Dream Agency Dream Job

I'm really interested in working for a nonprofit organization as a Public Relations or Communications Specialist. My absolute dream job is to work for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenessee in their ALSAC (American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities) Division as a Communication and Events Specialist. Professionals in this position help to plan, organize and implement fundraising strategies for the organization and relay information about fundraisers, news and events put on by the hospital. 

I've applied for jobs with St. Jude before, but it's a difficult organization to break into, even if you have connections who work there. Something I've found through my job search experience is that nonprofits in general are difficult to get into, but once you know people in the field and are able to land your first nonprofit job, it's easier to move around within the nonprofit world. My plan to get to this particular position is to spend a large amount of time over the next few months networking and getting to know employees and executives at local nonprofit organizations, and hopefully I'll be able find a job within one of those local nonprofits. After that, I plan to work my way up from small local nonprofit organizations to larger, national organizations until I eventually find my way to a job at St. Jude. If all goes according to plan, I would like to be working with St. Jude within the next six to eight years. 

Interestingly enough, my dream job has evolved within the last few weeks. Before I would have answered with the goal of working at a full-service agency in a large city within their strategy department. Now, I see myself looking to work at a mid-size agency focusing more specifically on branding. I really enjoy getting to see a project evolve from start to finish and being able to directly engage with the client. I would like to lead a team of creatives (yes, I know it can be a struggle but I embrace the challenge), create pertinent brands to today's society, and solve problems within the digital and creative world. 

I have recently started doing a little bit of freelance work that is focused on brand communications and digital management. I have learned a lot working at a small agency and I am now working on implementing the things I have learned into a different realm, with my own twist. My goal is that I will graduate with 2.5 years of agency work and be able to start in a middle level position as a decision maker and strategist. From there, honestly—own my own agency. 

When I think of the ultimate place I would want to work, I imagine companies such as McCann, Ogilvy & Mather, Campbell Ewald, Leo Burnett, Wieden+Kennedy, GTB, or Golin. While I wouldn't mind working in Metro Detroit, I think the best thing for me is to move to a new location. I would love to work in Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Ideally, I see myself in a full-service advertising agency and a part of a Creative or PR Team. I want to work my way up to be a Creative Director or Public Relations Director. Last semester, I switched my concentration to creative advertising and it put me a little behind. Now, I have finally solidified my major and two minors (PR & graphic design). To prepare myself in college, I think the two important things I need to keep up are (1) updating my portfolio website & resume, and (2) applying for leadership positions and internships. After college, I could see myself moving to Atlanta and working with my Aunt. She attended MSU as an advertising major and is now the Director of Creative Services at Frederick Swanston, a medium-sized advertising agency. I believe the best way to become a Director is to be open for anything, no matter how big or small the task. Learning never ends once you're out of school. Ideally, I would want to be knowledgeable in many, if not, all areas of an advertising agency. I know I will have to start small, something like a Social Media Intern. Whatever the job, it will be a start to a long journey. This reminds me of the current McCann Detroit Creative Director; she is a graduate of my high school. On Career Day, I got to speak with her about her profession. Something that resonated with me is when she said "I used to volunteer to go to different countries for [advertising] work when I just started. Whenever I came back, there were always more people working for me." I love her mentality of hustling and taking every opportunity that is presented. I realized that is the method for getting what I want. 

Actually, I do not have specific dream company or agency to work. I just want to choose my dream city and with all my friends be together. I like NYC. I want to work at NYC, even it do not have high salary, it crowded. I still love there. It let me feel modern, fresh and work harder. I like people who work and live there. They all lay emphasis on their outlook. They pay attention to their life style. They are busy and happy. I prefer to work on fashion this industry. I dream that I can live with my friend, and we hang out during weekend. Otherwise we cook at home, we eat subway, we work, we are busy. I enjoy that life so much

I'm looking forward to get a job with an agency that's related to the sports industry. The ideal/perfect starting job would be a copywriter at Nike, Inc. Who has been doing hack of a job in terms of throwing timeliness ads like the Cristiano one and the Kevin Durant one after both sports' final match finished. These are impressive and their own business culture has been on point. If I could get a job in the state (I am not domestic), then it would be in Beaverton, Oregon where its headquarter at.

On the other hand, going back to China(Where I was born) would be more realistic in terms of working at home. Also these sports brands like NikeChina or AddiasChina are doing the similar job compare to where they are originally from. And the other ones like Warrior Sports and UnderArmour are recruting talents to open up their Chinese market. Being on any of these companies' advertising team and planning strategries based with different surroundings and policies would be interested and challenged. That is being placed at a fast-pace developing country like China brings to you, upcoming oppotunities and endless advantures, hopefully they would turn out the good way. 

The agency that I have always wanted to work for is McCann in NYC as an account manager. Because McCann is such a prestigious and world-renowned agency, it will be extremely difficult securing an internship or entry-level job. I plan on landing this job by developing my advertising/marketing skills and also interviewing skills to land an internship in the Fall or Spring at McCann Detroit. McCann Detroit is a regional agency under McCann and focuses on local clients such as General Motors and MGM Grand. Securing an internship at McCann Detroit would allow me to network and leverage myself into consideration for an open position at McCann NYC, hopefully. 

My dream work agency is Airbnb and my dream job is UI/UX designer. As a student majoring in Human Computer Interaction, I would like to design and develop application, website or wearable device for users who are chasing healthy and fun lifestyle. I love the design styles and philosophies of Airbnb so much. There is a fabulous office located in Bay area. For chasing my dream, I would love to finish my master degree first and find an entry-level job in UI/UX industry.

My dream agency job would be working as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Air Force. To achieve this goal I am currently in the ROTC program here at MSU with intent to comission as an officer after next spring semester. It is required that they have an advertising or public affairs degree which is perfect for me as an advertising major. Essentially they are the link between the military and the public and often have the job of explaining what it is the military is doing in terms that the public will be able to comprehend. Another aspect of this job is dealing with the possible negative publicity caused after an incident with troops. If I do not land this job out of college then I plan on crossing over after 4 years to the career field while still being in the Air Force (basically you can get a new job after you have completed your time in the one you are originally assigned). This will allow me to eventually retire from the Air Force and have good job experience when looking for first civilian job.

Personally, I think it depends on what happens this upcoming year. I would like to look for a full-time position with an agency like Campbell-Ewald or another agency in Detroit. However, I could see myself working for the Detroit Pistons or another NBA franchise after college. I think I could also see myself in Baltimore or Oregon with Under Armour/Adidas. A lot depends on, obviously, the offers on the table by the end of the year and if I get another great internship at the end of my senior year. 

If I got a position with Under Armour or Adidas, ideally I would work in Oregon or Maryland for either company. I think I would want to work in their advertising/marketing/events teams that interact with their clients (pro teams, college teams, athletes, etc.). Since they are uber competitive jobs, I think taking an internship with either company and impress them through an internal level and attempt to secure a job through that avenue. That's the current plan and I do have a couple of professional connections with Under Armour so I could leverage them in the future. If not the plan is to use my connections with the Pistons and try and secure a position with their marketing team. 

Like I said, this last year of my undergraduate degree will be an interesting year because my future is still, kind of, in the air.

Personally, I have always wanted to work for Campbell Ewald in Detroit, MI. Although they are an older agency, I have always admired their work and the atmosphere seems so down to earth. I grew up close to the Detroit area and as they begin to make advances within the city, I have dreamed of living and working down there once I get out of school.  Ideally, I would love to work at the agency as an account executive, helping clients develop strategies and successfully implementing key projects. The question of how I am going to land this job has yet to be answered. My plan, for now, is to successfully get through school and then apply to the agency with high hopes that they find me to be interesting and creative. If that plan doesn't work out well for me, I will try to apply to other big advertising agencies in big cities such as Chicago or New York. 

To be honest I don't have an over the top dream to fantasize about. I'm pretty much open to working any where in the country, while it would be cool to work somewhere like NYC or San Francisco. I think I fit well in sales & marketing so my focus right now is in those fields but I would like better my skills in all aspects of advertising. Big ad agencies like Epsilon or Omnicom Group are great companies that I could stive to work for one day. 

I would like to work for a big advertising agency such as WPP and Publicis. These are advertising giants who own a variety of agencies and provide every kind of advertising services one can think of. I would like to spend some time trying out different positions at the agency. The first area I would like to try is Search Engine Optimization. Online marketing is both present and the future of advertising. I have been taking a couple of SEO classes on Lynda.com and Udemy in order to prepare myself for the exciting field.