How to fit in with creative, funky, interesting, hip agency-types

            Before I started my internship on the reputation team of i.d.e.a. I interned for a U.S. senator.  Three months of pencil skirts and business suits later, the only lesson I learned about how to get along with people was how not to step on anyone’s toes. Head down, keep the talking to a minimum and remember these people are not your friends. So, when I stepped into i.d.e.a. for the first time and set eyes upon the orange walls, brightly colored couches, blue jeans, and the blue streaks in lovely Melina’s hair I was just waiting for a twister to come take the house away. This was no Kansas, no traditional closed-door office environment with too much individual ambition to fit into a team.

           

            At i.d.e.a. things run a bit differently. Meetings take place in corners with fuzzy white stools and bright orange couches and there is just as much enthusiasm over the men of the company growing mustaches for the Movember campaign as there is in landing a new client. You are just as likely to hear laughter across the main area, as you are to hear words like “productive” and “efficient.” Here, the music ranges from indie rock to electronic ambient, from old country to “Hip Hop Fridays.”  The receptionist isn’t a receptionist, but the Office Queen. And that she is. At i.d.e.a. individuality is not frowned upon, but celebrated and each person brings his or her own distinct spark to the job. Sometimes, though, all that camaraderie can be intimidating. From knowing the proper etiquette when someone with a bike is coming into the elevator at the same time to remembering to wear your costume on Halloween (i.d.e.a. people take Halloween very seriously), here are some tips on how to fit-in with creative, funky, interesting, and hip agency-types:

            First of all, there may be an “I” in i.d.e.a., but there is no “I” in team. And you know what i.d.e.a. really stands for? Team. People here like working together. Collaboration is key and to have any success at the company you have got to get on it – the team, that is.  Get to know the people in your department. No one likes a player who’s not sure who to pass the ball to because they don’t know who they are playing with.

            Secondly, consider optional dress-up for Halloween mandatory (lesson learned). Participate in company activities. You think the six-foot something shaggy dog looks funny with whiskers painted on his face? Wrong. You do. Your knit sweater and jeans will get you nowhere when the rest of the staff ranges from Cyclops to Dracula.  

            Another step to fitting in is to keep some pop culture references at the ready. When in doubt, pull a quip about Ke$ha out.  But don’t forget these people are in the know about all kinds of interesting things, from viral YouTube videos to current political affairs – and how they apply to the industry. You have to be on your game to keep up.  

           

            Hip (and environmentally conscious) people ride their bikes to work. There is one elevator at i.d.e.a. That means you might just run into this dilemma: do you let the bike go first into the elevator and risk being squished into the sliver of space between the bike and the elevator doors or do you run ahead to get into the elevator first? Answer: take the stairs. After eating all the candy at Melina’s desk, you know you could use the exercise.   

            Lastly, people here smile a lot. No fake-smiles. The real kind, the kind that reach the eyes. Don’t try to fake it. If you do, people here are like sharks. They’ll smell the fake smile on you from a mile away. My advice: find a real reason to smile. 

So what did we learn? The culture at i.d.e.a. is not for the weak. Participate, keep up to date on the world and know your team. The world today revolves around networking and making yourself adaptable to all different kinds of outlets, social media sites and industries. The key to your own success might just be hinged on the people you meet here. Make the time count, make yourself memorable and remember to have fun. Fun people recognize the quality in others.

It’s not high school anymore. This time fitting in is for keeps. 

Cheers from the intern corral, 

                 Jenni Macc 

                 PR intern 

The Anatomy of An Agency

I have to admit that before my senior year, I had never even considered working at a marketing or advertising agency. Maybe it was because there has always been the idea of a corporate lifestyle or maybe it may have been the lack of general knowledge of agencies in general. Whatever the case may have been, I had no idea that I would intern at a fully integrated and creative marketing agency like i.d.e.a.  and absolutely love it. Before visiting and working at an agency, the types of jobs available at an agency were simply elusive to me.

In school, there was only a few times where someone actually described what types of jobs are available in the marketing communications agency world. While the popular TV show, Mad Men glamorizes the agency life, it only briefly scratches the surface on the type of jobs that someone can do in an agency. As a current graduate, I think it’s important for graduates to consider working at an agency. After talking with the team at i.d.e.a and doing some research on the opportunities at agencies, I’ve decided to take the time to enlighten those who are unfamiliar with the jobs that make up a marketing or advertising agency.

The different types of jobs at agencies:

Account Management-The account management team is a highly organized team that is responsible for the communication between clients and the agency. They work with every department and touch almost every project to ensure the strategy and the work for the client gets finished from inception to the final results of the campaign. 

Planners- The planning team is responsible for the research, business insights, and consumer behavior insights that will shape the strategy of a marketing campaign for a client.

Media- The media team is responsible for the strategy of the media, which includes negotiating, scheduling, and buying of the media that will help bring the campaign to life. 

Public Relations – The public relations team is responsible for maintaining communications for the client. This may include media outreach, press releases, social media, or any touch point of communication between the company, its stakeholders and customers.

New Business- The new business development team is responsible for prospecting and winning new business for the agency. This team or person helps the agency grow by growing relationships with companies who outsource their advertising, marketing or public relation functions. While there is a new business team dedicated to pitches, the entire agency comes together to create new business success.

Creative- The creatives are responsible for taking the strategy and making it come to life visually. The people on this team are artists, copywriters, graphic designers, digital designers, programmers, or anyone who provides creative input on projects.

Production- The production team actually creates television spots or videos. They often work closely with the creative team in order to get the creative vision across. This team is often made up of production editors, directors, camera people or others with technical production skills.

Administrative/Finances- Every agency needs people to make it run smoothly. This team can range in different types of jobs from the office manager, accountant, billing manager, finance manager, IT personnel, Human Resources to everything in-between.

Most advertising and marketing agencies offer some, all or even more than the opportunities I’ve listed above depending on the size, nature, and agency itself. Although most agencies have similar structures and positions, what is most important to understand about agencies is that every agency is uniquely different. What works in practice for one agency may not be the same for another agency. The people at one agency to the next may be completely different from one another.

From my time at i.d.e.a, I’ve learned that agencies are vibrant, creative, and chaotic workplaces that help bring companies to life to reach their audiences. I.d.e.a. has given me the chance to surround myself with some of the best and most creative people in the world and has changed my perspective on the workplace I want to work in after I graduate. I encourage those who are unfamiliar with agencies to take some time to take a peek inside the world of agencies and consider an opportunity with an agency like i.d.e.a. It just may change your life. 

Signing off from the intern coral permanently (& sadly!)

-Kristie