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!

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!