Coping with life without summer holidays

My school career is almost over. I have a little less than a month left of classes, and then I will pass through the invisible protection of school and into the real world... which is terrifying. As students, I think we get so used to the protective bubble that university and college provide. We don't have to determine what career we want to enter or pay off our student loans quite yet.. it's a fantastic place to be! But all things great must come to an end, and that's why I'm writing this blog post now.

This is an ode to the 4 months of summer that I used to have free from school or any major responsibilities... a reflection of the days that ended at 1pm because classes ended early that day... a ballad to the professors that would give project extensions so our weekends could be relaxing and fun.

I've never surfed in my life, but it seemed fitting.

The thing about school is that those four months after classes finished served as a reset button. You finished those eight months of hard-work, and maybe you'll try some new courses next semester, or even change your major!! (lord knows, I have). The thing is.. you knew that school was in the near future, but you could worry about it later. Now, those days are over. There's no such thing as 'summer holidays' or 'march break' or even 'christmas break' because this is real life now, kid.

By no means is this blog post a complaint about not having as many vacation days as I did as a student.. it just means that things are changing, and it's time to step up and rise with the challenge of the real world. What does that challenge entail exactly? No idea.

What I do know is this: these past few months have been the most exciting of my life, but also the most stressful. The phrase 'so what are you going to do when you're done school' is almost a daily question you have to answer, and the panic you feel when you can't answer is quite palpable. Thankfully, I've been able to find a career in a field that I love, and have actually landed a position at an agency that I respect and am excited to be a part of. But still... I have been preparing to enter the 'real world' for 5 years now, and it still seems like something just out of reach. I guess in a couple of months I feel finally know what all the hubbub is all about.

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Looking for a job in advertising? Here's some advice.

Many of us are at a point in our lives when we are starting to send out our resumes and cover letters, hoping desperately to get an entry-level position in the advertising industry. Many different people will give you very different strategies on how to get your foot in the door, (which may cause a bit of confusion) because there is no single strategy of landing a job. Different agencies have different cultures with various human resources directors who look for different qualities in a prospective employee. This is where the stress starts to seep in. But, luckily, there are a few universal things you can (read: should probably) do if you want to stand out amongst other applicants and get your first industry job!

Now, take this advice with a grain of salt since I'm still a student and am currently going through a job-search of my own. But, all of the following advice comes from my experiences talking to profs and industry professionals from Sheridan College.

Here's what you should do when trying to land a job:

1. Talk to people! Talk to people from agencies you want to work at. Take them out for coffee and pick their brain about the industry. If you show passion and excitement for advertising they will be that much more likely to mention your name when the next entry-level job opens up.

2. Brand yourself! Figure out what your personal brand is and stick to it. Understand who you are, what you can offer an agency and where you see your career going. The confidence you show in your own personal brand will definitely reflect in an interview.

3. Get to know the industry! Research everything you can and keep up to date with the advertising world. Having a point of view on the industry will show that you are passionate and not only care about getting a job, but are interested and curious about the industry you are trying to enter.

4. Don't ask for a job! When contacting potential agencies, understand that getting a job is a process. If you say that you want a position in the first email you send, chances are that email is getting sent straight to the trash.

5. Follow up! If you speak with an agency rep or talk over the phone, make sure you send a thank you note. Their time is very valuable, and showing that you are grateful for the time they spent with you, you will stand out amongst those who didn't. Make sure you follow up within 24 hours!

6. Be 10 minutes early!

That's all I have for now. If you follow these rules, it will only help you in your job-search. Good Luck!