I know you’re thinking to yourself right now, “I just can’t wait to be done!” Not too long ago I was in your shoes. I had just graduated and landed a shiny new job in New York City working at a large advertising agency. It truly was (what I thought) my dream job.
And then reality hit. You go through four years of exams, studying, and readings to ultimately get a job out of school. What I’ve found though, is that many times college doesn’t really prepare you for the real world. Below are a few things that I learned while I was in advertising that I didn’t learn in school.
Think outside the box.
There are many different routes you can go in advertising, so don’t limit yourself to one area. Take time to explore the different jobs out there and what would best fit you and your work style. Maybe that is working at a large, big name agency or maybe you prefer to work at a smaller company. There’s no right or wrong path to go, it’s simply the path that you create for yourself.
Network, network, network
In advertising, networking is crucial. The industry is small and everyone knows each other. Take time to go to events outside of work and meet other people in the industry. Also, don’t forget to stay connected. A contact may have a job open months or even years later, so it pays to be persistent. Also, never burn any bridges. You never know who you will end up working with in the future.
You have to pay your dues
Although it would be nice to come out of school making millions and being your own boss, it just isn’t reality. Our careers are a process and are built over a lifetime. In advertising, you start from the bottom and work your way up. Work hard, have patience and be humble, even if your boss is asking you to do something ridiculous that you think is beneath you. Working hard will gain your respect and recognition.
Things will not go as planned
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you’re not going to like everything about your job. Maybe you’ll have a boss that’s straight out of “The Devil Wears Prada” or maybe you’ll find that you don’t really enjoy the work you’re doing. Luckily, the workplace is constantly changing and evolving. People will quit, deadlines will be met, and projects will change. Figure out if you can live with the annoyances of the job or if it’s time to try something else.
If things go wrong, be willing to try again
Things will go wrong. You’ll miss a deadline, you’ll mess up an email to a client, and you may even have a meltdown in the office one day. And that’s OK. Learn from your mistakes and try not to dwell on them. Also, try not to make the same mistake twice.