The Importance of Fit

If there is one thing that all human resources people will tell you that they look for in potential candidates, it is this: you must fit in. In this way, the advertising industry is pretty unique, I think. Obviously, your hard skills are required to get you into the interview, but after that it's all about your personality and if you will fit in nicely with the team. This could be verrryy very daunting, because they're essentially saying that you may have the skills to do the job but, meh, we don't really like you all that much. This is a bit of an exaggeration, but still not far from the truth!

I think it's completely understandable that if you don't fit in with the company you may not get the job. These people are going to working long days with you.. and if they can't stand you, it could be detrimental to the team dynamic they've fostered for years. Now, there are some ways to get past this 'they don't like me that much' problem.

oh :(

You can research the company, find out what they stand for and see if you would naturally be a good fit with them. What kind of content do they produce? Are they kinda funny or more of a serious and strict agency? Is it a fun work environment? All of these questions can be answered with a quick Google search, and can be especially valuable in the interview. Showing that your passionate about the same things they are is a sure way to stand out from the competition and land you that job. If you find that you can really connect with the agency and believe in the message they want to communicate, both you and the agency will benefit. Also, if you find that you don't really fit in, who cares? It's an agency that might not share the same values or interests as you, and you're probably better off not working there in the first place. 

I think that in order to see if you will truly be a good fit, you have to do some introspective thinking; 'what do I believe in, what type of team do I want to be a part of, what are my values, what is my work ethic like, what is my personality like' are all questions that have to be answered before you even go into an interview. By understanding yourself, you'll be more confident in the interview and be able to be honest with both yourself and the hiring staff, which will turn the interview into a conversation. Also, you won't have to put on a fake smile and exaggerate your own skills to impress them... you're honesty and self-reflection will.

Learning How To Get A Grip

So, there I was. Standing with my team in front of 12 industry executives waiting for our campaign to unfold before them. You know that feeling when you have no saliva in your mouth and can barely remember how to talk? Now, imagine having that for 45 minutes while higher ups of your dream agency judge the hell out of your pitch. Why would anyone freely choose to have this happen to them?

Before I answer that, let me give you some context...

About a month ago, I signed up for the Grip Limited Juicer competition-- an annual advertising competition offered by Grip Limited to every college and university in Ontario. I wanted a bit more real-life advertising experience, so I decided to be a part of the Sheridan team. We were equipped with a brief, a real-life challenge to solve, and a deadline. I have never really thrown together an actual advertising campaign, so I really thought I was in over my head. Luckily, there was a lot of seasoned-advertising-competition veterans that provided leadership and made the experience pretty cool.

Fast forward a couple weeks. We had our big idea, research, consumer insights, a budget, media considerations and a strategic plan. All that was left was the presentation.

I step into the agency, and my heart is pounding. I'm in classic freak-out mode, thinking of everything that could possibly go wrong. Will I stumble over my words? or forget the crucial information I am supposed to present? Will I let down my team? Will I mess up and ruin my whole career?! I know self-destructing right before a presentation isn't a 100% fantastic strategy, so I tried to cool my jets. My team walks to the front of the room, and we start our pitch. The next 45 minutes was pretty much a complete blur. If you asked me what I said during the presentation, I probably couldn't tell you. But, we got through it. It was over.

Although we didn't win the competition, I was proud of everyone on my team. We all came together to create a campaign that we were proud of, and I'm happy that I was a part of it. We came up with a unique idea and saw it to completion, which is all I wanted to do.

I've only been in advertising for about 7 months now, but having the opportunity to present my own ideas to industry professionals was something I never thought I'd be able to do. I'm an introverted person, but I took a step out of my comfort zone and tried to provide something of value to both my team and the agency. Even though it was a top-ten most-nervous moment in my life, I would do it again in a heartbeat... even if it's beating dangerously high.

I highly recommend checking out Grip if you're interested in an opportunity like this!

Networking Night 2015!

During this past week, the post-graduates in the Advertising Account Management program were lucky enough to attend a networking night at Sheridan, where past grads mingled and discussed the advertising industry with students. It was pretty cool to be able to speak to the recent grads in an informal setting, and have the ability to speak candidly about their jobs and their paths. I also think that the willingness of these past Sheridan students to take time out of their busy schedules to speak to us speaks volumes about how much they enjoyed both the professors and program here at Sheridan. The one thing I took away from Networking Night is that people in the industry want to help you.. they understand the challenges of breaking into a new industry, and they are genuinely interested in helping you on your way. I've never really experienced that before (especially when trying to get a job) which makes me want to work harder to earn the help that I'm getting.

What a bunch of beautiful post-grads!

The whole event was a type of speed-dating, where past-grads sat in a group with current students and got to know each other and their position in the industry. As an introverted person I was pretty much a zombie by the end of it, but it lead to some great contacts and opportunities! Everyone was really nice and open to any questions we had!

Here's a small clip of Matthew Tower, the SAA Communications Lead, speaking about the event: 

More information about the event and other industry opportunities available through the post-graduate account management program can be found here. 

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!

Next Generation Day 2015

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to be a part of Next Generation Day 2015 as part of Advertising Week in Toronto. We began our day at TIFF Bell Lightbox, where we listened to panelists speak about their experiences in the advertising industry. One panel consisted of industry people with over 15+ years experience, and the second consisted of individuals with <5 years. Both panels were extremely insightful and gave prospective ad people an idea of what agencies are looking for throughout the hiring process and how to stand out amongst the crowd.

After the panel presentation, students left for their assigned agency visit, where we were given a guided tour of the office as well as Q&A with key personnel. I was fortunate enough to visit Sid Lee, which is found in the distillery district in Toronto, and it was probably the coolest work environment I've ever seen. The tour really gave us a better understanding of the culture offered and demystified the moving parts of an ad agency. After the tour, we actually worked with a copywriter and art director on an ongoing agency project. They gave us a brief, and split up into teams to solve the problem that the agency was having. This was an invaluable experience, since it gave us an opportunity to solve a real problem at an agency!

After the tour, we had a social at a bar in Toronto, where students from colleges all over Ontario were able to meet and network, which was one of my favourite parts of the day. Overall, I had a great time at Next Generation Day, and would recommend it to any prospective advertising student looking for more information on the industry!

PS: If I could give one tip to advertising students who didn't have the chance to go to Next Generation day, it is this: know who you are, and what your personal brand is. The panelists all agree that this one thing is critical if you want to get into the ad industry!

This opportunity was offered to me through the Advertising: Account Management program at Sheridan College!

Finished University? Now try College.

In my last year of university, I never felt certain about my future prospects. My friends were writing the MCATs or LSATs while I was twiddling my thumbs, wondering what I could possibly do with an honours degree in psychology. Maybe I could work in a hospital? or a clinic? God, it was so frustrating! Everyone felt so sure of themselves and I didn't have a clue! I had a couple grim options to choose from; none of which would fulfill my aspirations. So, I started to entertain the idea of continuing my education. Since I already completed my university education, I thought going to college was a bit beneath me (I'm not sure where this arrogance came from.. probably hanging around too many med school prospects during my undergrad). So, I thought getting a master's degree was my first step to a great career. Lo and behold, nothing out there interested me! I studied 4 years of psychology, but I was getting tired of the field; it just didn't have the same spark anymore. Even though not one psychology master's programs caught my eye, I still didn't even want to look at college options! 'Oh, college is for burnouts, or people who don't know what they want to do!', I would think to myself. My 'self-awareness' button must have been broke that day because I had NO IDEA WHAT I WANTED TO DO! I was discounting college for absolutely no reason. I was prejudiced!

I started looking into advertising at the college level, since it was a field that interested me and had some relation to my psychology background. I read a couple brochures, and a few weeks later I was applying to the postgraduate Account Management program at Sheridan.

It was the best decision of my life.

I am surrounded by creative and hard-working people who are anxious to help find your own path, while providing you with skills that will land you a job! You get hands-on learning and many extra- and co-curricular opportunities.

To be frank (and cheesy), I've finally found my calling. I now know what I want to do with my life, and it's all due to Sheridan and the Account Management program.

... they should be paying me for this post, now that I think about it.

So, if you're finishing university and still unsure about your future, take a look at the programs Sheridan offers, especially the Post-Graduate Account Management program :)

If you have any questions about the program, 'like' us on Facebook here and ask away!