In this depressing job market, some people have been jobless for some time. If you work in advertising, you have seen cuts all around and if the economic signs are anything to consider, realize that more cuts are quite possibly on the way. To make a long story short, every time financial crises occur, the first area to feel the unforgiving edge of a budget cut is advertising followed quite closely by marketing. Actually, you don’t need a recession or depression to have this happen, all you need is a drop in sales. Taking into account that what we’re living is a far cry from that, seeing close to 100,000 advertising professionals be left without a job during the last two years makes you realize that this is pretty bad.
Ok so what can any of us do about it? Well on my front, my reaction was to jump ship to another industry that is faring better and adapting my skills to the needs of this industry. The key word in that last sentence is obviously adapt. Which is actually the first step to getting a job if you have one or hate the one you have. So below are ten tips that may work for you.
1. Adapt. This sounds simple but it is not. For my part I’ve left the jeans and cargo pants for dress pants, dress shoes, button shirts and a company pin. With that dress change came an attitude change. No more cuss filled rants, no more youtubing, no more 2 hour lunches. Apart from this, I had to adapt my skills and gear them towards the company’s needs. Again, something that reads like something easy but it isn’t. I’ve been lucky to perform well. Another fellow copywriter I actually considered pretty good on the job had a three week tenure before me and if he weren’t a temp he would have been fired in three more weeks. That’s because although he’s a pretty good ad copywriter, he hadn’t adapted to the new job. So look at your skill set and see how you can adapt. Be realistic with yourself and see what you can stand and where you can grow and go the extra mile to see if there isn’t some professional growth in there.
2. Keep your résumé updated. You never know when you may need it and it’s always good to feel in control of your fate.
3. More than ever, you need that résumé to stand out. No more using times new roman, no more copy pasting an objective and for Christ’s sake, delete that part that says referrals available upon request. Think you have 15 seconds to convince someone to not toss your résumé in the recycle bin, because that’s pretty close to the time you have available. Put only your three most recent experiences, include extracurricular activities, mention awards, and please, make it fit on one page.
4. Design your résumé to entice the company you are interviewing for. Treat it like an ad. If you make it too general and try to appeal to all audiences, it won’t work right? The same goes for a résumé. Adapt, wording, skills, and different details to try and convince them that you’re worth 40-50K.
5. Your portfolio needs to be updated. I don’t even need to ask if it’s updated. I know it isn’t. It probably even has the layouts from when you last interviewed for a job. So look it over, trim the fat, include something eye catching and team up with someone else to put two new executions that show you can adapt to budgets and can present new and innovative concepts. Nontraditional is a must by the way. So pick your best TV spot, your best two or three prints and present something new.
6. Talk to people. We often get so completely engrossed in our jobs and put out so many fires that we do not mingle. Never forget that being likeable is just as effective or more effective than being highly skilled.
7. Look in the want ads and see what you’re willing to check out. I know a lot of people in different agencies. I know people who own their businesses. I am lucky enough to be in the good graces of people who have actually found me a job when I most needed it. My current job came as a result of answering a want ad and going through the typical interview process. No contacts, no connections, no favoritism. Just plain ole interview bullshit.
8. Keep a stash of money to travel for a job interview. Lots of companies around are looking for people to work… but they aren’t exactly around the corner. See what you can do and get an interview. If you have to travel, try to get more than one so you don’t go bankrupt.
9. When you do get an interview, please read up on the company you’re going to visit. They will ask you why you want to work and so and so and they will ask you what you think about what they do. The last thing you want is to sound desperate, ignorant, stupid or all of the above.
10. Call in favors if you have any. Desperate times call for desperate measures and if you were looking for that situation when you need to call in a favor, now is the time. I’m not saying cry or beg, but if you don’t ever use your get out of jail free card, what’s the use of having it?
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