Internship 104: 8 Ways to Network

That saying "Get your foot in the door" means so much in advertising. Connections are (fortunately/unfortunately) everything.

Now that your foot is in there, start working on how you can stay there. (And I guess you should figure out how to bring the rest of your body in too. It starts getting cold around November.) 

While you're interning, make sure you take the time to socialise and meet people.

Eight Quick (and seemingly obvious) Networking Tips: 

Go to events at your agency. During the summer, most agencies are a little slower and do fun things like Summer Fridays (half or full days off) and have lots of socials and events.
Read Drinking Is Good For Your Job

Go to events at other agencies. Be on the look out on LinkedIn, Facebook and with your friends who work at other places to find out what's going on, when and where.
Read What to Do When You're New 

Meet other interns. Whether or not they're in your internship program, department or even on your floor -- reach out to them, hang out with them, get to know who they know. You never know -- you may end up being  an usher at one of their weddings.  (Happened to me, could happen to you if you played your cards right.) 

Meet recently-hired people. Talk to other entry-level people and juniors. Find out about how they got in, what they know, who they know and learn all you can from them. Except for bad habits. Don't learn those.
Read Shyness Will Get You Nowhere

Ask people to lunch or to grab a coffee. Whether it's a junior, another intern, an ACD or a planner on your team, a smile and a simple "Hey, wanna run grab a coffee with me?" or "Hey, wanna try to grab lunch on Tuesday?" will get you far. Smokers have smoking breaks, which are amazingly social (and life-threatening). I use lunch and coffee/tea breaks to socialise in a way you don't usually get to sitting in conference rooms or cubicles.
Read Small Talking Series 101, 102 - Use the News, 103- 5 Questions, 104 - Introducing Yourself  

Use LinkedIn. Update your profile, add all your links, work and relevant experience, join groups and share articles, and reach out to people you meet along the way to keep their contact information and get access to who they know. (BTW I hate when people give me business cards, I lose them and feel like a litterer. I prefer whipping out my phone and adding them on LinkedIn right then and there. It's 2013 after all.) 
Read: How to Get Ignored on Linked In

Ask questions. Seriously. Even if you think it's dumb. Even if you think it's something you should know. (Maybe then, just ask one person, quietly. Or Google it. But definitely ask -- knowing is always better than not knowing.) 

Be yourself. Or be Chuck Norris. Either one of those works.

Here are some related posts with more advice, tips and information
Networking & Following Up Tips to Help People Remember You
Seriously, You Have to Make People Remember You 
How to Make Small Talk  
People to Always Be Nice To 

Internship 103: 5 Ways Not To Suck At Email

Never, ever, ever hit send before you read what you just wrote at least twice. Do it out loud
if necessary. Then do it one more time, just in case.

It's easy to say "I'm too busy" Or "I just need to say this real quick" Or "Let me do this on my way to the kitchen/bathroom/next meeting..." But doing that is almost as dangerous as not using condoms. You may get away fine a few times, but one day... you'll surely be fucked.

When it comes to emails -- ESPECIALLY work emails -- you have to be very conscious and very cautious.

Here are 5 Ways To Deal With Emails: 

1. Make sure you're saying what needs to be said in the most concise, professional and clear way.

2. Say only what needs to be said. Nobody has time to read an essay. Cut out anything that isn't essential. (For instance, those  last two sentences I just wrote)

3. Don't make yourself look stupid by making foolish gramatical mistakes and typos. Seriously. Don't do it.

4. Never respond when you're angry, scared or frantic. You'll regret everything after you hit send.

5. Don't fill the send field until you're done writing, editing and proofreading your email. Sending something too quickly or to the wrong person is an epidemic. Don't become a statistic.

The five things probably look simple enough. But there's really an art to it. Being able to properly represent yourself, your opinions/feelings and your agency in writing is something that comes with time.

Here are some related posts about emailing. Have a look while I go re-read this post and make sure I'm not embarrassing myself.

Dos & Donts of Emailing
The Art of Emailing
Follow Up Email Template
Email writing tips

Internship 102: 12 Things You Must Do

The Creative Wannabe Work Commandments was one of my very first posts, and probably
one of my favourites.

If you've never read it, take notes. If you have already read it, read it again and refresh your notes.

Today is a great day to be awesome.


Twelve Things You Should Chisel Into Your Memory

Whether you're an intern or junior, there are certain rules you need to conduct yourself by to make people like you and want to work with you.

Sure you're great. You know it and I know it and your mom knows it. However, these folks at Agency X have no idea, and quite honestly are too busy trying to show off their own greatness to care.

I went up to a mountain top (aka sat on my bed) and meditated (tried real hard to remember things from my internships + first year at work) and spoke to the advertising gods (napped) and put together this list of
Creative Wannabe Work Commandments.

* Never be late. Ever. Lightning will strike you down and kill you if you are. (Or not.) Get in before everyone and leave after them. 5:30 pm is midafternoon break time. Some of the biggest client changes - and biggest opportunities for you to get called to do some work - happen at the very last minute. Which is usually about 5 minutes before you're ready to go home. 

* Dress like a creative, only better. There's no official dress code for creative types, so vans, torn jeans and Random Band #7 t-shirts are perfectly fine, but don't dress as if you're going to school, your friend's house, a party, a sleepover, the beach, the bathroom or a cocktail party. Dress in a way that if someone met you, they'd never assume you were an intern or junior and if the client were in the office the team wouldn't be ashamed to introduce you. Pick the best dressed person and use them as your template. 

* Never get drunk around co-workers. Even if you're at a bar. Even if they're drunk. Even if it's your birthday. Even if they encourage you to have just one more. There's a lot of socializing over drinks in advertising, sometimes at work (shh) or outside of the office. Don't ever confuse your colleagues with your college buddies. You'll have to see them again tomorrow morning, sober and straight-faced. You can't take back anything said or done over scotch and tequila shots. Remember that.  


* Keep busy. If you have no assignments, ask for one. Ask your supervisor, ask his supervisor, ask her partner, ask everyone around if they need help with anything, if you can sit in on their meeting, if you can look over their shoulder creepily. If you're finished your work, Oliver Twist out in the piece and ask for more.Volunteer yourself, offer your services, step up and slide yourself into every opportunity to do some work and - here's what really matters - impress people.

* Limit Idling (On and off line). I love Facebook and Twitter as much as the average bear and I often use them to do research, but when people walk by my desk, there's no way they can tell if I'm skimming our competitor's fanpages to see what we can do better than them or if I'm buying a cow on Farmville. And that's what they'll assume. They also assume you're taking a long lunch if you're away from your desk too long, you're gossiping if you're talking to a coworker in the hall and you're taking a nap if you're in the bathroom for too long. (Confession: I've been guilty of this.) Always look occupied and engaged so they feel like they need you there.

* Don't say no. Never turn down an assignment or feedback. You're at the bottom of the totem pole and the best way to work your way up is to (wait for it) work. So if someone asks you to do something and it's late/you're too busy/you don't want to do it - don't say no, say you'll try to work something out, or you'll see if So Andso can help or ask for more time to get it done. Don't ever turn down an opportunity to show you're dependable, hardworking and amazing. If the client or account people ask you to do something creatively outrageous, you'll learn more diplomatic ways of saying no. My favorite is "Oh, that could be interesting. I'll try to work something out with that and see what other solutions we can come up with."

* Overdeliver. If they ask you to do three versions, do four. If they ask for "some" headlines, write ten. If they say "come up with a campaign" come up with three and flush them out in a wicked presentation that shows how your idea works across all media. Go above and beyond. Treat every assignment, no matter how big or small, like it's your final assignment and your entire grade depends on it. 

*  Save the drama. I was going to say for your mama, but she doesn't want it either. This is a place of business, so put your personal life on mute once you step through those doors. Limit personal calls, conversations and visits. Don't stress about your boyfriend on company time. And God forbid, don't talk about that girl you may or may not meet up with later before/during/after the status meeting. No one cares. And you don't want them to. They'll look at you different and possibly like you less. You want them to know that you're a hard worker, a quick learner and a creative genius - nothing else matters. Nothing.

* Get a mentor and an ally. Find someone on your team or on another team who you respect and can ask for guidance, advice and introductions. (Advertising is very much about who you know and who they know. So make those connections.) And find an ally, someone on your team who you can share your work and ideas with, discuss projects and day to day things, and who can say they know you, like you and think that you're a hard worker, quick learner and creative genius.  Neither of these people should be your boss, and they don't even really have to have a big title or anything, your mentor should have about 5 years on you and your ally at least 2. Just make sure you have two people you can turn to if you need rescuing or a recommendation. 

* Always take notes. Write that one down. Always have a pen and pad with you. Write down all the important things to remember during the meeting - and things to Google later (People throw around terms like "top of the line" and "POP" and "MCOW" like they're Skittles.) Jot down your first thoughts, doodle, write tag lines, make product pro + con lists. Plus having a pad always makes you look much more serious and involved than everyone else. 

* Be professional. Creative Departments are super laid back. People skate board, play Wii, drink beer, curse, slam doors, blast Kanye a little too loud and throw balls across the room. However, these people have been working there far longer than you have. One day, you will be that person. But today, you're not. So be on your Ps and Qs. Don't get too casual in conversation or email. Avoid slangs, curses, sexist/racist/homophobic statements or jokes, oversharing and being loud. Your coworkers are not your friends. Your office is not your house. You are here to work and make sure everyone sees that that is your #1 priority.

* Keep track of your accomplishments. People may not notice how much you're doing, what you've contributed or the kind of progress you've made. So create a folder or make a list and keep all of your wins so in 3 or so months, you can see how far you've come and most importantly, prove that you're an asset to that agency. Feel free to title the folder or list "Evidence of My Greatness." I won't judge you for it.

Internship 101: What Are You Doing?

Good morning interns!

Welcome to the "real world." Come in. Have a seat. Just don't touch anything.

First off, congratulations. Getting an internship can be challenging, so congrats on being chosen. And getting the real world experience of an internship will help your career, so congrats on being on the right track. (Read: Internships Matter) 

Now, to business.

As an intern, you are there to do two things. Help and Learn. Say it with me: "Help and learn."
Be effing awesome at both.

How to Help: 
Deliver work on time.
Stay on top of it. ("It" being everything.)
Offer to do something for someone.
Pay attention to details.
Solve a problem. (Big or small.)

How to Learn: 
Ask questions.
Shadow people.
Listen.
Take notes.
Practice.
Ask for feedback.

This post is the first of a 4-part series dedicated to you and how to be an awesome intern and get hired.




Assignment #1
Take some time out today and make a list of the things you want to learn and accomplish this summer.





Read this post below for an idea of how to get started.  Get What You Want.

Came across this quote the other day on Twitter and thought it was the best thing since wi-fi.

"Go in knowing what you want to get out. If you go in empty minded, you'll come out empty handed."

If you're in school, about to be in school, interning or looking for a full time job, ask yourself - what do you want to get out of it?

What do you want to learn?
What do you want to get better at?
What do you want to conquer?
What skills or experiences do you want to leave with?
What points do you want to add to your resume? Or campaigns to your book?

Really take a minute (or few days) to think about what you want to get out of the next 3 to 6 to 12 months. (Personally I can only make concrete plans for 3-6 months ahead. Who knows when the pigeons are finally going to rise up and rule the earth?) 

Make a list of where/who you want to be in the next 6 months then make a list of the steps you need to get there.

* Who do you need to talk to?
* What do you need to do?
* How can you strategically place yourself in the right situations and around the right people to make sure you're on the right path?


 Be honest and clear about your intentions:

If you want to work with a certain copywriter because they're good at long copy and you need a long copy campaign in your book, say that.

If you want to take a certain class because that professor usually sets his students up with internships, talk to the (I can't remember what they call the person who helps you pick classes. But talk to him/her.)

If you want to go to a recording or shoot to learn about what it's like, tell your creative director.

If you want to work on this project so you can get exposure to digital campaigns, speak up.

Yes, you should also be thinking about what all you're going to give, but also think about what you'd like to receive out of an experience. Who do you want to be at the end of it? How do you want to grow from it? How will having done this make you better?

No one else will really decide this for you. After high school you're pretty much on your own to determine your own path. In this business, whether you're in school or on the job, how far you get largely depends on how far you're willing to go. If you don't perform, you'll fail. If you fail, it's your fault. 

Your success depends on you.

News: Job Round-Up

Here we go - internships and full-time opportunities for all the thirsty creative wannabes out there. 

Apply to these: 

Graphic design intern (PAID) in New York at Sunday Morning – a small NY shop with some big name clients. Apply here

Design Intern (PAID) in New York at Percolate - a tech and social focused agency.  Apply here. 

Junior Graphic Designer in  Alexandria, VA at Clitzy Creative - a boutique website and branding company. Here ya go.

Copywriting Intern in Birmingham, MI at McCann Erickson. Apply here. 

Junior Copywriter in San Francisco, CA at Mullen. Looking for 0 – 1 years of experience. Agency environment/prior internship experience preferred. Apply 

Junior Copywriter in New York at Brand Connections, an integrated marketing agency looking for someone with digital skills and the ability to work with different clients. Apply.

Junior Digital Copywriter in New York at McGarryBowen. Send your stuff to them.

Assistant PR  in New York at Showtime. Apply here.

Go to This:

URL to IRL: Stand Out Online & Make Connections In Real Life

Date: Monday, May 20, 6:30pm
Location: Ogilvy, 636 11th Avenue (between 46th and 47th Street), 3rd Floor
Dress: Business Casual
Hashtag: #iwnystandout #iwny

Get your tickets before they sell out - sign up here. 

Looks interesting based on the blurb about it - think everyone can benefit from this 

“Are you taking advantage of online tools to make substantial in-real-life connections? How do you manage all of these platforms, decide what to focus on, and avoid online and offline social faux pas?” 

Internships Matter

I had a hard time figuring out what to title this post. I boiled it down to one main point: Internships matter. A lot. 

Not only do you get real life experience, get exposed to a wide network and possibly get to spend a summer somewhere new, in my case - it helped me figure out my career path and inspired me more than you can imagine. 

Below is an article where Vann Graves talks about how an internship helped him get his foot in the door and what he learned from it. Hope you gain something from it too.

I met Vann when I was interning in the account services department of BBDO NY. That was the year I solidified the fact that I did not want to be an account person, the summer I fell in love with New York and the moment I starting figuring out how I was going to get into a creative position at an agency. (Which happened two years later through MAIP, like Vann, and also like Vann, I got in on my second try.)

I started meeting with creatives at BBDO and asked them about their journey. We went on lunches, coffee breaks or, as was the case with Vann, I just sat in his office and beamed. He may not remember, but he inspired me.

I soaked up every bit of advice and took notes on everything they did to get to where they are. I asked to see their work, I asked about how they made it, why, what it was like. I asked what made them go into advertising, was it hard, was it easy, and what should I do to make it.

That was honestly the best part of my whole summer. I went back to UF (Go Gators!) refreshed and on a mission. I knew what I was going to do and had an idea how to do it. 

How I Got a Foot Through the Door of the Advertising Industry

The Multicultural Internship Program Teaches Important Lessons for How to Make It in the Business

By: R. Vann Graves Published: August 31, 2012

R. Vann Graves

The 39th annual Multicultural Advertising Internship Program came to a close earlier this month with a "Face of Talent" event, hosted by the 4As in New York City to celebrate the achievements of this summer's participants. For this alumnus, it brought back a flood of memories.

I was introduced to the multicultural internship program as a senior at Howard University.

Unfortunately my professor had given me the information on the day of the application deadline. I rushed to pull together the required materials, but just couldn't get the forms completed on time. The professor encouraged me to apply anyway. Maybe, in a one-in-a-million chance, I'd get an internship at one of the major New York agencies. I had my heart set on BBDO New York.

Sure enough, three weeks later I received a letter confirming that I had missed the deadline. But a note at the bottom from MAIP representative Tina Savier encouraged me to reapply. I did so, 12 months later. This time, I submitted not only undergraduate work but, being a year into graduate school, I included that portfolio as well.

During one of my many calls to Tina Savier to check the status of my application, the conversation took an unexpected turn. "Vann, I want to congratulate you," she said. "We have a unique situation.

Usually the agency picks which student they want, however, you have the opportunity to choose where you want to go."

She continued, "There are two agencies that want you: J. Walter Thompson in Chicago and BBDO New York." I'd have to make my decision by the next day, she said. Whichever internship I did not choose would go to someone else. Without hesitation, I chose BBDO New York.


First internship lesson learned: You cannot give up in the face of obstacles, but must dig deep and follow your dream. 

I started at BBDO as an intern and left as a VP, Creative Director 15 years later. Working at BBDO wasn't easy, but I never regretted my decision. My time at BBDO allowed me to witness some of the best talent in the industry, and I was honored to work with the likes of David Lubars, Susan Credle, Jimmy Smith, Andrew Robertson and Phil Dusenberry.

Second lesson learned: The ad industry is highly competitive, and you need to work hard and stay positive to find success. 

That one seed planted by the Multicultural Advertising Internship Program has since blossomed into a career in which I've risen to my current position as EVP, Executive Creative Director at McCann New York. There, I have had the opportunity to work on brands such as American Airlines, the United States Army, MasterCard and Johnson & Johnson.

I owe my foot in the door into the advertising industry to the multicutural internship , which has helped me achieve my goals. From that first note from the MAIP representative who opened my eyes to the possibilities and who encouraged me not to give up after that initial application slip, the program has helped me knock down barriers and pursue my goals with determination and vigor.

Without this program, I wouldn't be where I am today.

The irony of all this is if I had been accepted the first time I applied to MAIP I would have not been able to stay at BBDO beyond the internship's 10 weeks. Often, things work out just the way they're supposed to.

Third internship lesson learned: You've got to give back.

The MAIP Alumni Association was founded in 1996 and in the recent years, thanks to advancements in technology, connecting alumni nationwide has become easier. With a more formalized and structured MAIP Alumni Association Council, we have been able to push the alumni offerings across the country.

In recent years, we have see a surge in past alumni reconnecting and giving back to the community that helped jump start their careers. They have served on panels, spoken at events, become mentors and participated in the graduation and The Face of Talent. Chelsea Spratling was a MAIP intern on my team in 2011. I took Chelsea under my wing as her mentor. After her internship ended, she took a position at mcgarrybowen as a junior copywriter. You can see what the alumni are up to at maipalumni.org.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. Vann Graves is EVP, Executive Creative Director, McCann Erickson NY.

Apply now: Multicultural Advertising Internship Program

Ready to work?

No, seriously? This is a legit opportunity to spend 10 weeks working in an agency next summer. Apply to the 4A's internship program, MAIP. 

Here's why MAIP is awesome:

* You get to work in top-tier agencies doing real work in the department of your choice - from account to traffic to media to creative.

* You can intern in several cities across the country - from New York to Chicago to California and in between.

* You get paired with a mentor who works in advertising and probably did MAIP as well

* You get to network with professionals at the agency you work at plus other agencies involved in the program

* You get to come to New York for the end of internship celebration and career fair in August

* You get paid.

* You meet people who will later on be your coworkers and/or help you get a job.

* I did it and I'm awesome, so by association, it's awesome and you can be too.


I did MAIP the summer between college and portfolio school and it was a great experience. Well, kinda great. I hated Chicago. And some of the people. And the weather. But I started running (prior to this I thought only stupid people and people being chased by dogs should run) learned a whole lot, got to work on some real campaigns, go to recordings, live in a new city, wear blazers and jeans and meet a ton of great people - one who I now work with, and two of which I am very close with. You can't beat that.



If you're a junior or senior or in portfolio school, I think you should apply. Even if you don't get to intern in the creative department, you'll get your foot in the door, meet the right people, learn the right things and start setting up a network.

Applications are due Nov 4th so get on it. Today.

Download the application
Connect with MAIP on Facebook

Post Internship To Do List

If you didn’t have an internship this summer, you’re failing. Okay, maybe not failing, but you’ve got a C average.

Internships are so valuable to your professional development and your portfolio. It’s one thing to come up with ideas for Tide with no budget, client or limitations (that’s the part of school I miss the most) but when you get into an agency, even as an intern, you get a taste of that cold, hard reality of budget cuts, last minute client changes and 300x600 banner edges. 

It’s also a great way to network and create career connections and to see how things are done from behind the scenes. (Who knew people went to 387 image selections just to find 1 for that print ad!)

For those of you who did intern, whether or not you had a good experience, be sure to take stock of everything you’ve learned. Maybe you learned that you had account management and want to be a planner. Maybe you learned that you hate advertising all together and want to move to Costa Rica and teach orphans. Or maybe you learned that you’re an awesome Photoshop genie but need to work on your conceptual skills to really get a job. Whatever it is, look for the good in the situation and see how you can use it to propel you forward. 
 
Now that it’s all over, here is a Post Internship To Do List:

- Send Thank You notes. Email, handwritten, embroidered, whatever you see fit – just make sure you let the people who you worked with and who helped you throughout the summer know how much you appreciate them, how much you learned and that you will continue to stalk them over the next 2 – 7 years. 

- Update your resume and portfolio. Look at all that you did and add adjectives and descriptive verbs to make it sound like the best thing since God created the Internet. Gather all the projects you worked on and if they’re not great, make them great, then put them in your book. If it was produced and isn’t great, make it great then put it in. Greatness trumps everything.

- Make a strength and weakness list. Start tackling your weaknesses.


- Take a break. Once you start working full time it'll be go go go go. Go.

- Do personal follow ups. You warned them with your Thank You Notes, now follow through over the next 3 – 6 months and check in with those folks who you built a good relationship with. Let them know how you’re progressing and share any new/exciting news on your career

- Plan and plot. What’s your next move? Looking for a full time job? Trying to freelance? Going to portfolio school? Make a two year plan and start looking at how you can get to where you want to be as painlessly as possible.

It’s not too late to look into Fall internships and to start prepping on internships for next year.

My personal favorite is the Multicultural Advertising InternshipProgram (I’m biased, I’m an alum) but every agency has their own program and several ad organisations do too, so look out starting in November/December for applications.

Also, start reaching out to places in your area (Check The Creative Ham's agency listing or even Craigslist) and seeing if you can intern for free to get experience. 

(Everybody loves free labour. This is America after all.)