My Job Search, Part V

Back in July 2003, Barbara Tejada began a column for Adweek chronicling her search for a job (which included a cross-country road trip) after graduating from Miami Ad School. It's been a long journey, but as this final installment shows, it was worth it.As I shook Jeff Benjamin's hand, a feeling of relief came over me. This was it. The search was over. I had a full-time job. If I pick up where my last article left off, a lot has happened. I went to my second and third One Club portfolio reviews. I met more creatives and got portfolio feedback. I got an e-mail from a guy who saw my book but wouldn't tell me his name or where he worked. But he recommended I read The Alchemist, so I knew something had to be right with him. I sat in the cheap seats at the One Show 2004 and spotted top creatives as they dined and accepted awards. I went to Baltimore and met with Andy Dumaine from The Campbell Group. I went home and revised my book. Once again, I felt really good about my work. After my summer trip to New York City, I started a mission I should have started when I first graduated from ad school—a mission several creatives suggested when I told them I was from Miami. I called Crispin Porter + Bogusky about a creative internship. I started calling Alex Bogusky's assistant in the summer of 2004. My timing was off, but I kept at it. I e-mailed old teachers from ad school who worked at CP+B. I started meeting friends of friends who worked there. I bumped into Kat Morris at a hair salon and introduced myself. Over the holidays I got the call I was waiting for: I could join the next round of interns in the beginning of 2005.My first week at the agency, I felt like a fish out of water. I had to get up the nerve to ask Bill Wright if he had anything I could work on. That took a few weeks. I slowly got more comfortable and began to realize what I was a part of. I stayed at the agency on weekends e-mailing MINI ideas to Andrew Keller. I worked on Burger King with Tim Roper. I bought worms for a comp that Mark Taylor and Bob Cianfrone were working on. I watched Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie pretend to be interns. I saw Sam Crispin stop by and say hello. I caught a glimpse of Alex Bogusky concepting about Gap with Rob Reilly and dreamed of being a fly on the wall in the office. In short, I loved it. I asked to stay longer and started working closely with Carah Von Funk on projects. I began talking to people about potential jobs in the company. I knew my writing wasn't going to get me a junior copywriter position, but maybe there was something for me.I asked about being an assistant, or maybe taking a traffic position. I got help from the creative coordinator, Veronica Padilla. Without her, I wouldn't be where I am today. One morning Ana, the receptionist, told me that managing partner Jeff Steinhour wanted to talk to me. I immediately started to wonder what I did wrong. He said he'd heard I was looking for a position. I told him that I wanted a full-time job, whether at CP+B or another agency, but that I was interested in staying in Miami. He told me that Jeff Benjamin, the interactive creative director, needed an assistant. I had worked with Jeff and knew his schedule. Crazy would be one word to describe it; he was up all hours of the night working. But he led the department that put together subservientchicken.com and other great sites. I knew it would put me close to the creative work, exactly where I wanted to be. I immediately expressed interest. A few days passed and I got a meeting with Jeff Benjamin, who told me they wanted someone creative. The job entailed more than just being his assistant; I would help the entire interactive department as the interactive coordinator and would work on copy assignments (and have already worked on two). Jeff asked if I needed some time to think things over. I didn't. On May 17, 2005, I officially became an employee of CP+B. Two and a half years of ad school, one and a half on a job search and 5 months of interning had paid off. This past week, I watched as the new interns started to arrive. One day, they may get hired as art directors or copywriters, and that would be great for them. Right now I am enjoying what I do and what I am a part of. And that's great for me.

Brand Marketing

My Job Search, Part V

Adweek Staff

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