“It’s not about the shoes,” Tom Martin, Founder of Converse Digital, began his presentation “How to Get a Job in Advertising Today” at the 2011 International Collegiate Conference hosted by the American Marketing Association this weekend. Martin illustrated his point further by describing how Michael Jordan isn’t the best basketball player because he wears Nike shoes. Just like Jordan, college students cannot expect to land a job by just showing up to the interview in great shoes. We cannot simply dress the part, we must be the part. But how do we be the part? Tom Martin offers some helpful tips.
1. Life is not a scantron: Martin explains that it’s unfortunate that many of our assessments in school are scantron tests that rely on strict memorization. He explains that it’s more important to be good at problem solving and thinking critically because there are no scantron tests in the workplace.
2. Ask better questions: Asking better questions at recruiting events and during interviews will help get better answers. Plus, it will show the recruiter you know how to think critically. Martin suggests asking questions about the duties and objectives during the first month of the job. This shows that you are driven and truly interested in the helping the company.
3. Do your research: The internet is a college student’s most under-used tool when it comes to company research. Company websites, social media, and industry reports can provide great information about a company’s clients, employees, competitors, as well as industry trends and world news. It doesn’t take much to learn a few facts – just the click of a mouse.
4. Have an Opinion: Martin explains that we will all be “doers” in our entry level jobs. We will spend our first years learning and doing tasks given to us by upper level management. However, the company needs to know during the interview that they can eventually promote you to be a “thinker.” The company wants you to be able to form your own opinions, even if you are wrong, and be a great manager someday.
5. Say Thank You: It is always important to thank the employer for their time. However, Martin explains that the best way to do this is in a handwritten note or in an afterhours voicemail. He says that this is not done enough and shows that you are truly interested in the position.
6. Be Passionate: Passion is the most important part in the industry. It is important to think about questions such as “What is your favorite ad campaign and why” as well as “What is a bad ad campaign you have see lately?” These questions will help employers see how much you love the industry.
After a wonderful weekend of marketing in New Orleans and listening to variety of great speaking including Tom Martin, I truly feel that I have picked the right industry to build my career.
Follow Tom Martin on Twitter (@TomMartin) and check out his blog Help My Brand.
Posted in Marketing |
A common misconception about organic food is that if you eat organic, especially meat, you will compromise taste. However, the organic burgers at Shake Shack and Elevation Burger are on a mission to prove this wrong. Many of my friends comment on how unusually delicious the cheeseburgers are when we visit these restaurants. They wonder out loud if there are extra spices used on the meat or if it is cooked differently. Or maybe, just maybe, the magic begins on the farm and not in the kitchen.
