Welcome to the real world Interns! Several folks are starting their summer internships this week and I want to re-share some advice and tips for creative wannabes and non-creative wannabes as you step out into the work space.
It may just be an internship right now, but it can turn into a job later on. So make your time worth it.
Here it is again:
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.
from June 20, 2011
* 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.
