career

INTERVIEW: Joseph Scola of ABID Technology

INTERVIEW: Joseph Scola of ABID Technology

It takes a tremendous amount of creativity, innovation, and dedication to build your own company, even if it’s a small one. Creative Village wants to showcase how individuals went through the process of beginning their own businesses and perhaps inspire you to do the same.

We talked with Joe Scola of ABID Technology, an interactive tool that lets you click on things that interest you while you’re watching videos online. It’s a very neat idea — check it out on their site!

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Tell us a bit about ABID and what prompted you to start a company like it? Every entrepreneur wants to change the world, and ABID is our way of trying to do so. Our goal is to transform the way viewers will interact with their video content for years to come. We believe people are in constant search of accessing information, and we’re aiming to deliver that experience through an added layer in video content. We see this as one small piece in the future of information exchange. We’re still a young company, and although we’re very pleased with the goals we have accomplished, there is still a long list of milestones in front of us. But that’s the exciting part.

Can you describe your past positions and how they led up to the creation of ABID? I’ve always been attracted to the visual arts, this led me to a BS in Film and Video at Drexel University. After Drexel, I fell into a sales and marketing position with a fortune 100 company. This experience had opened me up to a brand new side of myself. I wound up building new skills and excelling in the industry, but the limitations of working for a large corporation had slowly started to rub me the wrong way. I had ideas, so did my colleagues, none of which were being heard. It was during this experience I had met my future business partner, and we decided it was time to take action.

“If we couldn’t make change through the company we were working for, then we would create our own. Six months later, ABID was born.”

What’s one golden piece of advice you’d offer a young company? I would say, be prepared to work harder than you imagine. Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Be passionate about whatever it is you’re aiming to create, building a company comes with many ups and downs, you’ll need that passion to get you through the challenges that lie ahead.

How do you imagine ABID Technology and Creative Village could work together? Creative Village has some incredible resources, I especially love their blogs and the inspiration they provide.  It would be wonderful to attend some of the networking opportunities and exciting events they’ll be hosting. They’re a company that seems to have a deep understanding of entrepreneurship, startups, and they’re providing new tools for guidance in those arenas, and that’s something close to home for me. I would also imagine that when it’s time to expand ABID, our recruitment process would be made much easier working together with Creative Village.

What’s next for ABID? We’re currently wrapping up an incredible internship program we created and hosted in Philadelphia, and we’re extremely proud of all the students who participated. In the next couple months we’re planning a soft launch with release-1 of our product. The product is something we’ve kept tightly under wraps, and we’re very excited to begin testing it with partners.

If you knew you were about to eat your last meal, what would you have and where would you have it? I would start with some grilled calamari salad, followed by homemade manicotti with my Great Aunt Elda’s famous sauce. After the main course, a Saint Joe’s cake would be my dessert of choice, and would of course be accompanied by a double espresso. A light digestive of sambuca in a snifter glass with 3 coffee beans would polish off the perfect meal. I would enjoy this final palatable goodness overlooking the Mediterranean from the town of Aquavella in Salerno, Italy. It’s where my grandfather was born, a place of humble beginnings and true beauty.

Thanks to Joe and ABID Technology for giving us a peek into the life of an entrepreneur! Keep checking back for more interviews like this and find out the different paths there are in starting a business.

Diane Ly advice, business, career, development, education, inspiration, Interview, technology, videos 0 , , , , , , ,

Stay Sharp at Your Internship

Since most internships last an average of 3-6 months, you don’t have time to waste! In that short amount of time, you’ll want to squeeze in as much knowledge and experience as humanly possible.

In order to keep your ideas fresh and sharp, here are some tips I’ve found useful at my internships:

Brainstorm: If you have weekly meetings with your team, take advantage of them. This is your chance to bounce ideas you have off of others to see what sticks. This is especially useful if you’re responsible for a weekly task, such as blog posts, since you’re bound to run into at least one roadblock. Asking others in passing for ideas is simple and pays off.

Read the news: I found a lot of my blog and social media content through internet inspiration. Staying on top of current events gives you an extra edge because the content you write or ideas you suggest are relevant and interesting to others – some may not even know about it yet and you get to be ahead of the curve.

Observe: All too often I realize that I’m spacing out rather than observing my surroundings. By being aware of what’s around me and studying human behavior, nature, new architectural developments, I’m able to gain inspiration from very unlikely sources.

Do new things: This one is a double whammy. Obviously, you could learn something new and shed light on a world you’ve never experienced before. The kicker is that you can learn something about yourself you never knew before, which can have a dramatic affect on your thinking. For instance, when I started taking kickboxing classes, I discovered that I’m able to withstand a lot more physical torture than I had previously thought, and that truly shattered the invisible barriers I had set for myself.

Diane Ly career, how-to, internship 0

5 Strategies to Find a Visa Sponsored Job

5 Strategies to Find a Visa Sponsored Job
Under the current economics, many international students have a hard time finding a H1B visa sponsored job in the US. Compared to those high-demand industries such as IT, computer science and engineering, students in marketing, PR, graphic design and other creative fields find it extremely hard to land a job that provides visa sponsorship. Here are some strategies that you could use to help you narrow down the job search and make the most of your time and effort.

Go for International Companies

Since most sponsored jobs are given to people who have expertise in specific areas, try to think of your own assets. What are your selling points? It might be your bilingual skills or transcultural ability. Look for international companies that have branches in the US or companies that do business globally. Those companies might need people like you who are not only familiar with the American culture but also can communicate with your own racial group.

Aim at Midsized Companies Instead of the Large Ones

A lot of people think that big companies have a relatively large proportion of international employees, which means they might be able to provide more sponsored jobs than midsize or small companies. Wrong! Although it is true that large companies have more employees from diverse backgrounds, most H1B positions are for experienced or senior-level individuals. Also, many big companies try to avoid sponsoring jobs for entry-level positions, because first, it is quite a big investment of money, and second, large companies are usually never lacking qualified candidates in local areas.

Think Outside of Your Industry
Do not limit yourself to advertising, PR or marketing agencies. Try to go outside the box and think about jobs in other areas as well. Have you tried non-profit or NGOs? If you are doing marketing, have you thought about jobs in Market research? Or maybe working in the marketing department of a Tech company? There are a lot of options out there, do your research and find yourself different ways to your goal.

Use Personal Connections
Seventy percent of jobs are filled through personal referrals. It’s all about who you know. Join industry associations and go to as many events as possible. Build your personal connections. You never know if someone you met today might know people who are seeking international talents in the future. This is especially important for people who need a visa sponsorship, as most sponsored jobs are considered hidden jobs. Knowing more people means you have better chance to get access to this hidden market.

Apply to as Many Jobs as You Can
Finding a job is a numbers game, so is finding a sponsored job. Since it’s hard to tell which company sponsors, your best bet might be to find out by yourself. Apply for as many jobs as you can, and bring the sponsorship issue to the table when you go through the interview process. Use your time wisely, and something will come out in the end. Good luck!

To find out more information about H1B visa, you can go to:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1271.html
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1263.html

Cathy Qiu advice, career, how-to, marketing 0 , , ,

On Forgetting Creative Highs and Milestone Achievements

Breakthroughs, success, “in the zone” creativity and milestones are some of the words you can use to describe an artistic achievement or creative high. Some may not have a bestseller or legacy achievement under their belt, but many creatives have experienced those “highs” while or after finishing a project. These milestone successes varies – it could be a well-regarded blog post, a critically-acclaimed student film or even a simple eureka moment. And for a creative professional, the experience is a mighty inspiration to keep pushing for greatness.

But sometimes, after such high or achievement, creative professionals fall in the trap of, what Oprah would say, “chasing the phenomenon.” They try to seek greater glory from such creative high and when unattained, falls into utter frustration to the point of depression. It’s a dilemma that Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love fame demystifies and rectifies in this inspiring TED talk on nurturing creativity.

Her message to all artists: Keeps showing up and doing the craft that you love no matter what!

Caleb Galaraga advice, career 0 , , ,

Content First!

Content First!

Last month, I was invited to “Reasons to be Creative”, a design and tech conference held at the SVA theatre in Chelsea. While I ended up having to cut my time there short, I managed to see two sessions I had planned on.

Up first was Content First!, A lecture by Jeffrey Zeldman. The talk addressed the need for a new approach to web design by putting the viewer first and using small screen or mobile web design as inspiration.

As an example of content “don’ts”, Zeldman pulled up a screenshot of the homepage of the East River Ferry, notifying passengers of delays. He pointed out that the site, intended to aid the viewer, was oversaturated with unhelpful content; including the phrase “East River Ferry” displayed about 4 times in various heading weights while the actual delay notice was small and buried beneath.

Another example offered was that of a movie review site that used the same text size for all its content, including its long list of links; which could be found on every page. Zeldman explained that not only was this a problem in content hierarchy, but also an unnecessary amount of links. Maybe this was helpful as far as SEO marketing was concerned, but a headache for the actual target – the viewer.

But the viewers are learning to fight back against this anti-user behavior; changing text size or colors for legitimate concerns (e.g., bad vision, color blindness) or people using apps like instapaper for easier mobile readability.

So does that mean the web is dead as we know it?

Praising minimalist web design (like the famous “Minimal” Blogger template) and new techniques like responsive design and progressive enhancement, Zeldman says it doesn’t have to be. A company may want a page overrun with SEO content or a few camouflaged ads, but this will only hurt them in the end. At the end of the talk, Jeffrey boiled down the talk into four major points (pictured above) as well as his this parting advice:  put content first and scrubs away the unnecessary extras – the result is a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Morgan Sobel advice, career, design, development, education, mobile, technology, trends, UX/IA 1

Want a Mentor? 4 Steps to Follow

Want a Mentor? 4 Steps to Follow
Are you thinking about having a mentor? When you graduate from school and enter a new industry, it’s always helpful to have role models to follow and learn from. A mentor could be someone in the industry with years of experience that is willing to offer advice and guidance on your career choices or your work life. Having a mentor is extremely valuable for both personal growth and career development. Follow these 4 steps to find yourself a great mentor.
Step 1: Know what you want
Before you start looking for a mentor, ask yourself what you want to achieve from this mentorship? What is your goal? Take some time to think about where you would like to be in your career. Only by having a clear vision of your goal and expectation can you find the right mentor.

Think about what type of mentor you want. Do you want a senior experienced person or a young leader? After all, you are seeking someone you can have a great conversation with. Don’t just go with the big names. Industry gurus might be good mentor candidates, but they might not be the best one for you. Look for someone who shares your values and is compatible with you in terms of personality, communication style or interest.

Step 2: Search for a mentor
After identifying your goal and the type of mentor you want, it’s time to look for the right person. Start with your current company. Some companies have their own mentoring programs. You can also choose someone in your company that you admire and contact them on your own.

Many industry associations offer free mentor-mentee programs for their members, such as  International Association of Business Communicators and Public Relations Society of America. At professional conferences or networking events where a large number of industry practitioners are present, there is also a great chance to find people to be your mentor.

Have you thought about social media? LinkedIn, for instance, is a perfect social platform to find potential mentors. Since you can see a person’s professional experience and work history on the LinkedIn profile, it becomes easier to identify someone you like.

Look to your network and search from the people you have known. It could be your childhood friend, college classmate, or even your older family member or your neighbor.

Step 3:  Secure a mentor
When you find an ideal person to be your mentor, ask smartly. Don’t just open up with the “will you be my mentor?” invitation. Be sincere and first explain why you want a mentor and why that person is the perfect fit, as well as what you expect out of the mentorship.

It’s also a good idea to begin with some casual conversations or meet up a few times until you feel comfortable with the person. Once you build a closer relationship, it would be easier to bring up your request on the mentorship.

If you get rejected by a potential mentor, don’t take it personally. It might be they are just too busy. Thank them for their time and move on to the next one.

Step 4: Start a mentorship
Once you secure a mentor, you and mentor can sit together and make a concrete mentoring plan. Make sure to set a mutual goal of the mentorship, and discuss in details of how the mentorship work. Scheduling a regular meeting time. Also, keep in mind that mentoring can take a variety of forms, including a monthly formal meeting, weekly phone call, or lunch meetings, etc. Talk with your mentor to find the best way that works for both of you.

Once the mentorship starts, be truthful and show your appreciation of any advice your mentor offers. Also, be open-minded and don’t be afraid to give feedbacks if you feel anything needs be improved. Maintain a positive attitude and a healthy relationship with your mentor throughout the mentorship will surely benefit you and your career life in the long run.

Cathy Qiu advice, career, communications, development, how-to, inspiration 0 , ,

The Power of Pinterest

The Power of Pinterest

A fresh, young female graduage, it’s not at all shocking that I fell headfirst into the Pinterest epidemic. If you’re not familiar, Pinterest is a site that allows you to keep track of links you like by letting you “pin” them onto “boards,” or categories. Some of the more common boards you see are DIY boards, fashion inspiration boards, and recipe boards – that’s only skimming the surface.

Sites like Pinterest are a good way for people – not just women – to stay in touch with their creative side and at the same time build a visual portfolio that is representative of who they are.

Just like any writer has a portfolio of their clips, a person in the visually creative field – photography, graphic design, stylist – could turn their Pinterest page into boards of their work along with other pins that could help define who they are as a professional. Imagine it as a visual portfolio that you can keep updating as your ideas change.

Here is a great guide by Onward Search on building the perfect Pinterest portfolio. Good luck!

Diane Ly advice, career, creative services, design, inspiration, marketing, trends 0 , , , , ,

5 Questions to Ask Before Submitting Your Resume

5 Questions to Ask Before Submitting Your Resume

With summer finally here, many college students and recent graduates have already started their internship programs. However, there are quite a few still trying to land an internship opportunity. If you are one of those that have been sending out a number of resumes but receiving no responses, it may be time to re-examine your resume. Having a solid and polished resume improves your chance of getting the internship you want. Is your resume good to go? Here are a few questions to consider before submitting your resume:

Is your resume grammatically correct?
There’s really nothing more important than having a grammatically correct resume. It is a must for any applicant who wants to secure an internship. Typos, misspellings or other simple mistakes on the resume will lead you to nothing but rejection. Proofread, proofread, and proofread until it’s perfect.

Is your resume just one page?
Studies show that employers only spend 4 or 5 minutes on a resume. As such, it’s highly recommended that your resume should not exceed one page. A short, simple and clear resume makes it easy for employers to know your focus, and a one-page resume is enough to show all your key skills and experience. Don’t make it comprehensive. Even people who have 30 years experience are suggested to limit themselves to one page, not to mention college students or recent graduates. So think about what’s really relevant to the position you are applying for, and exclude experiences that are irrelevant or less important.

Does your experience demonstrate your strong soft skills?
In addition to the right education and relevant work experience, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers also look for strong soft skill sets in their new hires’ resumes, such as the ability to work in a team, leadership abilities, written communication skills, and problem-solving skills, etc. In fact, as we may see in many internship postings, soft skills are part of the essential requirements. While students or recent graduates do not have many work experiences to put on their resume, soft skills become a crucial criteria for companies to decide whether to choose one over the other.

Have you had your resume professionally critiqued?
Before sending out your resume to your ideal companies, it’s extremely helpful to have it reviewed by career coaches and professionals. Those people are experts in the field and they can bring valuable and professional feedback to your resume. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, there are many great places to go for free resume reviews. The best place is your school’s career center where you can receive good resume critiques from the school career counselor. Many industry events and career fairs also offer free resume critique seminar. In addition, use your personal connections with professionals in the industry to get your resume reviewed. Make sure to use all these resources and have your resume exposed to as many people as possible for the best results.

Is there a local address on your resume?
Believe it or not, your address on the resume is also an important element for employers to filter candidates. Although some companies hire out-of-state interns, many prefer local residents, especially when there’s a large pool of candidates. So be sure to have a local address if you decide to apply for internships in a certain region. I personally got a lot of inquires about my current location when I tried to apply for internships in New York City with my non-NYC address. Employers do look at your address. To increase your chances of being hired, get a local address or simply remove your out-of-state address on your resume.

Cathy Qiu advice, career, communications, internship 2 , , , , , ,

Social Buttons Made Easy

Social Buttons Made Easy

Whether you work as a freelancer or part of a blogger studio, redesigning your portfolio is key to long-term success.

Once you’ve created a stunning website or online portfolio to showcase your work and skills, you need to make it easy for people to find you. Which is where your social network comes in. More

Ehab Aref business, career, design, education, inspiration, mobile, technology 0 , , , , , , , ,

Behavior by Design Talk

Want to gain users for your next big product or service? First, you’ll have to understand how the human mind works.

Watch Nir Eyal — start-up founder, lecturer, entrepreneur — explain his theory on How to Manufacture Desire. In his video (which is based off an article he wrote explaining the topic) Eyal discusses how big companies like Facebook and Twitter gained so many users through creating a habit-forming product.

If you’re trying to build something that will get people hooked, take a look for valuable information.

Diane Ly advice, career, communications, development, inspiration, resources, startups, technology, videos 0 , , , , , ,

The Importance of Networking: Some Tips

The Importance of Networking: Some Tips

In an age where everyone is connected through the Internet, it’s nearly impossible to stand out to recruiters without doing something over the top. While finding someone on Linkedin and sending a personalized message is great, it’s important to realize how many other people like you are doing the same thing.

That’s why attending networking events – whether it be professional or social – is so crucial now more than ever. It’s a chance to distinguish yourself from the hundreds of others looking for the same type of position you are by showing off your personality, something that’s hard to do on paper.

It may be scary at first, but showing up is already a huge step. For the rest of it, here are some tips to successfully make lasting connections that could very well lead to your next job:

Be ready to talk – And talk a lot. Make sure you know exactly how to describe what type of work you’re looking for. Be prepared to repeat yourself, too, since you’ll be introducing yourself over and over again. Also, have a handful of thoughtful questions that you can ask other people to prove that you’re interested in them, too.

Bring something to write with and on – Since you will be mingling with a lot of people, it’s a good idea to bring a small notepad to jot down names, contact information, etc. Writing down what you discussed with them will also prove to be useful when sending an e-mail to them because mentioning little details will help them remember who you are (and impress them for having such a good memory!).

Get a business card – While some of you may not have a professional title yet, it’s a good idea to have a stack of business cards handy with your contact info for people who don’t follow step #3. It’s a quick and easy way to get your name out to the right people. Sites like www.vistaprint.com are a good place to start if you’re a fresh graduate lacking business cards.

Smile and stay enthusiastic – Your jaw will undoubtedly get very tired from smiling the entire night, but it’s well worth it if it means making a good and friendly impression.

Don’t talk only business – While it’s definitely the point of most networking events, it’s also key to make people remember that you’re a real person…with real hobbies! Conversational skills are important to display when meeting people you will potentially work with day in and day out. Who knows, you might meet someone with the same interests as you which will put you in their favor. It could even lead to a follow-up meeting that could get you a step closer to your dream job.

Bring a standout factor - Whether it be a strange hobby, a crazy story, or an impressive project you finished, try to find at least one (true) story you can bring up that will make people say “Oh, you’re the one who won the national fly-fishing championship. I remember you!”

Follow up! – People who go to networking events meet anywhere between 3 and 73 people over the course of a few hours – not everyone will have time to e-mail or call the stack of business cards they collected. It’s crucial to send out a personalized e-mail within 72 hours of the event to set the connection in stone and figure out any steps you need to take to be a successful applicant.

Diane Ly advice, career, communications, events, how-to, Interview 0 , , , ,

Four Things Your Personal Brand Is NOT

Four Things Your Personal Brand Is NOT

A lot of people could easily mistake personal branding as a form of commercialized ego-tripping that permits you to focus on yourself, hyper-inflate your sense of self-worth and overestimate your abilities. But it’s not. In fact, it is a holistic marketing process that has less to do with you and more about the value you can give others.

Below are four misconceptions many professionals, including artists and creative professionals, have about their personal brands.

It’s NOT All About You

Yes it maybe personal but it’s not just about the person. Your personal brand is not your ego and it’s definitely not a commercial interpretation of your like and dislikes. It is first and foremost about the promise you can give to the market or audience you’re tapping and your capacity to fulfill that promise in a way that will add value to the community. Though your brand obviously is a representation of many things “you”, at the end of the day, you’ll realize it’s more about what you can do for “them.”

It’s NOT Just About Your Product or Service

Your personal brand goes beyond a simple inventory of your skills and abilities. It is about understanding how those skills and abilities can positively influence a person or organization to achieve his/her/their goals. Your personal brand is a determinant of what your products or service should be, and not the other way around.

It’s NOT About How Good You Are

Though it would definitely help if you have outstanding credentials, your personal brand is not about your resume or accomplishments. It’s not about how many people think you’re amazing or how well your undergrad professor or supervisor adores your work. Your personal brand is about your impact – how your presence or involvement in a particular situation, event or circumstance has enhanced the overall result.

It’s NOT About How Important You Are

And no, a personal brand rarely has anything to do with your standing in the community. An individual who has effectively determined his/her personal brand recognizes that it is and will always be a question of impact. He/she will ask “How did I make this situation better?”, “How did I expand the knowledge pool in this niche/industry/market?”, “How did I make this craft or profession more respectable, interesting and marketable to the general public?”

Building a personal brand is an arduous, detailed, and time-consuming process. Despite the wealth of literature it is not even an exact science. But one thing is for sure, the most effective personal brands has less to do with the one who holds such position in the mind, but more with what that person can do to positively influence the minds, actions and results of those around him.

Caleb Galaraga advice, career, marketing 0 ,

What’s your Social Media Image?

With the advancement of social media and expansion of the data on the internet….. there’s a fine line now between our business image and our personal image.  There was a time not too long ago where we could separate different aspects of our lives.  We didn’t have to be too concerned with cutting loose with our friends on the weekends because moments we’d soon wish to forget becomes memories and just old stories of the past.  Our professional image could stay intact because nobody really cared what you did Sat. night as long as you produced during your working hours.

Nowadays our every moment is captured and documented for all the world to see.  In essence, we may even feel more connected than ever before.  Every morning when I check my Facebook feed, in 10 minutes I would know what Sally had for dinner, my cousins new girlfriend, a new apartment on the market and what my girlfriend living halfway around the world is having for breakfast.  We get a peek into their lives and really, if you think about it, their minds and what values they have……  because what you choose to feed for others to see is a choice…. it’s the Image you put out.

No longer can we really separate our professional image and our personal image.  So it may be time to evaluate who we really are and how we want the world to see us.

JudyMae Chao advice, business, career, development, inspiration, social media, testimonial, trends 1 , , , ,

Intern Tips

On my last day as an intern, I looked back on the simple things I did (or didn’t do) that had made a difference, made the experience better or had helped me the most. While some of these tips may seem obvious, I was a little too nervous my first week to actually put them into practice! Once I did though, I felt totally at ease in the workplace.

Be A Sponge
Interning is the best way to gain some real world experience, so learn all you can! Ask plenty of questions, and ask for help if you’re unsure of what you’re doing. I made sure to make a list of all the questions I had, because I figured asking as an intern looks way better than asking the same list as an actual creative. Gaining knowledge and confidence is a surefire way to ace your internship and help you land your dream job.

Introduce Yourself
The office can be a a confusing (and sometimes lonely) place if you don’t know your neighbors. Take a moment to say “hello” to your fellow creatives, let them know who you are and why you’re there. Even if you don’t work with them all the time, remembering names and positions is a good thing to do. Don’t go three days without knowing your art director’s name; it might get weird.

Carry a Notepad
…Or a tablet, if that’s your thing. Your internship will keep you on your toes, and you never know when your next great idea (or next important question) will pop into your head, so keeping a sketchbook or notepad for notes can come in handy. I think keeping your thoughts in a book might help someone keep organized and collected, rather than rummaging through an extensive post-it note collection.

Smile
A little personality can go a long way; it makes the people around you more comfortable, and makes you more memorable too. It may sound ridiculous, but sometimes a good disposition is the difference between getting the job or not. People don’t like to work with grumpy folk, and this goes for outside of the workplace as well.

Ask to Help
If you’re experiencing some downtime during your internship, don’t sit around checking your email. It doesn’t hurt to offer your services to those around you. By offering to help, I gained opportunities to work on really great projects. It’s a great way to prove yourself a valuable part of the team, and may work out in the long run.

Show Up on Time
Creatives are notorious for showing up to work late, but I wouldn’t recommend trying to get away with it just yet. The same goes for taking breaks too. It sounds obvious, but it’s really important – show up ready and on time, It’s one of the best ways to show your willingness and dedication to your new internship.

Watch Your Web Use
You can find out anything on the internet, so it’s time to think about what you’re putting out there. Photos and words can come back to haunt you, so It may be time to clean up your web presence. You should also think twice before complaining about your job or a co-worker, there’s a good chance someone can find it. Companies search their name for recent news all the time, so think before you tweet!

I’m sure there will be more things you learn along the way as you intern, but these are just a few steps in a good direction. If you have any tips or lessons you’ve learned, share them!

Morgan Sobel advice, career, internship 0 , , , ,

Attend the Sweet Revenge Experience with Entrepreneur Marlo Scott

This exclusive event includes dessert, beer and wine samplings from Sweet Revenge.

About the host: Sweet Revenge Owner Marlo Scott

How does a gal from southern Indiana who grew up on fried bologna and velveeta wind up with an artisan cupcake, beer & wine bar in the West Village, the star of Chase Bank’s national ad campaign for Ink (small business credit card), and the cover of Entrepreneur magazine?

Join us and find out! RSVP HERE

Event Format:
1. Event starts promptly at 6:30PM
2. Welcome from Creative Village
3. Marlo Scott shares Sweet Revenge’s Entrepreneurial Story
4. Sweet Revenge’s Marlo Scott gives an exclusive dessert, wine and beer pairing to 35 Creative Village members
5. Attendees are given sample dessert tastes and drink pairings
6. After 7:30PM enjoy Sweet Revenge’s bar at happy hour prices

Marlo has garnered press and accolades since she opened Sweet Revenge® in July 2008. Marlo has appeared on PBS Nightly Business Report, The TODAY Show, and inn MSN Business on Main’s feature profiling her brand in “The Race to Trademark Sweet Revenge®”. In 2011, Marlo was the April cover story of Entrepreneur magazine, showcasing her innovative concept in “A Refined Taste”. She appeared The TODAY Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda, MSN’s Business on Main, Fox & Friends, FoxBusiness.com and Fox 5. About.com awarded her wine bar “2011’s Best Cheap Date Spot in NYC”.

Marc Scoleri business, career, events, food, inspiration, startups 0 , , , , ,

Lessons From John C Jay

Lessons From John C Jay

In an interview with AGIA, Weiden + Kennedy Executive Creative Director and Partner, John C Jay shares some simple yet vital lessons to those starting out in the creative field.

10 Lessons For Young Designers

1: Be authentic. The most powerful asset you have is your individuality, what makes you unique. It’s time to stop listening to others on what you should do.

2: Work harder than anyone else and you will always benefit from the effort.

3: Get off the computer and connect with real people and culture. Life is visceral.

4: Constantly improve your craft. Make things with your hands. Innovation in thinking is not enough.

5: Travel as much as you can. It is a humbling and inspiring experience to learn just how much you don’t know.

6: Being original is still king, especially in this tech-driven, group-grope world.

7: Try not to work for stupid people or you’ll soon become one of them.

8: Instinct and intuition are all-powerful. Learn to trust them.

9: The Golden Rule actually works. Do good.

10: If all else fails, No. 2 is the greatest competitive advantage of any career.

While the title suggests these lessons are for “young designers”, Jay’s advice seems appropriate for all creatives, both fledgling and seasoned; perhaps even in ones own personal life.

Read the rest of AIGA’s piece on John C Jay here:
http://www.aiga.org/design-journeys-john-jay/

Morgan Sobel advertising, advice, career, creative services, creative writing, design, education, inspiration, internship 0

A Designer’s New York City Internship Experience

My plans for spending my junior spring semester in Tokyo unexpectedly fell through, so I decided to take a semester off and reapply the next semester. I decided to look for a last minute internship and stumbled upon CreativeInterns.com. The website made it so easy for me to find internships that I would be interested in that were also in my area and I could apply literally with one click of the “Apply” button. I soon received responses for interviews and landed on a job working as an Executive Marketing Intern for Hyper Island.

The time between the beginning of my search and my first day on the job was about two weeks. CreativeInterns.com did an amazing job in simplifying the traditionally painful search and application for an internship as a college student. I had an amazing time during my internship and was able to meet many wonderful and inspiring people. My job was a perfect fit for me and I wanted to keep doing research for Hyper Island (for free) even after my internship ended (to study in France) because I learned so much working there.

Working at my internship also allowed me discover the fascinating world of marketing and advertising industry that I had never even considered myself being in before. I had no clue what sort of career I would venture into after college and working at Hyper Island has presented me with a very viable and attractive idea as to what I might do for a living later. I must thank CreativeInterns.com for making it so easy for me to find and apply to internships, which acted as a catalyst to many exciting opportunities I foresee in my future.

 

 

Marc Scoleri advice, career, creative services, design, education, how-to, reviews, testimonial 0 , , , ,

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