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    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 58

    What’s your excuse for not visiting every Creative Director, Senior Creative, Group Publisher, Studio Manager, Design Director and Big Wig With Advice to Give that you can guess the email of? It better be good, because if it’s not, you’ll meet someone like Stan (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com/) in the real world–and they might not be this helpful.

    Once upon a time a kid rang me to ask if I’d take a look at his folio. When I asked him what sort of folio it was he ummed and awed before replying that he wasn’t sure.

    When I asked him why, he said that his was just a black plastic one that he’d bought at Officeworks.

    As you can imagine, I pissed myself laughing.

    I then explained to him that what I actually wanted to know was whether he was a writer, an art director or a photographer.

    “I’m a writer,” he said.

    So I told him that whenever he rang people up to look at his folio he should always say up front that he was a writer.

    “But what if they’re not looking for a writer,” he said.

    My answer was the same piece of advice I have given many times over the years;

    Don’t show a folio with the expectation of getting a job. Show it with the aim of asking for advice on how to make it better. Because the better your folio gets, the better your chances of getting a job.

    ADVERTISING, WHIP | Also tagged ADVERTISING, FOLIO, HUNGER, JOB HUNTING, WHIP

    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 57

    Hey everybody! We’ve got ourselves organised for 2010. This year is gonna be great! Stan (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com/)‘s back with more weekly whip’s, we’ll be posting a new interview every week, and we’ve got a handful of new columns to surface over the next month. But enough of that hoo-hah–listen to Stan! Get to work! Do stuff!

    I thought I’d kick start the year with a little tale about how getting off your arse and simply creating stuff on a regular basis can help get you a foot in the door of whatever creative industry you aspire to be a part of.

    About 18 months ago I was at a brekky gathering in Sydney, where I met Annik Skelton (http://annikskelton NULL.com/). At the time she was doing some mundane job that she thought would involve creativity but didn’t.

    Like many of the people I meet nowadays we hooked up on Twitter.

    Over the course of last year she has kept me, and I’m sure many others, entertained with her surreal Twitterisms (http://twitter NULL.com/neekatron) and seriously off the wall blog posts. The girl can write, no doubt about it.

    Seems I wasn’t the only person who noticed, because late last year she was hired by new Sydney agency Tongue (http://www NULL.campaignbrief NULL.com/2009/12/tongue-lashes-out-on-hiring-an NULL.html).

    In the agency press release about the appointment they described Annik as, “a well-known Twitter personality, notorious for her tongue-in-cheek commentary and unique methods of story-telling.”

    So there you go kids. Next time I tell you to just go off and create something, do it. Because the more stuff you put out there, the better chance you have of getting to wherever it is you want to go.

    WHIP | Also tagged ADVERTISING, COMMITMENT, HUNGER, JOB HUNTING, WHIP

    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 44

    whip43

    Is this job cool enough? Will I be proud when I tell others its name? Are the people who work here good teachers or idiots? Is the boy/girl at reception handsome/cute? Will I get to work on the good stuff or will I just make coffee? Will I meet famous people? Will I be at work until 12am? Is there a good cafe nearby? Will this help me to get a better job later on? Will this job ruin my career? Am I getting underpaid? Is it open plan or a cubicle cave? Can we have beers in the office on a Friday? Is it the next big thing? Will I find a mentor here? Will someone please give me the answer? Stan (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com/)? Is it the one?

    I went to see (500) Days of Summer last week (http://www NULL.imdb NULL.com/title/tt1022603/). As a connoisseur of the chick flick, I wholeheartedly recommend this film to you.
    Its basic premise is a young man, smitten by an enchanting young lady called Summer, who he firmly believes is ‘The One”.
    Whether or not she is, you’ll need to see the movie to find out. The search for “The One” however, applies to a lot more than just looking for love.
    Most of you reading this are also searching for “The One”.
    It might be a job as an art director at M&C Saatchi (http://www NULL.mcsaatchi NULL.com/). You may want to be a part of the Glue Society (http://www NULL.gluesociety NULL.com NULL.au/). And some of you I’m sure dream of getting involved with Droga (http://www NULL.droga5 NULL.com).
    Sadly in life, as in love, you need to go through your fair share of up and downs before arriving at your goal.
    But the reality is that many of you may not make it there.
    Like the young guy in the film, you need to understand that “The One” may in fact be an unattainable dream. And that you need to live in the here and now.
    A foot in the door is a foot in the door. No matter where or what it is.
    Writing catalogue copy at some shitty little shop no-one’s ever heard of is way better than hawking a folio around waiting for Droga to call.
    Why?
    Because you’re working on real briefs. And every brief you work on is a chance to create.
    And every chance to create is an opportunity to do something that has never been done before. And guess what – you don’t need to work at some big name place to do that.

    WHIP | Also tagged THE ONE, WHIP

    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 43

    whip43
    Ever been to see a Creative Director with a book full your precious scribbles only to have him say that your idea won a gold lion (http://12pointtype NULL.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cannesgrandprix NULL.jpg) at Cannes the previous year?… Yeah. We’ve all been there. Don’t worry one day when you get a job you can steal all the agency’s award annuals. Problem solved. But in the mean time, Stan (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com)‘s got some advice to get you through.

    The ever uncheerful German philosopher Goethe (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/File:Goethe_(Stieler_1828) NULL.jpg) once said that, “Everything has been thought of before. The problem is to think of it again.”
    This is the day to day reality that confronts anyone pursuing a career as a creative.
    There were two great examples of Goethe inspired creativity this week. Both of them from Apple. The first came from the original Apple – Apple Corps.
    They found a way to get people to buy another copy of the Beatles music that they already own. Yes that’s right, they got people to fork out $30 for CDs that they already own – simply by remastering them!
    They then went one step further and found a way to introduce the Beatles music to a new generation of music fans, with the launch of the Beatles Rock Band game.
    These two seemingly simple ideas have taken music created over 40 years ago and re-invented it in a way that is sure to get cash registers ringing.
    Meanwhile the other Apple took the cute little iPod Nano we know and love and turned it from an MP3 Player into an MP3 Player with a built in Video recorder.
    I don’t think anyone saw that coming!
    Yet by re-inventing the iPod Nano, Apple have ensured that people will queue up to buy something that they already own.
    So why not take some time this week to apply a spot of rigorous Goethe inspired thinking to your folio. Who knows where it will take you, but you’re sure to be able to freshen up or transform some of the ideas in your book.

    WHIP | Also tagged CREATIVITY, FOLIO

    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 42

    WHIP42
    How lame is the internet? Yeah, totes lameski, we know. It makes us lazy. So lazy in fact that we don’t go to libraries anymore. Googler and Wikipediac are the modern resources of choice. To stand out these days, we gotta get old fashioned. So this week, Stan (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com) reminds us of the best old fashioned advice: Make phone calls.

    As a junior the best way to get your folio in front of potential employers is to ring up and make a time to go and see them.
    This isn’t always easy to do. In fact it can sometimes seem impossible. But take it from me, it is the only way to go.
    If they tell you a person is too busy to see you, and that you should leave your folio at reception, don’t. If they tell you to send an email with some PDFs of your work, don’t.
    A face to face meeting is the only way to go.
    Why?
    Because it allows you talk about your work and the thinking behind it. An email can’t do this.
    When you meet someone in person it enables them to get a feel for you and your personality. This is important, as it’s the person who gets the job, not their work.
    Finally, if you go into an agency you have an opportunity to ask questions. This is a great way to make an impression. And a good impression will always lead to bigger things.

    ADVERTISING, WHIP | Also tagged ADVERTISING, FOLIO, JOB HUNTING, JOB INTERVIEW, WHIP

    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 38

    WHIP38
    Do you know what a good idea is? We hope so, for your own sake. Our good idea was asking Stan (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com) to write these Monday Morning Whips. Lucky for you we did. Otherwise you would have missed this week’s – where Stan tells us what goes into building the perfect folio.

    How many pieces of work should you have in your portfolio?
    This is a question that has most kids perplexed.
    When I am asked this question, which I often am, my answer is always the same:
    As many as you want. As long as they are all great ideas.
    Sadly many people mistake quantity for quality when it comes to putting their folio together.
    I really don’t care how many pieces you have, as long as each and every one of them is folio worthy.
    And therein lies the problem.
    Whenever I ask someone why they have a half-baked or uninspired idea in their folio they always seem to have an excuse.
    Don’t make excuses for your work. Make it better.
    A good folio, my young friends, is often defined not by the ideas it contains, but by the ideas that were left out.

    Hey you lifeatthebottomers! See Stan speak this Wednesday at our JUNIOR EVENT. Don’t be shy. We don’t bite. Especially when we’ve had a few drinks. We’re also giving away plenty of goodies from our friends at Notemaker (http://www NULL.notemaker NULL.com NULL.au) and Rhodia (http://notemaker NULL.com NULL.au/collections/the-australian-online-shop-for-rhodia-stationery).

    WHIP | Also tagged FOLIO, WHIP

    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 37

    WHIP
    Have you got a piece of paper from a University? We do. When you went to your first job interview, did you take it off your parent’s wall and cart it in with your book? No! Don’t be silly! They’re useless – a certificate to say, “I have a massive HECS debt, lived on centrelink paid for baked beans and drank lots of beer for three years.” Whoops, hope we didn’t steal Stan’s (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com) thunder. This week he’s gonna shake the shit out of you spoon-fed uni grads still whinging that life is hard. Suck it up and read on.

    I’ve been asked to contribute in the development of a Postgraduate Diploma for advertising people. 
    The academics involved are interested in my opinion on the skills gaps that students encounter when they get their first job as a creative person.
    Thing is, I don’t think a skills gap is the greatest problem that graduates face. I think the biggest problem for kids today is one of unrealistic expectations.
    So to help you overcome this, I have compiled a list of the 3 things you should expect to encounter when pursuing a career as a junior creative.

    • As a junior you should expect to struggle to get a job.
    • You should expect to get paid a shitty salary.
    • You should expect to get very few opportunities to showcase your talent.

    After you come to terms with these expectations, only then can you can you work to overcome them. Because, as I have said many times before, a piece of paper from a university is just that – a piece of paper.
    It is not a guarantee of big bucks and superstardom. Only passion, persistence and drive can help you achieve that.

    See Stan (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com) our resident WHIP cracker in person at the next JUNIOR EVENT – Wednesday August 12. He won’t be talking about how to get a job, but how to still have one 10 years from now. It’s going to be rad.

    WHIP | Also tagged SALARY, UNIVERSITY

    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 36

    SEIZE THE DAY
    Have you seen Dead Poets Society with Robin Williams? Of course you haven’t, we’re Gen Y, we don’t watch inspirational feel good films from the 80s. Anyway, now you don’t need to, because our own “Captain, my Captain (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com)” is telling us to seize the day in his own simple, wise words.

    Creative Directors are busy people. So if they give you the benefit of their time, please use it wisely.
    When they tell you they like your book and that you should stay in touch, do exactly that. Because if you do not stay in touch you will drop off their radar.
    When they offer advice on how to improve your work, be sure and get in touch with them a couple of weeks later. Show them you have listened to what they had to say and how they have helped you to make your folio even better.
    When they tell you to come back and see them in, say, four weeks. Make damn sure that you do so.
    Of course if you choose to disregard all the above advice, then so be it.
    But never forget that every Creative Director you go and see was once a junior. And that they got to where they are today because they followed the type of advice I give you each and every week.

    WHIP | Also tagged CREATIVE DIRECTORS, WHIP

    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 35

    TweetTweet

    Hey you! Staring into that computer screen won’t do you any good! Get out there! Do some shit! Use exclamation points in your everyday life! It works for us! As always though, we know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Stop using exclamation points!” And, “Yes, I do need to get out there, but where do I start?” Well, we’re glad you asked, unsure non-exclamation user. Why are we glad? Because Stan (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com/)‘s got a free tip for you and it comes cheap. Very cheap...

    Last week I came across an interesting way for young creatives to promote themselves.
    Twitter (http://twitter NULL.com).
    UK based Graham Watson offered a free trial of his services via Twitter.
    Now although this sounds good, he only has 66 people following him on Twitter. Very few of whom would be in a position to give him a job.
    So why was his use of Twitter so clever?
    Because Twitter is a social medium and all about sharing.
    So even though I have no idea who Graham is, or where he works, his tweet appeared in my Twitter stream.
    How?
    Because one of his friends follows me on Twitter and shared his message with me.
    As you can imagine, I was so impressed I shared it too, both on Twitter and on my blog (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com/2009/07/creative-twitter NULL.html ).
    As a result, Graham’s offer of a free trial of his services reached several thousand people.
    Which is definitely something worth thinking about. Don’t you think?

    WHIP | Also tagged GRAHAM WATSON, TWITTER, WHIP

    Tag Archives: JOBS

    The Monday Morning WHIP // 19

    banner161

    In this game you have to be constantly thinking. Where do you want to be in one year? Two years? Five years? Once you’ve got a few good ideas, sit on them. You’ve got to shake the Gen-Y shackles and be patient. Then start doing clever things like Stan (http://branddna NULL.blogspot NULL.com/) to get to where you want to be. Patience is a virtue they say. All you’ve got to do is advertise yourself.

    Late last year I saw a job for a CD role in Melbourne advertised in B&T and Adnews. So I applied for it.
    Thing is, I wasn’t actually looking for a job. I love where I work and have done some great things over the last two years. So I’m not looking to move.
    I applied for the job because I wanted to ensure that recruiters know where I am and what I’ve been up to.
    You see they have literally tonnes of people on their books. And unless you’re one of the big names it’s easy to drop off their radar.
    So what better way to stay on their radar than to use a job application as a Trojan horse to get news of your pitch wins, awards and career success in front of them.
    That way, when a really interesting job comes across their desk, you’re sure to be one of the first people they think of.

    ADVERTISING, WHIP | Also tagged RECRUITERS
              
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