This open letter was submitted by Jenavi Kasper, who recently resigned as an intern at one of the large local ad agencies:
Dear Local Advertising Agency Named After the Founders,
Well, it’s been one heck of a time interning over at your super-cool office. The Friday in-house happy hour was a great touch. When I landed the internship at your place I was excited. Working downtown in a hip office, getting some experience in the industry and the free beer is what lured me in. It sounded like a dream! And I have to say, when I told people where I was interning they were pretty impressed.
But you guys dropped the ball (figuratively of course). Come to think of it, while I was there I never did see anyone start the pick-up game of basketball I was expecting to break out at any moment–but maybe I was tainted by the YouTube video. (What good is the basketball hoop in the office if nobody uses it?)
I would be crazy to leave, right? Even if it was an unpaid internship it’s still a resumè builder.
But, if you can believe it, I left this experience disappointed.
Maybe that’s my fault. I had unrealistic expectations. I thought that interning would allow me to use my brain and maybe, just maybe, apply some of what I spent four years learning. But you proved me wrong. You have snatched my naiveté like a pillowcase filled with candy on Halloween.
The funny thing is, I didn’t get it right away. When you assigned me to organize the pens by color on my first day I didn’t worry much about it. When you asked me to drop off DVDs to your client’s office, I didn’t think twice (though I wasn’t paid for gas). I didn’t even mind when you asked me to help you move binders out of your office.
But it started to get old fast. When “helping with projections” meant reading you numbers off a spreadsheet I became a little discouraged. When “working with scripts” meant retyping scripts I was bummed. It was especially painful when I spent all morning cleaning out an office for the new girl while you guys took off to Starbucks.
It wasn’t all bad. You did let me go to that commercial shoot, which was fun, and it was great to be able to sit in on a couple of meetings. But there are some things you should keep in mind before you bring in my replacement:
Remember, we are ADVERTISING students. That stuff you do for your clients to get the word out, the get the brand promise out to the target audience, we know how to do that too. We also know those Jedi mind tricks.
We want to learn as much about the business as possible and if you can’t provide that training we will find someplace else that will. That place might be your competition.
Or heck, we’ll freelance and become your competition.
So be careful. You don’t want to end up being called out on a blog, do you?
Yours Truly,
The Intern
If you’re looking for someone capable of something a bit more subtle than sorting pens, you can reach Jenavi on Facebook and Twitter, or by e-mail at jenavikasper@yahoo.com.
I agree with grr. Can’t believe I wasted 5 minutes on such a whiny rant. I’ve jotted the name down to add to my black list in case I ever see her resume come across my desk. Exactly the attitude I don’t want in my shop. Doesn’t matter if she’s right or wrong. Attitude is everything.
Jenavi,
As a recent grad myself, I very much understand your desire to prove yourself through non-menial labor.
That said, have you ever heard of the ‘entitlement generation’? Yeah, well we’re it. And you’re why.
Unfortunately for us, our attitudes in performing menial tasks is our new employers’ easiest and quickest test of character. Why don’t you “show them what you can do” by first going above and beyond in these tasks?
“You wanted the pens organized by color? Well I also categorized them by increasing tip size, with felt-tip markers at the end. Plus, I labeled everything so that everyone in the office can see that there’s a new system in place.”
Smile smile smile, and humbly let your supervisor know that you’d welcome the chance to read over their most recent creative briefs while they’re at Starbucks. Because “you like to keep busy.” Or better yet, go to Starbucks too. Like many who’ve commented on your letter before me, it’s all about making relationships with the people you want to either recommend you or actually begin paying you later on.
So besides your attitude, the thing that shocked me most when I read your letter was that you’re experience was with MA. MA was my very first internship, and since then I’ve had four more with agencies across Los Angeles. I hate to break it to you, but MA remains the best internship experience I’ve ever had. Yeah, I had to run errands, but my work also appeared in print.
Best advice: don’t drag out your menial work because you hate it. Finish it extremely fast, put a little bow on top and present it to your supervisor, then ask for more. You’re bound to impress someone, if you’re likable.
I interned at the same place about 3 years ago… fun huh? haha
I think James should hire Jenavi
[...] Intern’s naive post bad news for ad agency, worse for her July 2, 2009 Jenavi Kasper has no fear of being hired by me. Not after what she did to a Phoenix advertising agency who offered her an unpaid internship. For their trouble (and it can be a lot of trouble) they got slammed hard in a blog post. [...]
James,
If your advice to Jenavi was that she should share this experience publicly, rather than that she should change her attitude, I sincerely hope she never listens to you again.
Sure, we all think we can change the world when we’re 20. But she shows here just how ill prepared she is for the marketing world.
Question, James: Have you hired her? Would you be comfortable doing so?
If your answer to either of the above is yes, well, good luck.
Lol. I agree. James should hire her. Especially since he helped ruin her career.
I saw these two stories and thought of this situation–
An interview with the head of DailyCandy:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/business/31corner.html
And a story about the special assistant to David Axlerod, Obama’s senior advisor. This kid was a high achiever, graduated from Harvard, and worked on the Obama campaign as the person in charge of making sure the luggage got to the right place. He was so dedicated to that task and executed it so well, he quickly moved up quickly and got a spot in the White House:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/fashion/14lesser.html
Often, I’ve found interns have the time and fresh perspective to make things work better around the office, even if they seem menial. We have an intern that took it upon herself to send out conference reports with links to stories mentioned after our all-staff meeting. Should have been happening all along, but no one had really thought about it because we’re busy doing other things. She took the initiative to do it and instantly impressed the higher ups, leading to more interesting projects.
Honey, your attitude sucks and will get you nowhere.
“Someone is trying to break that cycle. Someone’s trying to say that maybe there’s another, perhaps better, way to learn advertising. She’s stepping on some toes by saying so, but she’s also willing to do something that 99% of other marketers aren’t — stand up, stand out, and stand for something.” Agreed James.
Getting a dialogue going is the most important outcome of her letter.
On another note, I believe the common-place unpaid internship isn’t particularly good preparation for the sought-after real-life job. True, it’s important to pay your dues as an intern, but I think paying your dues should include realistic job experiences. And if that means students need to skip the “big agency” internship for a smaller, paid mentorship, so be it. “Big agencies” may never learn their lesson — students will always apply for a name on a resume — but maybe employers will start to realize *that* unpaid internship (three months of organizing pens and picking up cigarette butts) probably didn’t prepare the applicant for the real-life job they are applying for.
It is great that there is a place like this for creative and marketing people to express themselves, but with that said, it is a close-knit community and negativity has its repercussions. I think that getting an internship with a highly regarded agency like you did is a huge resume builder and great place to start your career. It’s also great that you got to sit in on a commercial shoot as well. I wish starting out as an intern/low level graphic designer was easier that the reality, but it is the way it goes. I think part of the problem lies within the schools; when it is time for graduation they tell us it is easy to get a great job and make 40k a year right out of college. Some imply we are entitled to working on large projects and making more money. Sorry that you feel so jaded, it’s simply part of the process as we all have to start somewhere. Good Luck!
Well at least James got to exploit this girl, so that he can mention his “small agency” and let everyone know that social media is a powerful tool ha.
I’m pretty sure discussions can be started about internships (the good, the bad, the ugly) without having done it in this particular …’method’. That is why people are responding in such a way, not because someone questioned why interns organize pens and how much it prepares someone for a career. It’s like driving a car into a brick wall and arguing it was just to prove how crappy the brakes were. There just wasn’t a lot of creativity, nuance, tact, class, etc. Needless to say, it is highly entertaining, and my guilt over that is resolved by reading the letter again.
Asciidan: Yeah, I’d totally hire Jenavi. I’ve talked with her a number of times and found her to be a genuinely remarkable individual, and the kind of person who’d fit really well at our firm. (The only reason we haven’t brought her on is that we don’t have the work to keep her busy at the moment, and we want to make sure she has a position where she can actually do something.)
“grr”: Trust me, our agency’s not going to be getting any business because I stuck my neck out like this. I expect our reputation (and my own) will take a hit from it. And I’m okay with that.
Having myself recently upset some of Phoenix’s Old Guard, I applaud your ability to speak up about something that’s bothering you. Whether you are right or wrong in your idea of what an internship should be, you’ll learn more about yourself, the people you worked with, and the way the community views itself by saying something about it, than by sitting idly and chatting with people in private. Maybe obscuring the fact that it was at MA would’ve been a better idea, but too late for that.
This IS a small community of people in Phoenix and you’re bound to offend someone, no matter what you say, or how you say it.
Don’t be disheartened by some of the “Laughing” people here, you will be fine. Your career isn’t over. And you probably don’t want to work for Tyler anyway
I know Jenavi personally and would hire her without question…. not in spite of this, but because of it. This proves her to be a very strong, independent woman. Sure, she may have some experience to gain, but don’t chastise someone for trying to change what she views as a problem with the industry. She did the agency in reference diligence by not only stating what her menial tasks were, but also mentioning the good ones (the shoot, etc). The people who are commenting negatively, are probably bitter because they have interns doing crap work themselves.
Go get ‘em Jen!
Greetings from Chicago! This thread was so interesting I actually read each response. Thanks to all for your contributions.
By now you probably know that this post was picked by Ragan and emailed to thousands of communicators across the country/world. Amazing how small the world is getting.
My response is about three things: competition, paying dues, and community.
Competition – Let’s not sugarcoat this:
Communications careers are popular because what we do is FUN. The downside is that in a bad economy we’re the first budgets and heads to get cut. Recruiters are currently getting 700+ resumes for each marketing/PR/strategy posting right now from great people who are out of work. High levels of competition mean that people in our discipline have to suck it up and deal with things we don’t like so we can build our individual reputations and do what we want in the future.
Can we talk generational differences for a moment? I know that millennials are purported to be the next change-makers of industry. We’re being told to coddle them, tell them they’re awesome every day, tell them that they’re truly contributing to the big picture… Bunk. We all need to pay our dues.
Those who stand out in a way that builds respect, relationships, and reputation will be RECRUITED. This fact will not change.
Paying Dues – The big reason interns don’t get responsibility?
They don’t know what they don’t know. I’ve given plenty of learning projects to interns and rookies (with lots of support and plenty of direction). Frankly the results generally lack depth needed to serve the organization. Interns and rookies don’t know how to develop pragmatic programs, make decisions, or execute yet. These are things colleges don’t teach and that new professionals must learn by being a sponge, by being humble, by asking to observe, by starting small, by earning trust.
As a baseline: It takes at least 6 months of working for a company and asking great questions before you understand enough to make decent decisions.
Community:
While I appreciate the conversation Jenavi started and humility shown in a later post – I wholeheartedly agree that the relationships garnered throughout a career are the big lesson here. The post could have been written about merely the facts and about the big picture issue itself. Instead the post was personal and probably highly insulting to the people she worked for even though they weren’t named.
In business in general we need to remember to remove emotion from our decision-making – especially as female professionals. Both Jenavi’s decision to leave as well as the way her blog entry was written (while creative) appear emotional. Whether they were or not is irrelevant – perception is reality. Leave emotions and venting at home or over martinis with close friends.
As we’ve heard through this thread and by virtue of the fact that I’m writing this from Chicago – we live in a small community – so be kind.
Cheers!
Ms. Kasper:
Don’t let all the comments freak you. You just happened to have the incredible misfortune to post on a site with a readership that overwhelmingly 1) never makes mistakes, and 2) never follows bad advice.
After having everything rehashed a few times, I would guess you pretty much understand how to handle yourself the next time you face a similar situation. But please know this: anybody who says they would never hire you based on one mistake during your first internship probably isn’t someone you want to work with anyway.
I know for a fact that if this happened at a different agency and you subsequently interviewed at Moses Anshell, they would give you a chance. I myself would hire you if the interviews went well, albeit with some sort of trial period. Of course, the first thing I would ask you to do is pick up some DVDs, just to see how you’d handle it.
Now, let’s ask ourselves: is there anything that can be done to rectify your situation at this point? I can think of two things. First, I propose you pull a George Costanza. Meaning you show up bright and early Monday morning with a bag of bagels for the status meeting and plead ignorance. (If it doesn’t work I’ll reimburse you for the bagels.) When somebody asks you what’s going on you look puzzled. When somebody says hey you quit you tell them no I didn’t quit. You didn’t walk out at all. There must be some misunderstanding. The open letter posted on the Phoenix Ad Blog with all the comments?
That brings us to the second step. I propose the powers that be at the Phoenix Ad Blog experience a computer glitch and delete your open letter and all of these comments over the weekend or sometime next week Yes, everything lives forever on the Internet, but it certainly couldn’t hurt. And it certainly can be done.
What do I mean by that? Witness the Ignite Phoenix post in the June archives of this blog. All the comments by Ms. Stearns, Mr. Archer and myself have been deleted by some mysterious computer glitch. If all those comments can be deleted for whatever reason, surely we can all pretend that Ms. Kasper’s open letter and the pile on that followed never took place. She’s a student just out of school. Moses Anshell is getting a bum rap due to bum advice. She didn’t know everything the first time out. Moses Anshell doesn’t need the aggravation. She doesn’t need a bunch of tight a&&e& telling her this incident isn’t going to look good on her permanent record. I for one hate it when they say that.
Who among us hasn’t lashed out in a fit of frustration or anger only to realize afterward that it might not have been the wisest choice at the time? Heck, I have to be talked down several times a month from my much calmer and often more compassionate co-workers, from saying something I would surely regret 10 minutes or 10 days later.
But, I also have to add that paying ones dues is all part of the growth. I think back over all the ridiculous and menial things I’ve had to do during my working history and realize only now, as an owner of my own biz, these experiences not only help build character, but also a foundation to become a solid team player and even leader later in life.
I’ve never had an “unpaid” position, other than volunteer work for non-profits I’ve been involved with over the year, so I can’t say that as a young, “going to conquer the world” 20 year old I wouldn’t have made the same poor choice. I probably would have and most definitely have made worse decisions. We each have to learn our lessons for ourselves. Some harder than others, but hopefully we come away from each one a bit wiser and stronger.
Now, having said all that, I must respond to a client that I most likely offended earlier while trying to collect a past due invoice. (Luckily over the years I’ve acquired that ability to turn on the charm)
William,
Your Ignite comments – as well as those from Ms. Stearns and Mr. Archer – are alive and well:
http://phxadblog.com/2009/06/ignite-phoenix-tempe-this-tuesday/
You may have clicked the Event entry for Ignite, which does have 0 comments. While Event entries don’t populate on the home page of the Ad Blog, they do show in the Archives. Pardon the confusion.
[...] some people think they’re bigger and better than they are and go and do something like this: This open letter was submitted by Jenavi Kasper, who recently resigned as an intern at one of the [...]
Wow. I think this young lady made a huge mistake. Not by speaking out about her experience, but by abandoning the internship. What did you think was going to happen? You have to pay your dues. You have to prove yourself, even if that means organizing the pens. Be the best damn pen organizer there is. If you couldn’t tough it out to finish the internship, you might want to consider whether this is the right industry for you. You’re a recent grad, while talented I’m sure there is a right of passage. Try to fill the void your ego is feeling by pursuing creative tasks outside the office. Toughen up chica. But be your best no matter the task and do it with grace. Best of luck on your new endeavors.
We’ve all got to start at the bottom in the ad agency business especially in Phoenix. There are several informative books available for any recent grad that discusses the less glamorous aspect of starting at the bottom. At the end of the day, employment is a two way street where both parties should feel respected.
Moses is one of the most solid shops in Phoenix, I’m glad they snatched your pillowcase filled with candy, hopefully they share it with someone with much more integrity.
I have been in the business world for 25 years and we have hired and fired a variety of young people. The most successful individuals are those that are willing to take risks. So many people toil in jobs they hate for years and years only to take their misery out on the young and innovative. Many are willing to complain around the water cooler but not to the people that matter. I applaud the courage and ambition of Ms. Kasper to rise above the mundane and disengaged employees at her internship to pursue a greater purpose. She is the voice of her generation, they are highly motivated, technically savy and creative individuals and deserve much more respect then they receive. I predict Ms. Kasper will own and run her own Agency someday and the issues she raised in her BLOG will be history. You Go Girl.
I think we’re missing the steamship cruiser here. While I could easily say that this was a relatively bad move on the part of the blogger, borne out of a generations insidious feelings of entitlement (and I’m aware, Ms. Blogger, you don’t see it that way, so trust some older folk that its pretty much what it is) I instead think substantial blame here lies in the lap of Mr. Archer (who, I should note I quite like on a person to person basis and will hopefully not take this post personally).
As pros, I believe we have a responsibility to the noobs. While happy to impart my opinions on my interns, I am always careful not to rally them to an action to service my agendas. I share my opinions, AND counter opinions. This isn’t about getting them to do what I think, its about helping them attain the reasoning to make decisions on their own. (FYI, Ms. Blogger, those are the kind of skills I teach my interns. How to work for other people, how to interact with clients, how to make decisions, etc… not how to lay out a page. trust me, the former is FAR more important and on some level, what MA was trying to impart and part of the point of grunt work).
Mr. Archer, being a reasonably intelligent dude, I’m sure has the foresight to know this could turn out poorly and in my opinion, shouldn’t have counseled this ex-intern to take this action. I’m pretty sure Ms. Blogger is feeling that way too about now. When you have a level of experience, you have the liberty to be a little fast and loose with your words (as I am now). Its a liberty that you don’t really have at 20. Nor, frankly, should you.
What?????? NO KNOCKOUT? Absolutely shameful!
Amanda: No hard feelings. I appreciate your comments.
I can’t speak for Jenavi, but I think the perception that this “turned out poorly” is way overblown. There’s been a *lot* of behind-the-scenes conversation about this blog post that has been very positive, and I’m absolutely certain that she’s going to have a very solid career in the industry.
Nobody seems to recognize the most depressing/realistic product of this article: a scorn narcissist who inevitably works on the client side where her opinions aren’t challenged (at least not by us mid-level workers). I’ll probably end up working inderectly for her, where my days are spent arguing over ridiculous revisions and my nights are spent wheeping over a carafe of Southern Comfort…or JD…or Mad Dog depending on the night.
My recommendation is to tell her she’s right, hire her on, then include her in a three part trade featuring an AE, a writer and the Laker’s Pau Gassal.
When did professionals in this industry become so thinned skinned? We should invite, even embrace criticism; at least we should learn from criticism. This is what we do, is it not?
This industry is full of antiquated institutional practices. We hide behind clichés like, “pay your dues”, “it’s a small world”, “suck it up”, “be kind”, “black listed”, and personal favorite, “stay emotionally detached”. (I know a number of “former” superstars that are emotionally attached to their severance packages). All clichés have a modicum of truth but most people miss the obvious and adhere to the implied. To spew them like a mantra demonstrates how on target the posted comments are to the overly sensitive egos of an industry in the upheavals of change. In a world that views us in the same category of necessary evils as insurance agents and lawyers, it is we, the industry that could use some positive PR. What better PR than to support and encourage new professionals?
I spent over twenty-five years in the industry working in television, print, and on the web. I have been very successful in predicting and capitalizing on trends. I continue to work as a consultant and my advice to this industry; bury your sacred cows.
I spend most of my time now teaching as a college professor. I do not teach them to be timid “yes” people that sell their values for a piece of molded pie. I also don’t teach my students to work for free. There must be compensation. Please don’t say that the potential compensation might be a position or a reference. Those days are long gone and most of us know this. Rare is the intern position turned to job scenario. Seasoned professionals can barely find a job let alone a newbie and that has been true for a few years. I don’t deny the value of a good intern experience or the need for humility and determination from interns, but I question the overall integrity of the practice. I am asked on a weekly basis for interns…why? Many agencies are cutting costs and interns seem to make perfect gofers.
Perhaps agencies should have to compete for interns rather than the other way around. If they can’t offer pay, the least they can do is offer professional development. In fact, I only recommend my students to agencies that do just that.
We need the best, the brightest, and the bravest. Do not confuse the stereotyped “overly coddled” with the tired of status quo and ready for change. After all, these young professionals volunteer to learn from us. Since we seem stuck in the past, let’s revive ideas like “mentoring” and “apprenticeship”, and replace the ideas of “earn your stripes” and “do as I say, not as I do”. We as an industry must adapt, we cannot always expect others to adapt.
Good luck Jenavi, don’t believe the BS. There are few things more personal and emotional than one’s pursuits, only you know what is best for you. I wouldn’t worry too much about being “black listed”; only those without any real success emit such nonsense.
DnA: You must be a college professor at Collins College? Because of people like you teaching students to be empowered and other BS is why Jenavi will have problems finding the job she thinks she deserves! Very sad!
I’ve been waiting on an excellent case study for Gen-Y to learn the lesson to not burn bridges. Good luck getting a job, J.
I would hire someone like Jenavi. Why? Because she is interested in doing the actual work, not wasteful make-work nonsense. She’s the kind of person I want working around me! Someone who demands to learn the business and do their fair share of the work the company needs getting done!
I’m sorry DnA, but your opinions don’t mean much when they are made anonymously. Perhaps you too are worried of retribution by sticking your neck out? Seems that’s far worse than anything Jenavi did. At least she signed her name.
Diana Prince – what blog? Far as I can tell she has a blogspot with two posts.
Just like with other entry level employees, interns that are hungry and want it bad enough will rise to the top and they’ll get their shot when the time is right. The intern that takes pride in organizing those pens and then asks what’s next is the one I would ultimately start to assign some ‘real’ work to. The clock punchers and the inept will simply fade away to allow the next wave to have their chance.
Jenavi is the very reason I no longer offer internships – too many kids coming in with a misplaced sense of entitlement that I simply don’t have the time or the energy to deal with. I don’t look at interns as free labor, but a student who is there to learn the business and near as I can tell that learning process still starts at the bottom.
Hmm. Interesting. I can see both sides of this. I’m not so old that I don’t remember the crappy — CRAPPY — internships I had. But I also remember that I stuck them out for the summer or the semester or however long they lasted.
When I got a little older and in the ad business myself, a funny thing happened at a certain agency — twice they hired “interns” who were just the son of a boss or higher-up. It wasn’t a situation where the kid really knew what s/he wanted to do, it was just like a convenient place to put him/her or the summer, and NO ONE would take responsibility for him/her. I wasn’t a CD but I did take pity and as a result ended up with an intern in my meetings, concepting sessions, etc. until everyone involved wanted to scream — I include the intern in that equation.
Then a year or two later when I approached my boss about hiring a good, qualified intern from a local ad college, I was turned down — because in his experience, the interns never did anything worthwhile! *headdesk*
@tyler Where are your snide remarks for the 203840830498325 others mocking Jenavi’s choice to stir up discussion while hiding behind the anonymity of the internet? Let’s at least be fair here.
Not all interns are created equal, and there’s not much background information to go on with an intern.
There were a lot of internships when I started whose principal duties were making coffee. A lot of times the employer isn’t fully comfortable with the skill level of the intern, busywork will be assigned until some decision about “real work” is made.
If you “underperform” on the busy work, well, then… you’re probably not going to get any worthwhile assignments.
We all do busy work that is beneath our pay grade from time to time. Often that busy work keeps the lights on in one form or another, and sometimes it’s unnecessary. However, the busy work either needs to be done faithfully, or you need to show the initiative to find a way to eliminate the busy work.
i learned something powerful about the advertising business today. you cannot be honest with the baby boomers about thier coveted, outdated business model. you wonder why were losing as a business right now.
Good for you J – I’m impressed you had the guts to publish your feelings – and don’t worry about the “ol’ “good luck getting a job”, that is a comment from a very weak individual who is not quite sure about their own talent.
It’s tough when the skeletons come out of the closet to haunt those who live in the house, ain’t it.
Remember, all, you are role models whether you like or not. And now, thanks or not, to the Internet, you’ve been drawn and quartered.
Thanks, J.
Unfortunately as an agency owner who employs interns I run into this sense of entitlement far to often. Rather than rip this to shreds I’ll point out the two sentences that shed the most light on this girl’s absolute ignorance.
“Remember, we are ADVERTISING students. That stuff you do for your clients to get the word out, the get the brand promise out to the target audience, we know how to do that too. We also know those Jedi mind tricks.”
Really young lady? You could go toe to toe with the seasoned executives at that firm? Do you have case studies to prove that? I’m curious as to why you would even take an internship considering you clearly know everything all ready. I caution you that in creative professions, school supplies you with a decent stepping stone, but nothing cultivates creative, strategic thinking like experience – different brands, companies, industries. If you are able to secure a job and work your way through the ranks, I think it will be a humbling experience for you.
“Or heck, we’ll freelance and become your competition.”
Somehow I doubt the agency subject in your rant is shaking in it’s boots here.
I used to work for Louie at the unknown agency (any moron can clearly see it’s MA’s office by the pic). Unless things have changed, the interns get to LEARN about this retarded career we’ve chosen. Sure, an ACD or writer may throw some jobs as a test, but the ad is almost done and all we want to see is how you think.
Kitten, I blame your parents. All too often, with kids just out of school or almost done, the parents have coddled and insulated them from 2nd Place. “There are no losers. You’ll make 60 right out of school and show all the old-timers how its done.” Sweetie, we’ve all been there but for you to get mad and blog about your failed internship? WOW, you must have large pants to carry those huge balls.
One other thing to note, advertising is incestuous as fuck. I’d plan on relocating and hope to God this blog doesn’t make it to your next bosses Mac. WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER. ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
Good luck, Pumpkin.
scott nosenko
Its funny how Jenavi never mentions that she only interned for 6 days before resigning.
Tread your own path.
I never had an internship. Never sent our resumes. And I’m doing just fine. Internships aren’t for everyone. Resumes aren’t for everyone. Interviews aren’t for everyone. Those are traditional ways to land jobs. And for me I haven’t taken that path.
Create the path that best works for YOU.
Keep on keepin’ on.
Perhaps what this girl is describing is why there are ad agencies closing left and right? I’ve read a bunch of people on here mention the Gen-Y sense of entitlement–that door swings both ways, folks. Should she feel honored just by associating herself with this agency? If I were a client for this ad agency, I’d be totally outraged by what this girl is describing–is this how you’re spending the time and money of your clients? How many billable hours were spent at Starbucks? Do you as an advertising agency have so little to contribute to this girl’s education (which by hiring as an intern, you have committed yourself to contribute to in exchange for her work) that you’re having her organize pens by color? I’d be more worried about keeping your own jobs than about who you’re going to blacklist. Shame on you.
Kim, I just called out DnA about this, didn’t !?
And Kim Stearns is right, you pieces of crap that are hiding behind false names and anonymity are far, far worse than anything Jenavi did. Damn, at least she had the courage to put her name on her letter.
I hope I never work with any of you anonymous cowards.
And to Laughing…seriously dude? Don’t you WORK for Moses Anshell?
It looks to me like there were some opportunities presented to develop you classroom skills. When “helping with projection,” you could have taken note of what the numbers were, how they related to the project and maybe asked your supervisor a few questions after finishing the project. As for “working with scripts,” during you retype, you could have made a second copy, noted a few ideas of your own, and presented those to your boss. Internships are what you make of them. Seems like you passed on some opportunities to make the most of your time at MA.
You know, while most of you are debating whether or not she was right….. whether or not the agency was right….. or whatever else you are debating. I see this from a completely different perspective. This girl is a genius.
If in-fact the intern position was even real or not is completely immaterial. This girl has managed to connect with at least 97 people in in the field today…. and not just connect really… but become the center of the conversation. Bravo, Jenavi.
Thought about leaving a well-considered articulate comment like Steph, but this intern isn’t worth my time. You are an ARROGANT MORON who just tanked your career.