Sunday Night

It was a long week and it had its ups and downs. I was working on some more applications and I feel pretty good about it. You hear people giving the advice that you just need to be yourself and it's really true. I write all these essays and I could drive myself crazy worrying about whether or not I am giving these people what they want. At the end of the day if you just be yourself than you can't go wrong. 

I had two more rejections from jobs that I applied for. It always stings a bit, but I don't take it personally. The first reaction is usually disappointment, but you have to get over it. I am just so eager to go to work. I graduated back in May and it wasn't until I came back to London in October that I could legally work. To be fair I haven't even been back a month yet, but I just want to start my career so badly. It shouldn't be long now. 

I went to an open day at TBWA on Friday. I didn't book my space in time and decided just to show the day of. It was fine. Generally I would have no problem doing that in Minneapolis, but sometimes these things are pretty strict. If you aren't on the list then you aren't going in. It was a really good open day. I got there and people were just milling about in the reception area looking at the work and getting to know people. The first bit was set up so we could have a chat with people who worked there and ask questions. I had the opportunity to talk to a few people before I went up to the presentation. It was good presentation, the guy leading it did a really good job. I really felt for him it was a tough crowd. One guy in the audience was falling asleep and some people looked down right hostile.

 He talked about the agency and showed us some of the campaigns and explained their disruption philosophy. He then talked about what made a good account person and then opened it up to questions. One guy's hand immediately shot up in the air. He wanted to know what TBWA stood for. Can you believe that someone would ask that question? You show up to an open day at an advertising agency and you don't even bother to know what their name stands for? Or even if you didn't know why on earth would you ask that question? I felt so sorry for him, he looked so stupid. 

It was a good day and it was good for me to get out there and meet some people, size up the competition. I had a chat with one of the account guys who had applied for the graduate scheme and didn't make it. He ended up doing a work experience and got hired on that way. I have heard that doing work experience can be a very good way to get into an agency. I don't know how I feel about it. It makes perfect sense. I did a lot of work experience in the US, over four years I had 7 internships, plus all the class projects. I did over 50 information interviews. On one hand I just want to go to work, I don't want to do anymore internships. Of course I will do whatever it takes. I don't want to come across that I am above doing work experience, it's not that at all. I would think that all that experience would account for something.  

I just wish I had more people here to get advice from. I think I might just try emailing a few people that I know through Facebook and asking for some feedback. I also sent an email to a woman at MediaCom last week and hadn't heard anything back yet, I will contact her tomorrow. This week coming up there are a few more applications to have a crack at and I am going to have to come up with a new strategy. The good thing is I know what it is I want to do, I just have to find the right agency. 

Veer image

Tuesday Night

I am done working for today and I fear that I haven't accomplished much although I have been at it all day. I finished my CV and have asked some trusted friends to look it over. My goal is to send it off to MediaCom tomorrow. 

I have to admit that I am not feeling very confident about my resume/CV. I never used to feel like that, but I think because of the importance I've placed on it I want it to be perfect. Back in Minneapolis I would most likely be sending in a resume after I've met somebody. It would almost be an arbitrary act. Now I really need it to go to work for me. I can remember back in Senior Project a good friend, Matt Hayes, talking about he would most likely never need his resume to get him a job. I believed him, he could definitely do it. He knows people and he's a great guy. I was also reading some online handouts from MCAD's career center about preparing for your job search. They consider it a good rule of thumb to start immediately when you start college. It's not a bad idea and that's exactly what I did. 

I guess I could just feel bitter about having to start from nothing here, but it won't change anything. So I've got to get on with it and be positive. In some ways it is exciting. I am looking for a job using what I've learned and scary at the same time. The doubts start clouding your mind. Did I learn enough, was involved in enough, am I tenacious enough. All those things start to swirl around in your mind. 

Tomorrow is a new day. I am considering going down to Starbucks' head office and just asking to speak to someone in HR and then handing them my CV. It's worth a shot. I have been hearing a lot about making cold calls and just showing up places with your CV, maybe it works. I will keep you posted.