Comments on: 10 job hunting tips for this year’s graduating class. http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class Marketing ideas for navigating a consumer driven world Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:58:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: edward boches http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-1801 edward boches Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:28:02 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-1801 Well, I hope it works and that you find the best gig for you. And true, 10 is the hardest. But I am still telling that story more than 18 years later. So it's worth figuring out how to do it. Well, I hope it works and that you find the best gig for you. And true, 10 is the hardest. But I am still telling that story more than 18 years later. So it’s worth figuring out how to do it.

]]> By: Nate Davis http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-1800 Nate Davis Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:18:13 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-1800 As a mid-level writer looking for work, I would affirm that every one of these points (except #4, perhaps) makes just as much sense now as it did when I got out of portfolio school five years ago. As to becoming digital, I can't even count the number of job postings I've seen that have mentioned social media, iPhone apps, and the like. Everyone wants it, so we'd better have it. And as to creating one's own brand, in a recession I've found this even more urgent than usual, because with dozens of others like me out there scrapping for the same underpaid freelance gig, what's going to distinguish me from the rabid masses? I've been doing this in a somewhat half-hearted and diffuse way, but thanks Edward for the reminder. Oh, and finally, that last one--like many wise sayings--is the simplest, yet hardest. .-= Nate Davis´s last blog ..<a href="http://twitter.com/iamnatedavis/statuses/4475338068" rel="nofollow">iamnatedavis: @arstechnica So Apple's looking for another gizmo that will flop on release but be the subject of breathless rumors ten years later?</a> =-. As a mid-level writer looking for work, I would affirm that every one of these points (except #4, perhaps) makes just as much sense now as it did when I got out of portfolio school five years ago. As to becoming digital, I can’t even count the number of job postings I’ve seen that have mentioned social media, iPhone apps, and the like. Everyone wants it, so we’d better have it.

And as to creating one’s own brand, in a recession I’ve found this even more urgent than usual, because with dozens of others like me out there scrapping for the same underpaid freelance gig, what’s going to distinguish me from the rabid masses? I’ve been doing this in a somewhat half-hearted and diffuse way, but thanks Edward for the reminder.

Oh, and finally, that last one–like many wise sayings–is the simplest, yet hardest.
Nate Davis´s last blog ..iamnatedavis: @arstechnica So Apple’s looking for another gizmo that will flop on release but be the subject of breathless rumors ten years later? My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: edward boches http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-939 edward boches Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:44:47 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-939 G: Like everyone else you're partly a victim of the economy. Not sure what's in your book, but I hope it's not traditional advertising. As for the real stuff, if it's not good enough have a combination of both in your book, and use the work that's below your talent level as the excuse to why you're looking for a better gig. G:
Like everyone else you’re partly a victim of the economy. Not sure what’s in your book, but I hope it’s not traditional advertising. As for the real stuff, if it’s not good enough have a combination of both in your book, and use the work that’s below your talent level as the excuse to why you’re looking for a better gig.

]]> By: golublog http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-938 golublog Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:31:33 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-938 It's a really strange thing. One one hand, people want to know you can produce real work for real clients, on the other hand when you do, recruiters will say it's more boring then your spec work. Perhaps I was at an agency where the work wasn't as good as it could be, but I never thought I'd be back at square one after two years. It's really a terrible catch 22. Especially these days. .-= golublog´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DailyObsessional/~3/GEX2w_g1Mnc/poetry-as-found-on-commercial-breaks.html" rel="nofollow">poetry as found on commercial breaks</a> =-. It’s a really strange thing. One one hand, people want to know you can produce real work for real clients, on the other hand when you do, recruiters will say it’s more boring then your spec work. Perhaps I was at an agency where the work wasn’t as good as it could be, but I never thought I’d be back at square one after two years. It’s really a terrible catch 22. Especially these days.
golublog´s last blog ..poetry as found on commercial breaks My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: edward boches http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-464 edward boches Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:08:31 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-464 Steve, Thank you so much for your comment and time. I actually agree with much of what you are saying. I didn't mean to suggest that digital proclivity is the exclusive domain of the 20-something, rather that it's inherently more natural. They have never known anything else. Yes, you may be, and I may be fully vested in digital and technology, but in my experience there are many 40 year-olds (even 35 year-olds)in traditional advertising who have had to be dragged screaming and kicking into the space. When I teach college courses and meet with gen-we folks, they don't even think about it. They just live. Again, not saying there aren't lots of 40-somethings who do get it, just that it's often a quality more evident in people who are younger. Steve,
Thank you so much for your comment and time. I actually agree with much of what you are saying. I didn’t mean to suggest that digital proclivity is the exclusive domain of the 20-something, rather that it’s inherently more natural. They have never known anything else. Yes, you may be, and I may be fully vested in digital and technology, but in my experience there are many 40 year-olds (even 35 year-olds)in traditional advertising who have had to be dragged screaming and kicking into the space. When I teach college courses and meet with gen-we folks, they don’t even think about it. They just live. Again, not saying there aren’t lots of 40-somethings who do get it, just that it’s often a quality more evident in people who are younger.

]]> By: Steven Lastnik http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-462 Steven Lastnik Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:56:16 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-462 I recently came across your blog through a link to your entry titled: “10 job hunting tips for this year’s graduating class.” While your post was geared for newly minted graduates seeking to enter the advertising field, I thought it gave sound overall advice (Tip #’s 2,3,4,6,7,8,10) for anyone looking for a job in today’s market. However, when it comes to Tip #7, “Be as digital as you can,” I disagree with your assertion of: “One advantage you have over those 40 year olds still populating creative departments is your comfort with all things digital.” I feel that you’re implying that anyone over the age of 40 does not possess the same digital savvy as someone under the age of 40. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I say this because I believe that the true professional will proactively keep up with the latest trends, developments, best practices, operational efficiencies, and tools of the trade to stay current and relevant in their industry of occupation. Failure to do so results in the perception that the employee in question doesn’t “get it,” but “the younger employees do.” I’ll add that you’re a prime example of the true professional and that you’re being as digital as you can be (to borrow your phrasing)---I’ll be honest, I Googled you, so I know you have a Facebook page, a Twitter feed, a LinkedIn profile, and of course a blog. I’d say that because of your digital involvement, your comfort level is on par with the under 40-somethings. I will agree that Gen-Y has a “natural comfort level” with the digital medium, but only because they were born into a world where the digital medium was firmly established and stands along side print, radio, and TV. They don’t know of a world without the Internet. Plus, the digital medium is a major part of their social and popular culture. The 40-somethings you refer to in tip #7, Gen-X and Baby Boomers, were not born into a world with a digital medium, they witnessed the birth and commercialization of it. You, your peers, and those 40-somethings were there when Radio Shack released their first home computer as did Apple and Commodore. You bore witness to the emergence of the Internet via AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, and Delphi. You, your peers, and those 40-somethings adapted to and adopted this disruptive technology to the point that it now a fixture to whatever degree in your lives. It's an aspect of your lives but not a probably not a driving force. Again, I thought your blog entry gave very sound advice, but in light of how a true professional should conduct their professional life, I’d say that a natural familiarity does not make for a competitive advantage. Best regards, Steve <abbr><em>Steven Lastnik’s last blog post..<a href="http://slastnik.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/a-charlie-brown-ad-agency/" rel="nofollow">A Charlie Brown Ad Agency</a></abbr></em> I recently came across your blog through a link to your entry titled: “10 job hunting tips for this year’s graduating class.” While your post was geared for newly minted graduates seeking to enter the advertising field, I thought it gave sound overall advice (Tip #’s 2,3,4,6,7,8,10) for anyone looking for a job in today’s market. However, when it comes to Tip #7, “Be as digital as you can,” I disagree with your assertion of: “One advantage you have over those 40 year olds still populating creative departments is your comfort with all things digital.”

I feel that you’re implying that anyone over the age of 40 does not possess the same digital savvy as someone under the age of 40. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I say this because I believe that the true professional will proactively keep up with the latest trends, developments, best practices, operational efficiencies, and tools of the trade to stay current and relevant in their industry of occupation. Failure to do so results in the perception that the employee in question doesn’t “get it,” but “the younger employees do.” I’ll add that you’re a prime example of the true professional and that you’re being as digital as you can be (to borrow your phrasing)—I’ll be honest, I Googled you, so I know you have a Facebook page, a Twitter feed, a LinkedIn profile, and of course a blog.

I’d say that because of your digital involvement, your comfort level is on par with the under 40-somethings. I will agree that Gen-Y has a “natural comfort level” with the digital medium, but only because they were born into a world where the digital medium was firmly established and stands along side print, radio, and TV. They don’t know of a world without the Internet. Plus, the digital medium is a major part of their social and popular culture.

The 40-somethings you refer to in tip #7, Gen-X and Baby Boomers, were not born into a world with a digital medium, they witnessed the birth and commercialization of it. You, your peers, and those 40-somethings were there when Radio Shack released their first home computer as did Apple and Commodore. You bore witness to the emergence of the Internet via AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, and Delphi. You, your peers, and those 40-somethings adapted to and adopted this disruptive technology to the point that it now a fixture to whatever degree in your lives. It’s an aspect of your lives but not a probably not a driving force.

Again, I thought your blog entry gave very sound advice, but in light of how a true professional should conduct their professional life, I’d say that a natural familiarity does not make for a competitive advantage.

Best regards,
Steve

Steven Lastnik’s last blog post..A Charlie Brown Ad Agency

]]> By: :::sarah::: http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-33 :::sarah::: Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:07:44 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-33 <p>As a junior copywriter with just under two years at a "second-rate" agency, I fought tooth and nail for my campaigns and every time, I was either rejected or told to tweak them so much that (I knew) they wouldn't be worth putting in my book. I always stood up for my work, but it only seemed to make things worse between the CD and myself. I stopped caring about the work I was doing and started producing work that I knew they wanted. This is also when I started looking for the kind of agency where I could do "first-rate" work. When I realized I had nothing to put in my book worthy of those "first-rate" agencies, I started pushing for campaigns I could use. Needless to say, it didn't work. I left four months ago and started freelancing to build my book. It's not "agency" work... but it allows me to fine-tune my talents in a brighter light. Hopefully it helps me become a better copywriter and find the job that allows me to flourish in my career. </p><p>I figure that if you want it bad enough, you'll get it. So, whether you take the first job you can get or you hold out - just keep true to you (and work your butt off).</p><p>:::sarah:::</p> As a junior copywriter with just under two years at a "second-rate" agency, I fought tooth and nail for my campaigns and every time, I was either rejected or told to tweak them so much that (I knew) they wouldn’t be worth putting in my book. I always stood up for my work, but it only seemed to make things worse between the CD and myself. I stopped caring about the work I was doing and started producing work that I knew they wanted. This is also when I started looking for the kind of agency where I could do "first-rate" work. When I realized I had nothing to put in my book worthy of those "first-rate" agencies, I started pushing for campaigns I could use. Needless to say, it didn’t work. I left four months ago and started freelancing to build my book. It’s not "agency" work… but it allows me to fine-tune my talents in a brighter light. Hopefully it helps me become a better copywriter and find the job that allows me to flourish in my career.

I figure that if you want it bad enough, you’ll get it. So, whether you take the first job you can get or you hold out – just keep true to you (and work your butt off).

:::sarah:::

]]> By: edwardboches http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-32 edwardboches Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:38:58 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-32 <p>Hurley:<br/>You definitely don't want to sell out and do bad work. But here's to hoping there're agencies whose reputations may not yet be equal to that of Crispin or Goodby doing great work. (In fact you see them in the books every year because someone there is carrying the torch for great work and fighting to get it done.) My post was initially done to provide some guidance to fearful grads coming out this spring in the midst of a devastating economy. Interestingly, the worse things become, the more great work becomes essential. With less money in media, the idea has to stand out, call attention to itself, be worthy of word of mouth.<br/>Edward</p> Hurley:
You definitely don’t want to sell out and do bad work. But here’s to hoping there’re agencies whose reputations may not yet be equal to that of Crispin or Goodby doing great work. (In fact you see them in the books every year because someone there is carrying the torch for great work and fighting to get it done.) My post was initially done to provide some guidance to fearful grads coming out this spring in the midst of a devastating economy. Interestingly, the worse things become, the more great work becomes essential. With less money in media, the idea has to stand out, call attention to itself, be worthy of word of mouth.
Edward

]]> By: Hurley http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-31 Hurley Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:47:39 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-31 <p>BTW I've been fired from at least two agencies for refusing to lower my standards.</p> BTW I’ve been fired from at least two agencies for refusing to lower my standards.

]]> By: Hurley http://edwardboches.com/10-job-hunting-tips-for-this-year%e2%80%99s-graduating-class/comment-page-1#comment-30 Hurley Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:38:35 +0000 http://edwardboches.com/?p=36#comment-30 <p>In the real world, it's hard to say no to a paying job. Especially, in this economy.<br/>Ideally you should work on your book while you're working at the crappy agency, but the reality is crappy agencies suck the life out of you. They lower your standards. These agencies will work you to the bone doing work you can't put in your book. They demoralize you on a daily basis. So rarely do you have energy or time to work on stuff on the side.<br/>But that being said, I've been able to sneak in good work here and there. Work that has gotten me into some good shops.<br/>It's a fight.<br/>You just gotta be strong enough to pick yourself up after you've been knocked down a 100 times.</p> In the real world, it’s hard to say no to a paying job. Especially, in this economy.
Ideally you should work on your book while you’re working at the crappy agency, but the reality is crappy agencies suck the life out of you. They lower your standards. These agencies will work you to the bone doing work you can’t put in your book. They demoralize you on a daily basis. So rarely do you have energy or time to work on stuff on the side.
But that being said, I’ve been able to sneak in good work here and there. Work that has gotten me into some good shops.
It’s a fight.
You just gotta be strong enough to pick yourself up after you’ve been knocked down a 100 times.

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