Roommate Remedies

Have you ever wondered some of the best (or worst) ways to live with roommates? Whether in or out of school, frat-house or apartment - all of us have dealt with roommates in one form or another.


Click to go to the video!

I have compiled a little video of rules, tips and tricks from my experiences in Canada and abroad. Some of these have to do with great experiences, bad experiences or just weird & funny experiences. But just remember what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.. (right?)

Feel free to comment on your roommate experiences or any 'rules' I've missed..

Agency Additives

One of the most important things about working on a team is collaboration and cooperation. No matter what team you're working on it is always important to make sure that you can communicate and work proactively.
In many business settings leadership and teamwork is concluded by using the Four Colour personality system. Each colour represents your morals, values, work ethic, communication, interaction...etc.

Many organizations form their agencies or groups specifically so that at least one of each colour personality is represented. That way there is someone to organize, lead, focus on the facts, make sure that everyone's opinion can be heard and shared & finally brainstorm the creative ideas.

For my I am predominantly gold, then my green and blue are matched, then shortly after is my orange. Although I am a very highly creative person, more so in my youth when I had more free time and disposable income... I am the spitting image of a military Type-A organized, authoritative, optimistic worker. Someone goal oriented with the task always at hand and determined to give 120% at all costs.

Client's for Agency IMC

Our client is The Boiler Room Indoor Climbing Gym; and like all good ad agencies my team (classmates) and I spent a Friday afternoon getting to know their products/services. Yes, that means that I, Jessica did indeed attempt to climb a few walls, in a harness, a rope and safety lock for protection... expected to fulfill some sense of accomplishment and challenge by hauling and crawling over grades/rocks no bigger than a computer mouse.

I'll have to admit I was scared for my life, I don't like the idea of a rope keeping me save, having to climb up stubs fearing slipping and dangling by a harness wedgie & finally when your ready to come down u have to lean back and let yourself dangle by your harness wedgie after all! I'd rather go back to karate competitions and getting kicked in the stomach...

I will say despite having to actually climb myself, I did have fun getting to know the members of my team and doing some team building/bonding. We were one of the first teams to do so and I'm sure that once my initial de-stress-ification wears off we will continue to have more fun and produce amazing work - we already have so far.

Welcome to the Agency of IMC

Welcome to the world of paperwork, stressful deliberation and rewarding sense of accomplishment!

Although it is apparently hard for me to re-integrate myself back into IMC society after my abroad adventures... I have been trying my best to explore our new semester project.. Advertising Agencies.

"Ad agencies execute marketing campaigns that cover a broad range of media. Ad agencies employ a broad range of advertising strategies to create marketing campaigns tailored to their clients’ needs. Ad agencies can range from small, home-based businesses to corporate franchises with departments for market research, account management and sales, copywriting and graphic design. Ad agencies work closely with the client to gather information and pitch their campaign ideas followed by the creative process of actually making and distributing the ads."

It all sounds intimidating... but if you focus on the fact that you would have a nice comfy desk,
in a cubicle,
on the 4th floor of a 10 floor office building,
owned by one big corporation,
and the only thing you have to stress about is one report/presentation/design in department A-2,
and the other 8 floors around you focus on their departments,
and once all the departments have finished working/collaborating/arguing together then you give your final product(s) to the head floor... (yes, like in all the movies you watch) it all doesn't seem THAT bad... does it?

The big agency life isn't for everyone, personally I'm not sure its completely fit for anyone. I'd rather work for a small business, or freelance my services to many companies versus wearing a suit everyday and 100+ lines of communication to manage. In any case, this is what the highly coveted 3rd Year of IMC@SLC is about; and to give a better view on what I'm explaining, our professors showed us this video... I WILL warn you it's definitely rated PG-20 with a high need of self-humour.

Many people in the industry themselves feel this way about their jobs but are able to create videos like this to make light of their situation or make themselves feel better... Or just to give themselves a laugh every once in a while to keep from having an anxiety attack.

Ad Agencies are competitive, fast-paced, tedious and exciting. If you're in the market for any time of agency jobs, here is a list of all the possibilities that agencies have...
Account Planning
Account Planner, Strategic Planning Director, Senior Account Planner    
Account Service
Account Coordinator, Account Executive, Account Group Director, Account Supervisor, Assistant Account Executive, Group Account Director, Group Management Supervisor, Management Supervisor, Managing Director--Client Services    
Administrative
Administrative Assistant, Administrative Assistant to the Chairman, Executive Administrative Assistant, Mailroom Clerk, Receptionist, Travel Supervisor    
Analytics
Analyst, Digital Marketing; Associate Director of Analytics; Associate Director of Analytics, Social Media; Director of Analytics; Manager, Analytics; Senior Analyst, Social Media; Senior Interactive Analyst    
Broadcast Production
Associate Director--Commercial Production, Broadcast Administrator, Broadcast Editor, Broadcast Production Manager, Executive Producer, Traffic Coordinator, Traffic Manager, Talent Payment Coordinator    
Chief Officer
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Operations, President    
Creative
Art Director; Creative Coordinator; Creative Director; Creative Manager; Graphic Designer; Studio Manager; Vice President, Creative Services    
Financial
Accountant, Accounting Supervisor, Biller, Controller, Junior Accountant, Vice President, Finance    
Human Resources
Assistant Director, Director of Human Resources, Human Resources - Recruiting, Human Resources Manager, Manager Training & Development, Payroll Supervisor     
Information Technology
Application Development Manager, Business System Manager, Database Developer/Data Analyst, Director of Information Technology, Senior Database Administrator, Software Developer    
Interactive/Digital
Digital Designer; Flash Developer; HTML Programmer/ Developer; Interaction Designer; Web Architect; Web Designer; Interactive Designer; Senior Interactive Art Director; Quality Assurance Engineer    
Marketing
Associate, Marketing Services, Director of Marketing, Director of Marketing Services, Manager, Marketing Analysis, Manager, Marketing Services, Senior Associate, Marketing Services, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Strategic Marketing Director
Media
Account Director, Assistant Media Buyer, Associate Media Director, Executive Director - Media, Local Broadcast Buyer, Media Supervisor    
New Business
Coordinator of Business Development, Director of Business Development, New Business Coordinator, New Business Director, New Business Manager
Print
Art Buyer, Director of Internal Print Controls, Print Buyer, Print Producer, Production Coordinator, Traffic Manager    
Project Management
Assistant Project Manager; Creative Operations Manager; Director of Project Management; Project Manager; Senior Project Manager    
Public Relations
Corporate Communications Specialist, Director / Public Relations, PR Assistant Account Executive, PR Management Supervisor,Public Relations Assistant, Vice President, Director of Public Relations    
Research
Associate Media Research Manager, Associate Research Director, Media Research Associate, Media Research Director, Media Research Project Director, Research Analyst     
SEO/SEM
Group Search Director; Search Engine Marketing Manager; Search Engine Marketing Strategist; Search Engine Marketing Supervisor; Search Planner; Search Engine Marketing Account Director    
Social Media
Associate Director, Social Media; Community Manager; Content and Community Specialist; Social Media Coordinator/Community Manager; Editor-in-Chief; Digital Strategist/Planner

Welcome back to 'the Grind' lil Black Sheep

After a long 'summer vacation' and a short 'winter break' and jumping back into the swing of college life I've found myself thrown into the world of advertising agencies and client work.

It's not easy keeping up with schooling and preparations back home while your abroad, and for some it's not any easier once you land... Some end up feeling very left out and far behind or 'the black sheep of the pack.'

Scheduling has to give you a specific day once a month for you to meet and have classes with your sponsor school (your sponsor school chooses this and they may vary depending on the month.) So in my opinion your home school program (or your recruiter/head of your Disney Exchange at your home school) should have a volunteer or system in place so that during that Off day or even on a different schedule Off day each week you are updated in the classes and lessons your missing.

Being in advertising and as beautifully and intricately complex as our course is, we missed quite a bit of knowledge, work, certifications and tests and important portfolio/resume building classes while we were off gallivanting around Florida with Mickey mouse and friends.

I wonder how hard it is for other ICPs to readjust back into non-pixie dust society... I thought I would provide a list of re-entry challenges or stages that most students or travellers that go abroad have to go through... Gathered by Dr. Bruce LaBrack.

I suppose this post is more of a warning for future ICPs... YES you will have the most fantasmic time of your life, but just make sure that you have a great friend-system waiting back hoe for you that can lend you notes on the classes you've missed and consider greatly how much catching up you will have to do when you get back.

(This also is a warning that I may have some inconsistent timing with my posts but I promise to be diligent none-the-less now that Creative.Dunning has so many wonderful and well loved supporters.)