Late last year, I was job hunting.
And you know me. I do things in extremes. All or nothing. I was applying everywhere. So I came across this one place. Small shop with biiiig plans. Seemed interesting. They talked a big talk of how theyāre here to change the game and you can insert words like ādigital transformationā and āculture buildingā and āAIā here.
Decent conversation. But the dude decides to give me an assignment. I havenāt done one of those in ā¦ 8 years? My folio is on the internet, I have a decade of experience, Iāve handled teams. But sure, weāre already invested, so might as well. Itās a campaign idea for a brand and they want an idea on how I would launch it.
I put together a plain black and white PPT. 5-6 slides. As Iāve been taught, quality > quantity. Print ad, script, activation idea, digital ideas, radio for good measure. Reference images wherever needed. I hit send.
The HR texts me within 3 minutes of me sending the mail (which was 2 days before the deadline).
āThe work is not elaborate. I cannot share this ahead.ā
Wut? I went back to see if Iād sent the right file.
I had.
We got on a call and she told me she canāt just send the head of the place a black and white PPT and that I should put more pictures. MORE PICTURES. Like in school!!?! No comment on what was on the deck. Nothing to do with the ads Iād written.
They wanted arts and crafts.
Okay donāt get me wrong. Deck-making is an art. And I make a mean one when itās needed. Even on that deck Iād added reference creatives, as one should.
But Iām a writer. And I can send you something mind blowing on a word doc. A piece of paper. Iāll scribble it on your hand if youād let me.
I didnāt āreviseā my work but I do think about whoever did get hired for this role. And the number of people who hide behind glittery PPTs and shiny disco lights and smoke screens, becoming CDs and senior CDs - without actually having a flair for the craft.
Looking back, I shouldāve sent a word doc.
Or better yet, my regrets.
And you know me. I do things in extremes. All or nothing. I was applying everywhere. So I came across this one place. Small shop with biiiig plans. Seemed interesting. They talked a big talk of how theyāre here to change the game and you can insert words like ādigital transformationā and āculture buildingā and āAIā here.
Decent conversation. But the dude decides to give me an assignment. I havenāt done one of those in ā¦ 8 years? My folio is on the internet, I have a decade of experience, Iāve handled teams. But sure, weāre already invested, so might as well. Itās a campaign idea for a brand and they want an idea on how I would launch it.
I put together a plain black and white PPT. 5-6 slides. As Iāve been taught, quality > quantity. Print ad, script, activation idea, digital ideas, radio for good measure. Reference images wherever needed. I hit send.
The HR texts me within 3 minutes of me sending the mail (which was 2 days before the deadline).
āThe work is not elaborate. I cannot share this ahead.ā
Wut? I went back to see if Iād sent the right file.
I had.
We got on a call and she told me she canāt just send the head of the place a black and white PPT and that I should put more pictures. MORE PICTURES. Like in school!!?! No comment on what was on the deck. Nothing to do with the ads Iād written.
They wanted arts and crafts.
Okay donāt get me wrong. Deck-making is an art. And I make a mean one when itās needed. Even on that deck Iād added reference creatives, as one should.
But Iām a writer. And I can send you something mind blowing on a word doc. A piece of paper. Iāll scribble it on your hand if youād let me.
I didnāt āreviseā my work but I do think about whoever did get hired for this role. And the number of people who hide behind glittery PPTs and shiny disco lights and smoke screens, becoming CDs and senior CDs - without actually having a flair for the craft.
Looking back, I shouldāve sent a word doc.
Or better yet, my regrets.
