GenNext

Not Everyone Can Afford to Work for Free

How to Make the Most of a Summer Waiting Tables

Posted by Alex Kniess on 07.01.09 @ 04:43 PM

Alex Kniess

As the internship season comes into full swing, many of you will look around and think that your summer job just doesn't measure up to your buddy's unpaid internship in NYC. Although many agencies are cutting their internship programs in misguided attempts to remain solvent, some of the recent graduates and college upperclassmen have still managed to land that plum gig. For the rest of the Millennials who may be forced to find a job that is completely unrelated to advertising, there is still hope. After all, not everyone can afford to work for free. So even though pumping gas or waiting tables may seem to be the farthest thing from working in advertising, you can still turn your summer job or trip into a project that can build your portfolio.

Beyond the Big Three

The Benefits of Branching Out From Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter

Posted by Adrienne Waldo on 06.25.09 @ 02:24 PM

Adrienne Waldo

It's no secret that having a strong online presence is vital in today's job market -- especially for Millennials -- and that the first step in creating that presence is to build profiles on the "big three" social networks: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. There are countless articles outlining how these sites are going to take over the world, and they may not be entirely wrong, but these social-media behemoths are not the be-all and end-all of online interaction. Some of my best relationships and opportunities have come from small, topic-specific social networks.

Prep Your Portfolio Now

And Make Your Next Job Search Less Stressful

Posted by McKenzie Koch on 06.22.09 @ 01:09 PM

McKenzie Koch

We've finished graduation season. Congrats to all of you new high school and college grads. Now it's time to think about your next move. Whether you're an intern, still in school or gainfully employed, prep work is a guaranteed way to make your next job search less stressful.

Tweetable Career Advice From Nine Under 30

Beyond Commencement Speeches, Heed the Words of Those Who Know

Posted by Mansi Trivedi on 06.18.09 @ 03:38 PM

Mansi Trivedi

This time of year, on college campuses across the country, graduates are listening to speeches about success. But I think now is also a good time to listen to the advice of pioneering 20-somethings who decided to take roads less traveled and produce disruptive ideas.

Want to Stand Out? Start a Professional Blog

How to Get Noticed in the Saturated Freelance-Marketing World

Posted by Adrienne Waldo on 06.15.09 @ 02:04 PM

Adrienne Waldo

Congratulations, You're an Intern. Now What?

Use Summer Internships to Find Your Direction

Posted by Armand Hershowitz on 05.28.09 @ 03:27 PM

Armand Hershowitz

So you're an intern. Congratulations! So am I -- and now we are one step closer to the real world. Back in the good ol' days, when others asked us what we wanted to do when we grew up, we would sit back and fantasize. Now the question is: What do you want to do next year? With all the marketing jobs out there, how are we supposed to know which career path will be our perfect fit? I can't answer that question, but I do know that our upcoming summer internships will provide insightful guidance.

Personal Branding Further Inflates Our Sense of Entitlement

It's Time for a Reality Check

Posted by Alex Kniess on 05.04.09 @ 11:01 AM

Alex Kniess

Personal branding has become a necessity to landing a job in today's advertising world. The nature of our jobs coupled with the access to limitless online tools have turned getting a job into an exercise in self-indulgence. We are all guilty of it: spending hours on our blogs, giving ourselves titles and logos, selling our sanity to Twitter, manicuring our resumes and portfolios, making literal presentations for each potential employer, and pulling everything together in one masterful execution of brand meaning and consistency.

Now's Not the Time to Be Picky

Recent Grads, Be Willing to Move to Land a New Gig

Posted by Mansi Trivedi on 04.27.09 @ 04:49 PM

Mansi Trivedi

In my experience, many recent grads and job seekers can talk at length about their passions and capabilities and about what they are looking for in a job. One popular answer? "I want to work in New York."

Tools for the Gig Economy

How Web Technology Is Improving Work Life for Free Agents

Posted by Kelly Eidson on 04.17.09 @ 02:30 PM

Kelly Eidson

In the last few months, we've seen the headlines dominated by news of systemic layoffs as agencies shed talent that they can't afford to keep. Some of this talent has forsaken the hope of finding a new job and transitioned into self-employment to become part of the so-called gig economy, where they jump from project to project as a freelancer or consultant. As Martin Bihl noted a few weeks ago, not everyone is cut out for this, but for those who are comfortable swimming in uncertainty and good enough to bring in a living income, they may never look back. Life in the gig economy is getting easier, as emerging web technologies are solving problems for free agents.

Schools: Create Curricula That Transcend Platforms

Put the Onus on Students to Bring Digital Skills to the Table

Posted by Alex Kniess on 04.14.09 @ 02:00 PM

Alex Kniess

At SXSW Interactive last month I attended a discussion that attempted to address the issue of digital agency integration into the traditional agency framework. The main revelation was that there is no one model that will integrate digital into a traditional agency seamlessly. All the while, I couldn't help but think what all this meant for the colleges and universities that are feeding talent into these frameworks.