Got an interview?

I received an email the other week from a graduate of a business school who wanted some interviewing tips. I thought I'd share with you what I wrote in response:

Oh the interviewing process...will this be your first one? I suggest doing practice interviews with as many places as you can. Even though you may not want the specific job, find related industries to apply for or ask for informational interviews, just to help make you more comfortable with the process of interviews.

Any interview, no matter what agency you’re at, will be the same. It’s all about personality. Either you fit or you don’t. Sorry to be blunt, but the advertising business is all about creating personalities and experiences out of brands, and therefore in the agency itself it’s all about the personalities and experiences you bring to the table. So if it’s not a good fit, don’t be down on yourself. You wouldn’t have been happy working there anyway, so breathe a sigh of relief, really. :)

With that said, a resume may get you in the door but a book would be better. Try to put something together that shows the experiences you’ve had. They can be school-based, from your travel experiences, or from jobs, etc. Just ways to show how you think and what makes you YOU. You are unique and that’s the great thing about planning is that the discipline values your unique characteristics.

And last but not least, don’t stay up late at night worrying about if you have the right answers to their questions. Instead, if you want to stay up late, spend the time thinking about the questions you have for them! They want you to be passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic about planning and the agency. Make sure you are before you walk in that door.

And if all else fails, just drink lots of coffee and go with it. :P