July 16, 2005
New York Trip 2
Thursday was my big interview day. I had a 10:30 appointment to meet with a vice president at a major media company, and to go around to a couple of interviews he had set up in various departments.
After doing a check in similar to the airport (showing my id and x-raying my bags) I went upstairs where I was met with great hospitality as the vp's assistant was waiting for me at the door and led me to the office of another vp, the first one's 'deputy' in the department, and waited for another meeting to end so I could meet him.
From first to last, everyone was as nice as can be, and I ended up meeting with a total of 8 people plus 2 assistants, which I would take as a good sign. Some of the people I met weren't in the design area at all, but it was good networking and they gave me a good idea of the workings of the company.
In the interactive area, I was only supposed to meet with one senior art director, and not even sure I would be showing my portfolio. Well, he ended up asking to see my book, and was so enthusiastic about my work, he told me he would love to have me on their team (because this is a big company, they may not have a full-time opening immediately, but they do have open projects coming up). He then took me to meet his boss in between meetings, and then she took me to see another senior art director.
After a short lunch break, I also got taken to the designer who handles all internal design requests from the company's internal website to posters and other promotional items. She was equally enthusiastic as the first art director I saw in interactive and, although she has no hiring power within the company, took my resume and said she'd be sure to refer freelance work my way.
Finally I got to meet the man who had set up the day for me. He's a friend of the family, and was really really nice. We chatted for a bit and he said he would gather feedback from the people I met and get back to me.
Even if I don't end up working there, it proved one really important thing for me. I knew I had a strong portfolio for the Cleveland market, but now I know that even in New York my work can hold its own. |
After doing a check in similar to the airport (showing my id and x-raying my bags) I went upstairs where I was met with great hospitality as the vp's assistant was waiting for me at the door and led me to the office of another vp, the first one's 'deputy' in the department, and waited for another meeting to end so I could meet him.
From first to last, everyone was as nice as can be, and I ended up meeting with a total of 8 people plus 2 assistants, which I would take as a good sign. Some of the people I met weren't in the design area at all, but it was good networking and they gave me a good idea of the workings of the company.
In the interactive area, I was only supposed to meet with one senior art director, and not even sure I would be showing my portfolio. Well, he ended up asking to see my book, and was so enthusiastic about my work, he told me he would love to have me on their team (because this is a big company, they may not have a full-time opening immediately, but they do have open projects coming up). He then took me to meet his boss in between meetings, and then she took me to see another senior art director.
After a short lunch break, I also got taken to the designer who handles all internal design requests from the company's internal website to posters and other promotional items. She was equally enthusiastic as the first art director I saw in interactive and, although she has no hiring power within the company, took my resume and said she'd be sure to refer freelance work my way.
Finally I got to meet the man who had set up the day for me. He's a friend of the family, and was really really nice. We chatted for a bit and he said he would gather feedback from the people I met and get back to me.
Even if I don't end up working there, it proved one really important thing for me. I knew I had a strong portfolio for the Cleveland market, but now I know that even in New York my work can hold its own. |