Scholarships, Anyone?

AAF Topeka is giving another great opportunity: a $1,000 scholarship.
Download the PDF here.

Volunteers, Anyone?

AAF Topeka is looking for students to help out next Saturday, January 26th, at the ADDY Awards in Topeka. There are two different shifts available, and they are the following:

Topeka ADDY Awards
- Washburn University Ballroom

8 students requested - Before the Event
(10 am – 4 pm)
• set up of stage
• layout of pieces
• set up of tables
• decorating

8 students requested - During Event
(5 pm - 11 pm)
• includes dinner and program
• 1960’s attire requested – formal
• piece pick-up and organization
• greeting

This is a great networking opportunity, and you get in for free (a $60 value)! You also get to see award-winning work from our district -- students and agencies.

Please contact Lydia 'Becker' Rodehorst if you're interested. Only a few places are available.

Summer Internships: How to Hit a Home-run

It's a week and a half before school starts. Soon we'll be getting back into the swing of things (pun not intended). Some of you may have been working on your portfolio or polishing your résumé, anticipating the internship you're wanting to fill this summer. Maybe some of you would rather mow lawns. If you're that person, here are a few tips. Good luck. If you're somewhat serious about this ad business, below are a few pointers from ad professionals on how to build your brand and get that summer dream job.

First - Where to Start
Here are a list of companies willing to take you in for a few months. If there's an agency you're interested in that's not listed, visit their Web site or give them a call and find out.

Some agencies, for example, Barkley* and Bernstein-Rein, have creative assignments for you to have fun with. Along with that, your portfolio needs to be great too.

Second - Building Your Brand
Résumés are important. If you want to cover all your bases, you'll need a cover letter. What's a cover letter? It's a few paragraphs of you re-stating your résumé and letting Dream Agency X know why you want to work with them. Here's an account executive's list of To-Do's. Be sure to check out the 'Build Your Brand' manifesto she links at the bottom. Career and Employment Services, located at Holtz Hall, has graduate students who are happy to look at your résumé and cover letter. Also, e-mail an attachment of these to a contact whom you may have in the advertising industry.

Third - Do You Like It or Love It?
Before going all the way, are you sure this is what you want to do? Sam Meers, President of Meers Advertising, advises that we do it because we have the passion. If not, it's okay. You'll find something else.

Ball - Perseverance
Don't cheat yourself. If you believe you have the ability to get an internship with Dream Agency X but are thinking about only applying to Good Agency Z, try both. If you don't get in, at least you can say you tried. Do it with the same motivation, confidence and professionalism you would with anything else. It doesn't hurt either to apply at more than one or two agencies. Heck, apply at seven! Keep your options open and do what's best for you.

Time and time again, I've heard ad professionals say that big agencies prefer you go to a portfolio school, but really, if your portfolio is great, that requirement goes out the window. I'm sure this works for agencies of all sizes. And I'm sure this goes the same with media planners, account planners and all sorts.

Home-run - Network with the Players
Getting an internship is almost like test driving a Porsche 911 Turbo (or your favorite street legal vehicle), except you're getting paid to do it.** The driver's seat fits like a glove, or you slip and slide on every hairpin turn. The engine purrs and its performance meets your expectations, or it coughs up a carburetor and you find it's a lemon.

Agencies don't have a Carfax.com, but they do have previous employees who have gained enough experience to tell you whether it's a lemon or a Fuji apple (again, pick your favorite fruit). Talk to them and find out. Or, go out on a limb and find out for yourself. (Also to avoid this, read 'Hey Whipple, Squeeze This.) Agencies are picky, but then again, they aren't. If you've worked with a not so great ad agency, you still have experience, and you're more likely to be hired if you've had an internship.

Outta the Park - Bonus!
You've been asked to come in for an interview. Awesome. Be sure to bring an extra copy or copies of your résumé with you, as they may want to see if you've come prepared. Creatives, bring your portfolio. Be yourself and show your strengths. Make eye-contact and be genuine about your interest in the agency and the person or people interviewing you. Think of it as a conversation rather than an interrogation.

If you really want to stand out, give the interviewer a leave-behind. It's something for them to remember you by. Be creative and let it reflect who you are.

Best of luck!

(Update: Here is another great resource to better understand what agencies are hoping to see from you.)

* Barkley's mentorship is currently listed for 2007. Please do not spend a ton of time brainstorming on last year's assignment. Bookmark the page, and look for the 2008 assignment in the near future.

** Not all internships are paid. Sorry. All internships are good though, and you can never put a price on experience.

Miss a Meeting?

You can download the audio or video here.

:: Spring Semester 2008 ::

Feb. 7, 2008 | jones huyett Partners

Kurt Eskilson, Senior Vice President, Brie Englekin, Account Coordinator, and Alissa Sheley, Account Manager at jones huyett Partners shares information about their agency and the advertising industry.

The slide show from the presentation is below.

Download audio

| View | Upload your own

:: Fall Semester 2007 ::
Nov. 29, 2007 | Advertising at 70 MPH

Howard Fowler, Sales Manager of CBS Outdoor in Kansas City, speaks about billboards, the agencies he works with and why he chose to stay outdoors.

The slide show from the presentation is below, along with the handout. The slides are split because there are so many.

Download audio
(Due to technical difficulties, a small portion of the recording is missing.)

Handout

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Nov. 15, 2007 | Buying Into Media Planning

Megan Pechin, Senior Media Planner, and Jennifer Quint, Media Planner, from Bernstein-Rein, speak about media planning. Rumors are dispelled. Resume tips are shared. Internships are available.

The slide show from the presentation is below.

Download video

Nov. 1, 2007 | Find Your Voice

Lydia Becker, Topeka AAF Board Member, explains what the American Advertising Federation is all about and what benefits they provide for you as a student. Lydia Becker is also a Multimedia Representative for WIBW TV in Topeka.

Download audio

Oct. 25, 2007 | Embrasse Moi

Kristi Schottler, Senior in Apparel and Textile Design, shares her vision of 'Embrasse Moi', the uber-luxe lingerie boutique she will be opening in Rochester, New York next year. 

She's picked the Ad Club to help her make a strategic marketing plan! This is a great opportunity to work with a real client, build relationships and gain experience.

The slide show from the presentation is below.

Download audio

Oct. 18, 2007 | Wheelin' and Dealin'

Brad Simmons, K-State alum and Account Executive for Wilks Broadcasting in Kansas City, speaks on how important having a job in advertising is before you graduate, and how good it looks on your resume. He shares his previous experiences working with the K-State Collegian as an Advertising Sales Manager and Account Executive at the Kansas City Star.

Download audio



Sept. 27, 2007 | Kansas City Advertising

Below is an overview of select Kansas City advertising agencies.

Mark Your Calendars

The Kansas City Advertising Club annual Career Day is November 9th from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. I believe you can get an academic excusal because it is related to furthering students education. (Check back here for an update.) The price is $30 for workshops and lunch -- a great deal. (The price increase five dollars on November 1st.) Carpooling and splitting the cost for gas is a good idea.

You may register here after you click on Nov. 9.

After giving your contact information, Rachel Hack, KC Ad Club Executive Director, will e-mail you with a formal registration form and information on what to do next.

The KSU Ad Club as a whole will not be going, but some members from the club will be there. If you are interested in going and carpooling, visit the Facebook discussion group for this event.

No Place Like Home

Ah, Kansas. Millions of years ago, it used to be underwater -- part of a huge prehistoric sea. Today, you can surf the amber waves of grain. We're also known for the Wizard of Oz, the Konza Prairie, and the largest ball of twine. While it may not be the advertising capital of the world, or even the Midwest, the ad agencies here play a role in our engagement with farmers and CEOs, small town doctors and suburban housewives, developing a better economy for the state and its community.

We'll be talking about agencies in Wichita, Topeka, and other select populated places that reach consumers in Kansas and abroad.

Find out if they have a milking cow, if the clients are as ambiguous as the weather, and whether they're located in the middle of a wheat field or the big city.

This is an extension of last meeting's presentation
on Kansas City :: Agencies, Accounts and Advantages.

Heartland Advertising: Agencies, Accounts and Advantages
Thursday, October 11th
Sunflower Room
KSU Student Union
6-7 PM

The City of Fountains

Kansas City is known for having over 200 fountains. The city also has a number of advertising agencies. Over 200 marketing and advertising agencies, firms and freelancers offer their talents, some with clients that have national and global presence.

Next meeting, we will explore some of these agencies; you will learn who their clients are, what their philosophy is, and if they have beer on tap. Advertising agencies offer great perks.

This will prepare us for when we visit some of the advertising agencies in Kansas City during the fall.

On November 9th, we will attend the annual KC Ad Club Career Day. Admission is not free. I'll keep you posted with more as more news comes.

Kansas City Advertising: Agencies, Accounts and Advantages
Thursday, September 27
Room 213
KSU Student Union
6-7 PM

Free Food

Thanks. See you there!