The Duck Hunt. Or how Graduate Ad Interviews Work..

Graduate interviews. Strange things, really.
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As you might expect, I’ve done the lot. Filmed a 5 minute DVD about myself, gone to a party, taken part in an online account management test and even just talked for thirty minutes about myself and ads (the standard format).

I’ve behaved like a gigantic muppet in some interviews, (probably) acted like a legend in others. On any given day, I can look like a pillock:

Or a complete hero:

Before you ask, yes, alcohol was involved in the former photo. Rather like Lebowski’s dancing, I think.

As a result of this, I’ve gained some pretty interesting work experience. But damnit, enough of this. I want a job now. Preferably in an agency with some interesting clients/one where I don’t have to imbibe or live and breathe some peculiar agency philosophy which I don’t agree with.
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The clichéd truisms are right though; there are different agency ‘feels’; ones which you instantly feel comfortable in, and others.. well, others where you couldn’t imagine spending more time in it than simply lingering in reception.
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That said, as far as my experiences have taught me, it’s often the latter which leads to the better creative work…though this kind of working environment may not be what you want, as a junior planner/account man.
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My thoughts are so fragmented on this that I’m going to publish a squidoo on different agencies and some of their thinking. This was prompted by a kind email from David Walden (another wannabe ad man) – check out his blog.
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But yes, it really depends on whether I’m making sense in the morning, whether the sun and stars have aligned, or what I’ve had for breakfast (it was just a cup of tea that morning).
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As you may have guessed, I’m in the middle of interview season.
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Category : account management, advertising, interview, planning