A reflection.
New York City was one of the most fast-paced, dynamic, and lively cities I’ve had the privilege of visiting. I’m grateful to have experienced it, but by the end of the week I was desperate for some solitude. I needed to slow down, get back into a routine, go for a hike. Having been back in Eugene for three days now, I’ve had time to reflect on what I experienced and learned this past week. Here are a few of those thoughts:
1. Don’t forget about your values and passions when you enter into a new job. I could spend hours talking about my passion for the environment and the outdoors, or how I value empathy and kind people. Who’s to say that these cannot align with our work? These are the qualities that can add value to your work. They can add value to the culture of your work environment. Hold onto what makes you, you.
2. At the end of the day, being authentic and emotionally intelligent is more valuable than how proficient you are in a work-related skill. Of course, being competent in hard skills is necessary for you to perform your job well. But having empathy, challenging and encouraging others, and having an emotional awareness for the people around you, these are the true markers of success. Be a good person, or the person you’d want to work with.
3. Do good work, and don’t be deterred by failure. Educated misses, as I like to call things that have failed, are a central part of the process of creating strong work. There would be no value in this industry if everything went perfectly. There’s no lesson to be learned, no challenge in that. Embrace the fact that failure will indeed happen, probably more often than we’d like. But embracing this allows us to be more daring with our work. How neat is that.
These are my most valuable takeaways from the trip.
Laurel Martin #5 | 5.14.19
Wide Open Spaces
When I’m reflecting on what it’s like to visit agencies, I try not to focus on tiny, petty things; I’m probably not going to be making decisions about my future career based on my personal opinion of their agency deck design style. Still, it’s hard to ignore the sprawling splendor of just about every agency that I’ve ever visited, with their open-concept plans, glowing natural lighting, well-appointed cafes and rooftop spaces. When we’re walking around the agency, these things end up standing out.
So despite the fact that I try to incorporate things like “having a cool office” into a more holistic understanding of an agency rather than its own point on the checklist, I do think there’s a few important things to be learned when gazing around, open-mouthed at such incredible displays of Big City Opulence.
- The first is that I am undoubtedly going to be spending a lot of time wherever I end up. I’ve heard time and again this week that making it in this industry requires years of long hours spent in the office.
- It’s also an incredibly good way to get a glimpse at the way that people are interacting in the space. You may get the odd visit where everybody is out on production and the office is kind of dead anyway, but by and large it’s a great way to see how people at the company are interacting with one another and is an easy way to check out the agency culture
- Finally, there’s value in studying office trends. This may sound small but the way that people work influences the kind of work that gets made and vice-versa. If people are trying to figure out new ways to collaborate, that means that the nature of collaboration itself is going to change.
Jordan Blackburn | 5/11/19
wow. learning is fun!
NYC exceeded all expectations. I learned so much and met so many amazing people along the way. I am so extremely grateful for this opportunity as I feel that I was able to really get a taste of the industry and prepare for the future. Even though I am a Junior and have some time before starting my serious job search there were so many valuable insights, tips and tricks I learned from my peers and those in the industry. I learned everything from what each role does within an agency to finding human truths to learning how to get around a crazy big city. I learned not only what I like but what I don’t and how to navigate through it all. Here are some of my main takeaways:
- Shut up when someone is talking. (W+K)
- Project Managers are the babysitters of creatives. (W+K)
- Truth is hidden in plain sight. (W+K)
- It’s not about your circumstance but how you perceive it. (Flock)
- If you surround yourself with people who shine then you will shine. (Flock)
- Always ask why. (Flock)
- Be human first. (WONGDOODY)
- It is healthy to have skepticism. (WONGDOODY)
- It’s okay to take different experiences and jump around in your career. (WONGDOODY)
- Create an environment where you feel safe to say something. (WONGDOODY)
- Approach everyday as if it’s the first day. (Day One)
- Read & write! (Day One)
Thank you to everyone who made the past week so memorable and an amazing learning experience. Can’t wait to get out there and change the world with ya’ll.
Whitney Calvin // 5.13.2019
tips from a REAL recruiter
I am so grateful for the generosity of WONGDOODY last week, especially as it was their first week all being together in the same office space. They greeted us with a warm welcome to their spacious 76th floor office of the World Trade Center. WONGDOODY prides them self in being a human-experience company that focuses on being human first. I really valued the time they took to speak with us and the insights they shared. The last bit of our time was spent with a real recruiter for the agency who has worked in the industry for many years. She allowed us to ask any questions and she shared some of her thoughts about the recruitment and interview process that I think are so valuable and important to share with others. Many of these things have been drilled in our heads already so it was refreshing to hear them from someone actually in the industry and know that we are on the right track. So, here ya go!
Portfolio Tips:
- Display your work first
- NO TYPOS (especially for copywriters!)
- Simplicity and clarity are important in portfolios and résumés, don’t overdo it.
- Travel experience is important, include it.
- LinkedIn!
Interview Tips:
- Be yourself.
- Do research before!
- Come with at least three questions to ask and if they answer them in the interview then mention that and thank them.
- If you don’t necessarily have a ton of experience or work to show on your portfolio say you’re eager to learn.
- Find the right culture and chemistry.
Potential Interview Questions:
- Why do you like working here?
- What qualities are you looking for?
- What does your day-to-day look like?
- Where do you see the agency going in the future?
Whitney Calvin // 5.13.2019
While up in the clouds, or how the office is described on a dreary day, Wongdoody sitting on the 76 floor is focused on the human experience. Many other agencies are consumer centric while Wongdoody has shifted to be interacting at every level with their audience, creating that innate human experience. The idea that those you are trying to reach through advertising are more than just a number or a set of demographics allows to create more meaningful and memorable work. Those that you are trying to reach are always human, but a change in mind set is where the clever, distinctive thought process is uncovered. As a strategist, trying to find what makes people tick is what I live for; this new perspective on reaching a consumer with the human’s experience at the center is different than much of the industry, and an innovative perspective on human nature.
Hannah Sanders 5.13.19
Moving to New York has been the dream since I was about 4, reading Eloise at the Plaza; an unrealistic view of what life is like in the city but how I first dreamed of living in New York. This past week instilled that feeling even more. The city simultaneously felt like a hug and a hard nudge. It was welcoming but also a little bit of a kicker compared to Eugene. There is a special energy that is everywhere, especially in the agencies, that makes you want to do amazing things and is providing the canvas to do them. There is a sense that everyone is doing great things, I was constantly curious about everyone around me, how they ended up here and what they were doing. I have never wanted to make the cross coast move more that right now. The industry is there and I’m ready to work.
Hannah Sanders 5.13.19
i-AM PROGRESSIVE
A short list of wisdom I’ve put together as guidelines for myself…
1. Résumés are reviewed from the bottom up (Meaning every section should have a uniqueness to it)
2. CONSUME! CONSUME! CONSUME! (You pay for the things you don’t know, so never stop taking in new information)
This can be movies, broadway plays, books, a ride on the subway, museums etc… ANYTHING!
3. Portfolios should always be active, and current! (How can I constantly be telling stories… even when I’m not on the clock?)
4. Keep pushing my entrepreneurship no matter what! (This will enhance me as an advertiser)
5. STUMBLE…. THEN STUMBLE AGAIN…. THEN STUMBLE SOME MORE
Just remember to always stand back up and continue the marathon!
and lastly… invest in stocks!
Elexus Greene // Lady PiCassa
Always Learning
During my visit to mother, we had the privilege of speaking with 3 wonderful U of O Alums. They all worked together on the Stella Artois ad that ran in the Super Bowl Featuring Sarah Jessica Parker and Jeff Bridges. Something I was intrigued and comforted by was “If I don’t know it, I will learn it” attitude. Being new to this industry it can be daunting not always knowing exactly what you are walking into, though it seems like we have had quite a few dry runs in our classes. This mentality allows for us to accept the fact that we might not have everything down when we enter a job, but also once we are a little further along, it is okay to continue to be learning about thing that you are working on. Being courageous enough to admit that you do not have everything in the palm in your hand is a strength and being excited to learn, showcases the eagerness that us young professionals have.
Hannah Sanders 5.13.19
Back In Eugene
As the New York excitement winds down and we get settled back into the swing of things in Eugene… It’s time to reflect upon an incredible week in the big apple. I left the city feeling inspired to do many things, but among the list here are some of my most important:
1. Write personal thank you notes
2. Work, work, work on my portfolio
3. Keep up with the latest trends/technologies
4. Turn academic work into passion projects
5. As an account manager, I learned it’s important to be versatile in every department. So continue to learn about every specialty.
Elizabeth Beymer | May 13, 2019
final takeaways
i never would’ve thought that i could learn so much in one week. it’s inspiring to hear from people who were once in my shoes. as i look back on the trip, i will always cherish the advice given to me by these incredible alumni and industry professionals.
1. look for what makes you different, and embrace it.
2. capitalize on the chance to tell a good story.
3. your reputation is the only thing that precedes you.
4. find your voice.
5. ask for help.
6. stop comparing yourself to other people. everyone has their own journey.
7. know what you want.
8. meet whoever you can.
9. shut up when someone else is talking.
10. creativity is a muscle; and you can call on it any time. (you can also build it.)
11. persistence doesn’t die.
12. advertising isn’t dying. it’s changing. it’s here.
it was a hell of a week and i’m so thankful to have been apart of it. cheers to new york and cheers to what’s ahead.
andrew sakuda | 05.13.2019