial Media platform to master?

SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING& PRESENCE

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Very. Unless they are calling for hires, don’t reach out to industry people when you only want a job or internship from them. Build a genuine rapport with the person.

As a writer I can say professionals have gotten a better sense of my talent through reading my blog. I have even gotten meetings with people because of it.

Remember, getting a job is only the first step, and the job market is highly competitive. People are taking a break from Facebook, but not from making one-on-one connections with others.







E-MAIL. A well crafted personal e-mail with a genuine question, proposal, or name-drop is going to be worth way more than any other means of social media.

TWITTER. 80% of the industry is connected through it and you have the opportunity to be amplified by your network. It’s easily digestible and is an efficient platform.

CONCLUSIONEntering the job market is scary. Truthfully, the

only people who will know how to stand out to

employers are the employers. Frankly, reading this

book probably didn’t take away all your stress about

entering the job market. Hairs might still be pulled,

sleep might still be lost, and you probably won’t land

every job you apply for. But we hope we taught you

how to better your chances. People who were in your

shoes just a few years ago wrote the advice in this

book. Today they are living their dreams and doing

important work. If you heed their advice, you might

just get off of the Top-Ramen-every-night-diet and

if you want to be.

CONTRIBUTorsNick Sugai

Code and TheoryJr. Copywriter

Graduated: 2012

VBrock Kirby

Wieden+KennedyCopywriter

Graduated: 2008

VJames Mueller

Y&RJr. Copywriter

Graduated: 2012

VTyler Carrington

Freelance WriterGraduated: 2012

VNicole Karalekas

Droga5Art Director

Graduated: 2008

Tyler KirschThe Concept Farm

Jr. CopywriterGraduated: 2009

Vrachel hom

72andSunnyJr. Strategist

Graduated: 2010

Special Thanks to

deb morrison

Becca Purice72andSunny

Film ProducerGraduated: 2009

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