Advice to the future post-grads at Sheridan

Since this is my final blog post, I wanted to write a couple pieces of advice for the new batch of post-graduates that are starting in September. I truly had no idea what to expect on my first day at Sheridan, so I thought some tidbits of wisdom may help the young whippersnappers of 2015. 

Firstly, learn how to organize yourself. You're gonna get bombarded with assignments and projects (that are so much fun!..), and if you don't have a way to organize everything you may start to slowly lose your mind (trust me, it'll happen). Make sure you have a 'To Do' list with assignments listed by priority and a calendar with all your due dates! You really don't want to have that feeling of blood rushing to your face when a prof asks for an assignment that you completely forgot about..

Secondly, be open-minded. You'll be working on many different projects with many very different people. Being open to other's ideas and perspectives will only help you build great ideas. 

Thirdly, take advantage of every opportunity you can. Whether it's a career development session or an advertising competition, try to immerse yourself as much as possible. You'll make new friends and have experiences that will help you find a job when you're done the program. 

Fourthly, take your studies seriously. You're in this program for a reason... to get a job. If you half-ass your assignments you'll be wasting your time and money, and that is just a silly thing to do now isn't it.

Fifthly(?), sass Colin Robey as much as humanely possible. He'll probably be your program coordinator and he loves it when people make fun of Media or don't laugh at his jokes. Doing these things will secure you as a fanTASTic student in his books. 

Sixthly(?), have a great time! Taking this program was the best decision of my life. The classes are excellent and the profs are super personable and willing to help you in any way possible (not to mention, they know what they're talking about).

That's all the advice I have for now. I hope this post helps you make the decision to come to Sheridan for the Advertising: Account Management program and enjoy it while you're here! 

Cheers!

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!

Networking Night at Sheridan College

The advertising program at Sheridan College was fortunate enough to host a networking night for graduating students last night as part of their Career Development series. 30 or so agencies and companies from around the GTA were kind enough to send representatives to speak with prospective students looking for entry-level positions. I spoke with many reps over the course of a couple hours and gained some insight into the different types of agencies out there and the qualities that they look for in future employees. Even though none of my dream-job agencies were at the event, it was great to get experience speaking with individuals in the advertising industry! You can get a really good idea of what type of jobs are available and the specific culture that individual agencies try to foster within 10 minutes of speaking to the reps.

As a bit of an introverted person, having events like this available is priceless. They allow you to strengthen your communication skills and get industry-relevant information in a no-pressure environment. Overall, I think the whole night was a success. I already got a couple emails from the reps outlining potential internship positions, which is a step in the right direction. I kinda regret not taking more free food though, but I digress.

Interested in something like this?

Advertising: Account Management program at Sheridan College.

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