Why job hunting is like dating – memoir of an unemployed creative
I recently walked away from a long term relationship with an agency that was just not going anywhere; we had outgrown each other and wanted different things.
We are still friends – and just like normal breakups, find ourselves occasionally hooking up for a quickie when the need strikes on the odd project. But I realised it wasn’t healthy and both parties needed to move on.
Desperate on deadline – freelance and fancy free
Freelancing is no better than being a friend with benefits. You get that booty call late on a Friday – R U free ASAP.
Freelance is BAD BAD BAD for your reputation and for the soul. Hooking up with lots of different agencies won’t get you that long-term relationship – why buy the cow when you can get the milk?
And soon as they have achieved deadline you are out the door faster than you can say ‘wham bam thank you ma’am’.
It was a sad realisation that you won’t find “the One” freelancing – just like you won’t find “the One” picking up at the end of a boozy night.
The first date and possibly the last…
The interview is very much like a first date. All best underwear, full makeup and nervous laughs at bad jokes.
Picture this – a friend sets you up with a prospective hot shop. You get on really well. They allude to a future together, how perfect you are, that they would love to see you again. That they will be in touch…
And you wait, and wait some more. You check your mail, you send yourself a test mail. Should you call? Will you seem too desperate… a bunny boiler?
There is only one thing to do – cyberstalk. Maybe they are on deadline – or just dead. You check out their Twitter – just in case… Are they reported boned on Mumbrella?
Then you accept you are still on the shelf (with a fast encroaching used by date). So pick yourself up, brush yourself off and get back in the game.
LinkedIn – Facebook for the two faced
LinkedIn has proven to be an all time dud in terms of looking for that elusive long-term relationship. Interesting who links with whom – the ultimate corporate whoring. Apparently loathing doesn’t preclude linking.
And as for updating to show you have separated from your last agency – well you might as well update your profile to “loser”.
By Nicola Gold – a creative director playing in the brand experience space.
She is currently casually dating a number of hot job prospects – but still looking for “the One”.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
Linkedin
fun read…ok i have to ask, what is a bunny boiler?
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fun read…ok i have to ask, what is a bunny boiler?
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Hey, Gregg: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_boiler
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Agencies shallow?
Freelancing is like speed dating. Only 1 in 10 floats your boat. Its a numbers game so I hope that job 10 is what you’re looking for Nicola.
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Dearest Nicola,
You little bunny, are you brushing your teeth?
Apply 3g of toothpaste to a soft moist brush. Begin circling in an anti-clockwise direction in the shower. Pay attention to the tongue, scraping the saliva off.
Do this morning and night. This should get you laid/work.
Best Regards,
Frank.
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The dating analogy is good and I’m sure everyone gets it. Bunny boiler I get but what on earth is the brand experience space.
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Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I thought “Playing in the Brand Experience space” meant using editorial to develop her “personal brand”, get noticed and perhaps land an interview/date or two.
Yeah, I’m probably reading too much into it. 🙂
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no, she means she helps companies figure out how to communicate better with the customer base, improve the user experience and so on.
Stuff like advising Pepsi to drop their $20million super bowl ad and use it for developing social media channels instead.
–says the guy who didn’t know what a bunny boiler was. btw, is there a male version?
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I came to a similar conclusion when I lost my job in the middle of last year. I shared my perspective on my blog…http://girlredundant.wordpress.com
under the entry titled ‘It’s a match!’
Love your take on it.
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Nicola, I did the same in (believe it or not) 1981 when I left a large multinational Ad Agency as a CD. From experience; freelance is only hard if you allow yourself to be viewed as a ‘commodity’ when it comes to gaining projects/campaigns. I was lucky, moving into another CD role pretty quickly and then, for broader experience, to freelancing which I did for some seven years – exploring new avenues such as corporate relations, marcomms and even video production. This eventually saw me using all that I had experienced by applying it to PR – not your ‘coverage for the sake of coverage’ PR, but meaningful and more holistic communications to achieve real and measurable business goals. Anyway, a good read that brought back many memories – so thanks, and good luck. And remember, you don’t have to FIND ‘the one’, you can also MAKE it for yourself.
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Great analogy. Brought a smile to my face.
I hope you find the one.
Good luck
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Hey Nicola – Cracking read!
Worth checking out the site I’ve just beta launched called The Loop – http://www.theloop.com.au. In a nutshell – a career network for people in creative industries.
You could say it’s like the RSVP of the creative jobs market in that it matches creative talent directly with local employers.
By creating a FREE profile, you get your portfolio online and in front of the right people. And unlike LinkedIn it’s not about how many links you’ve managed to amass , but great content.
The site is spanking new, and we’d be grateful for any feedback, otherwise – go nuts, and enjoy The Loop matchmaking experience.
Fingers crossed you find the ONE!
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