The end of an egg era

After completing a month on placement at Muirhoward, I have been asked to return to The Big Kick. Unfortunately I have been asked to return alone.

I have decided to take this opportunity for many reasons, which I won't go into now but obviously it means an end to mine and Vicky's creative partnership.

Vicky is to continue on placement with a different copywriter at Muirhoward (probably until the end of November) and I have the highest confidence that she will continue to dazzle them with her ideas.

I start back at The Big Kick on Monday 11th, where I will be helping out on well-known brands such as Walkers crisps, Becks beer and Nestle Kit Kats. After my experience there in the summer I have definately developed a love for marketing and I can't wait to get stuck in there again.

The Big Kick

I have finally found some employment!



A lovely and local marketing and communications agency has let me man their reception for a few weeks. They're called The Big Kick (www.thebigkick.com) and they produce lots of promotional marketing for brands like Walkers crisps, Nestle, Branstons etc...

They also have a very picturesque location - in the grounds of Hatfield House. This is the view if you drive in:


They also have a fantastic blog.

It is only temporary, but everyone is really friendly and it sort of gives me some industry experience. They're also really flexible about me going off for book crits, some of which took place this week (blog post to follow). My main duties include, answering the phones and responding to emails, but I also get to do a bit of PA type things, like booking people train tickets (exciting, I know). I'm hoping that someone will run in to reception saying something like "Help, this pitch is tomorrow and we just don't have any good ideas yet, oh where can we find a great creative at such short notice?!?!"...I think you can see where this is going. I imagine myself to be somewhat of a Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting character, or like those shoe-elves that come in during the night, etc...

Gis a job.

According to the latest figures (and the BBC new website) graduate unemployment has risen by 25%. Although, thankfully for me, more women than men seem to be getting their first graduate job. Unfortunately for me, I am still unemployed. This is the longest I have gone without working since I started my first job at 15.



I have had to visit my local Jobcentre and try and explain to a very bewildered man what a 'creative' is and how they don't advertise on the jobseekers website for vacancies. The Jobcentre thinks I should work at a new store opening in St Albans - Poundworld. Enough said.

Although all I want is a placement at a top 20 London advertising agency, I am realistic. My overdraft is the size of a small country and to be honest, I lose a little more self-respect everytime I have to ask my mother for a bus fare. I need a part-time job to tide me over. Something easy, like retail or admin that I can work around my portfolio homework. Ideally I would love a summer job at a local agency, but they don't seem to like replying to e-mails. Perhaps I should send them some cakes.....



After handing out multiple CVs and talking to various managers I have realised that as soon as these businesses hear the word 'graduate' they run a mile. They don't want some over-qualified, self-important student who will desert them at the hint of a decent job. No, they want a spotty 16-year-old who'll stay with them for 4 years on minimum wage because they don't know any better.

There was an article in this weeks Sunday Times Magazine explaining this graduate plight:

"The only jobs they've (the Jobcentre) got are office, shops or bar work - those kind of jobs don't like taking on graduates; they know as soon as a graduate gets a better offer, they'll leave. So they'd rather take someone less qualified who'll stay."

"...How frustrating it is to come out of college with a degree and huge debts and get turned down for jobs they could have walked into at 16."

To conclude, know anyone who can give me a job?