My goal is to help students, like you, get the inside peek of possible internship and job opportunities. I want to help you put the best foot forward and get the upper hand on “hot spots” in Lubbock.
I met with Ashleigh Sawyer, vice president of RD Thomas Agency. She was loud and crazy, but such a fun person to talk with. The office has the perfect amount of business and creativity, at least for me. The whole agency can be toured by walking in one giant circle. Each team member has their own office, but the creatives share one big room with a small lounge in the corner. RD Thomas also has their own small production room.
The Resume
Keep in mind that every agency is different from the way they work, their presentation and feel, their culture, and much more. Ashleigh believes that RD Thomas is a little easier to please.
“I look for one page, no negotiation. If your resume is longer than a page, then you are putting a bunch of crap I don’t care about or you need to run for political office.”
At a glance, a resume should be able to tell the viewer what kind of person you are, what are you looking for, and what you want to do. It will also show if you are able to write and your strengths. No one is good at everything so focus on what you are best at.
Ashleigh thinks that a resume could look great just being black and white. There should not be a picture of yourself or an overload of graphics. Usually the ones interested in design have the more decorated resumes.
“Mine was pink and orange because that was me at the time. I have to be somewhere that I can be creative, but I want them to a little bit of my personality on this piece of paper.”
Another important thing to remember is to come across professional. Sending an unprofessional email, resume or cover letter can be a complete deal breaker. It shows that you are not ready for the real world.
Internships and Student Organizations
It’s great to be involved, but Ashleigh does not believe they are what is most important.
“Somebody comes in and they already know how an agency works, that’s great. That means there’s certain parts that I can spend less time teaching them.”
Getting an internship or a job at an agency always comes with a learning phase. Do not act like you know everything just because you have held an internship previously. You don’t know everything about the company you are now with and how they function. The internships and student organization you have held pervious also help the company learn more about you too.
“What drives people, creatively, professionally, that’s the really important piece in terms of how well you’re going to fit in with this team and how effective you are going to be with our clients.”
Portfolio
Your portfolio is pieces of your best work that represents who you are. If you can leave a copy of your portfolio with the agency after an interview, you would be a step ahead of the game. Although, you do not have to because properly printing and binding can be expensive.
“If I can leave you with one, overarching theme, it’s meaningful and relevant.”
If your portfolio only has three pieces that show your progress or it is your best work, make sure you are able to explain why they are there. Be able to explain why they are relevant.
Applying for Internships and Jobs
It is the same process to apply for an internship or a job with RD Thomas. Go to their website and apply online. These emails will go to Ashleigh, the president, or to the art director.
The amount of interns they take depend on their client’s needs, who applies, and availability. They offer account/media service, art, and now social media internships. RD Thomas may not always fill the positions if they feel like there is not someone who is qualified. At the same time, if they absolutely love someone then they will create a position for them. Internships are paid because they depend on the interns to work and learn.
“If you think you maybe want to work in an agency, you’ve got to do an internship with one because you will know almost immediately.”
If you get a position or internship, Ashleigh expects you to come energetic and ready to learn. As the new kid on the block, you should want to put in the extra hours and not be left out. Try to get people to notice you and remember your name.
“Do whatever it is you have to do to not miss out on those other moments, where you get to go off campus (work campus). Rearrange your schedule so that you can go on the day trip to present to a client in Hobbs. Don’t miss hey everybody is meeting back up here at seven pm to finish the big pitch. Don’t miss that. Figure out how to be a part of it because you don’t want to miss that stuff. That’s where you really learn the most.”
Best Advice
Agency life can be tough. The days are long, tensions run high, and not everyone can always been in the best moods. Try to be perky and positive, happy and easier to learn. If you’re a timid or shy person then an agency may not be the best place for you. Most importantly, ask questions.
“It bugs the crap out of me when people don’t ask questions. There’s no way that I’m going to remember to tell you everything and there’s no way that you already know this stuff, so you better be asking questions. It’s not annoying. It’s wonderful.”
Ways to Dress
What best represents you? Wear that. I would not suggest jeans, although, there has been someone wearing jeans with a tucked in shirt that looked nice. The creative department wears jeans, but if you’re going for a different position then you should probably dress up a little more. You do not have to wear a black jacket, black skirt and wear black pants, black shoes, and carry a black purse. You can wear color, but do not be something you are not.
“We’re expecting that whatever we’re seeing that day in that interview is your very best version.”
The Interview
Bring paper and a pen. If you do not take notes all the time, pretend to or be prepared to. Taking notes is a way to show people you are listening. Do not bring food or chew gum. If you are the kind of person who drinks a lot of water, it’s okay to bring bottled water.
“Don’t smoke. Holy crap! Don’t smoke before an interview!”
It’s important to look, and smell, your best! Be sure to shower, brush your hair and teeth, and look presentable.
In every interview, you may come across those questions that are a little harder to answer. No one will be mad if it takes you a second to answer them. Professionals are trying to see what your thinking process is and if you are able to think on the fly.
“This is a good one. This separates the men from the boys. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with the actions or decisions of your manager or supervisor. How did you approach the situations? Was the situation resolved to your satisfaction or did nothing change?”
If you can think of a time, that’s great. If you can’t, then explain how you would best handle the situation. Be able to show that you are able to handle different situations that you may have not been in before. It helps professionals to understand if you are different from the status quo and about your personality.
Things to remember…
“Everything is last minute. Everything come up, but that’s what’s so exciting about it.”
In the advertising world, everything changes fast. It is important to time manage and be able to switch gears quickly. Clients will call for something last minute and you should be able to stop everything, work on that, and be able to come back to the first task fast. If you are having a block and need to step away for a minute, that’s fine, but it has to be quick.
“You can have a bad morning or a bad afternoon. You cannot have a bad day.”
RD Thomas Agency
Advertising, Communication Design, Video Production and Web Development.
4601 S Loop 289 #20
806.795.6399
www.rdtadv.com
About Olivia Utley
