Fail Upwards

One of the themes that kept coming up at every agency that I visited was failure. Everyone had a story about a mistake that they made or a roadblock that they had to overcome. Interestingly, I found that people who held executive positions at agencies had the most experiences to share. Matt Eastwood, the Global Chief Creative Officer for McCann Health is a perfect example. When you meet a person like that, it’s natural to wonder how they wound up being so successful. The answer? Taking L’s and being tirelessly resilient. Throughout his career, he has been fired twice, worked on three continents, and gambled on new job opportunities. His success has not been linear, and yours won’t be either. The key is not letting failure affect your mindset. The tough times are beneficial. Passion helps you survive.  

If you have big dreams for your career, you have to take big risks. You have to not be afraid to make mistakes. No one expects you to be perfect or to know everything. Always ask for help. Learn from your mistakes. And most importantly, laugh your way through.

Taylor Kissinger | 05.19.19

Ducks in NY

On this amazing trip to the big apple, I was shocked to find just how strong the UO alumni presence is there. Nearly every agency I visited had a speaker who was a UO grad, which made it feel easier to approach and connect with them. 

We also had the opportunity to attend two Flock events during the week which gave us a more in-depth look into the lives of several women working in the creative field who are also Ducks. The fact that there is a strong community of people helping to support each other during every step of the process from finding a place to live in New York, to negotiating a pay raise, has eased my mind and made me feel less alone in planning my post-grad life. Lastly, I am so grateful for the time everyone took out of their days to speak with us. I could tell that they are truly passionate and care about helping us with our careers as well!

Natalie Cedillo | 05.18.19

Final Thoughts!

Last week was absolutely incredible. From the agency visits to walking around the city everyday, I am so excited to live here. It was surreal visiting agencies that you hear upon your arrival into the ad program and be able to connect with people who make such amazing work. It’s so exciting being able to know that I will be able to be in their shoes in less than one month. I am nervous that it will be such a big change, but am looking forward to the next chapter of my life.

Nita Bhojwani | Blog Post #5 | May 17, 2019

Make Time For Yourself.

Yes– this is a business trip and you have the opportunity to see some of the most amazing agencies in the world, BUT this week can be very draining, so take time to schedule something fun. My friends and I listened to a jazz performance in Tribeca, and it was one of the most memorable aspects of the trip and actually helped me realize that I would love to live in New York long term. Find pockets of the city that you envision yourself unwinding in or looking forward to visit (especially if you eventually want to move there in the future). 

Throughout the trip, make sure you stay hydrated (something I dropped the ball on) and make time to try out the amazing food in the city. 

Nita Bhojwani | Blog Post #4 | May 17, 2019

Visiting your dream agency

The entire week I was anxiously awaiting the visit to my dream agency: Big Spaceship. I have researched everything about the agency and talked to as many people who work there as possible. From what I knew I loved it, but going there was a whole other ballgame. 

I walked in and felt like a kid at a candy store. I was overwhelmed and trying to take it all in. As we talked to Trishna, the recruiter, I found myself increasingly at ease. The work spoke to me and I felt excited. Then the panelists came in and I asked them how they knew they were at home there at Big Spaceship. The answer that stuck out to me was “People work here for Big Spaceship, not just because they want any job.” 

That one sentence I have thought about everyday since. I don’t want to work at an agency just for a job, I want to work at an agency that feels like a dream. As nervous as I was to go to my dream agency it hit all my expectations and I feel very thankful I had the opportunity to see it in person. 

Hannah Baggs| May 17

Best Advice

Friday morning I traveled to Brooklyn to interview Ben Kraft, a copywriter at Big Spaceship. It was more a conversation than it was an interview. To be honest, I think I only asked Ben one question. And that’s exactly what I wanted. We talked about different projects he’s worked on over the course of his career, from Cadillac to IBM (not his favorite) to SEC Nation (he wishes he had asked to work on more sports related projects, especially those unfamiliar to him) to now Starbucks. It was cool to hear him mention how he’s having to constantly develop different writing skills because one project may be long-form copy while the other demands short, witty copy. As he talked about how you can request an extension on an internship if you really like it or if you think sticking around longer will benefit you, or if taking several more internships will be more beneficial than jumping directly into a job afterwards, Ben dropped a gem. He stated that the one person many people overlook in this entire process is the talent recruiter. He went on to say that everyone wants to talk to the person whose job they want, yet fail to realize that before you can even get a chance to meet with that person, there is a gatekeeper has to allow it. So, a word of advice from Ben to all of us, make sure you are in the side pocket, back pocket, heck, attached to the hip of these talent recruiters. They hold the access.

Value

One of the biggest takeaways I had after the final agency visit was providing value to the team. As an intern, you will not be expected to hit the ground running. What will be expected of you is to help out in every capacity you can. That doesn’t mean that you don’t work hard to show them the skills you’ve developed. What it does mean is that you look for any and every opportunity to provide value. If you see something that needs to be done, jump on it. Ask others how you can assist them. Take it upon yourself to soak up all things agency. That way, if needed, you can step forward and help out. There should never be a moment where you have nothing to offer. Preparation and willingness is paramount.

The Allure

It’s something about NYC that captivates you. I don’t know if it’s all of the lights, SoHo, Stadium Goods, every sight and sound you encounter within one city block, all of the food at your fingertips, the fact that the lifestyle assures you that sleep isn’t really a thing you should be concerned with getting, and the list extends into infinity. Be careful. It’s easy to fall victim to the allure of NYC. You’ll find yourself almost committing egregious acts that are out of character for you. For instance, actually picking up a pair of Js you know are marked up 500% and thinking to yourself, “I’m not even trying to pay the original asking price for these.” But there’s something intriguing about a sneaker wrapped in saran wrap like a hoagie sandwich. All I’m saying is don’t fall into the NYC trap. Everything that glitters may just be gold. Just be aware that the costs may far outweigh the hype.

For Starters

This trip to NYC far surpassed anything I could have imagined. Each agency I was given the opportunity to visit blew my mind, whether it was the people, the work they’ve done, the buildings and views they’re blessed to work in and overlook on a daily basis, to the wonderful city they are located in, Brooklyn. To say it was inspiring, encouraging, thought provoking, overwhelming (in the sense that this is something you can become a part of one day) are all understatements. I think there is a lot that can be said about the people who were so considerate to take the time away from their projects to give us a firsthand account of what it is like to work in an agency, what it takes to work in these agencies, and what you can expect to encounter as you embark upon establishing a career in this idea industry. I couldn’t be more thankful for each one of them and their valuable time and knowledge. And it goes without saying that we are all indebted to Mrs. Deb and our amazing leaders who were gracious enough to take on the tasks of setting these visits up and taking us on a journey that will forever be cemented in each of our lives.

Pros and Cons

This is more of a blog post for myself to look at in the coming year as I apply to agencies in New York. But hopefully it can help some others weigh the strengths and weaknesses of living in NYC as opposed to other places.

Pros

-More opportunity in our agency

-Vibrant, progressive culture

-Endless restaurant possibilities

-Awesome bars and nightlife

-Art in unexpected places

-Diversity

-The Subway

-Loyal sports fans

Cons

-Expensive

-REALLY expensive

-Small living spaces in the city

-Sore feet from endless walking

-The Subway

-Fast walkers and trash talkers

-Bad sports teams

There are plenty more but these are just the things I noticed in our week in the Big Apple…

Harry Wohl