Career Day to Provide Essentials for Jump Starting an Occupational Pursuit
by Ralph Gonzalez

Learning what it takes to get that first job in advertising or communications
will be explored when an audience of some 300 students from area colleges assembles in the Student Center Ballroom at Montclair State University from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on October 26. Tickets for the event are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

Advice from the BBDOaccount management team
Following breakfast and the first breakout session, keynote speaker Jennifer E. Ryan, vice president/account director BBDO New York, will be joined by BBDO account executives Kate A. Houghton and Nadine J. DeFoe to discuss the ins and outs of getting ahead in account management. Whether it’s putting together focus groups, sales data, casting sessions or cocktail parties, account management is one of the most dynamic jobs in advertising. The panel is well versed on the topic.

Ryan has worked in both large and small agencies in her 14-year career. Her body of work includes packaging, direct marketing, hotel/travel, direct to consumer (DTC) advertising, as well as new product goods launches and re-launches. She currently manages DTC advertising for GlaxoSmithKline’s Avandia and integrated accounts for Starwood Hotels Four Points by Sheraton. She holds a B.A. degree in Advertising and Business from Penn State University and volunteers regularly at BJ’s Place, a facility for displaced adults.

DeFoe has been with BBDO since 2004 and has amassed a wealth of expertise in pharmaceutical advertising, packaged goods, Gerber Baby Food, Lexmark and Ciba Vision. She currently works on GSK’s diabetic drug Avandia. She received her B.A. degree in Politics from Brandeis University.

Houghton’s background includes pharmaceutical advertising and the hotel industry. She currently works on Levitra, an erectile dysfunction drug from GSK, in addition to the Starwood Hotels Four Points by Sheraton account. An active member of the Advertising Women of New York, she holds a B.S. degree in Advertising from Boston University.

Encore performance by Sandra Podesta
Sandra Podesta will discuss how or how not to use e-mail, and more. Immediately after the second breakout session, lunch and the fashion show by Montclair State University Marketing Club members, Podesta will again share her insights into orchestrating a successful job search. The president of eBusinessWriting.com will show how carefully crafting job search letters and e-mails can help lead to a desired job in advertising, illustrate how to identify and exploit unique strengths, use one’s age to advantage, how to find where jobs are first, how and whether or not to use e-mail, and more.

Podesta has implemented her writing skills for more than 20 years to convince people to make decisions and act on them. She has created marketing campaigns for ad agencies and Fortune 500 companies, including Citicorp, CBS Ernst & Young, FEDEX, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and SONY. She is co-author of 201 Killer Cover Letters, published by McGraw Hill, which will be available at a special price for Career Day attendees. As Podesta explains, a resume provides only 20% of the information on which hiring decisions are made. “A good job search letter helps get a foot in the employer’s door by emphasizing strengths. It also enables the writer to stand out from the competition and ultimately land an interview and job offer.”

Career direction from the pros
Professionals from area agencies will offer career direction in agency management, creative and production, Internet web design, marketing, media and public relations in two breakout sessions. The first session runs from 9:15 to 10:15 am, with the second set from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

During lunch, students will model the latest corporate, business and business casual fashions from the Men’s Wearhouse and Annie Sez. Starting at 1:00 pm and ending at 4:00 pm is a Job Fair featuring employers from broadcasting, recruitment, media, marketing and advertising. During the final two hours of the program, student portfolios and resumes will be reviewed and evaluated by industry professionals.

Career Day is headed by Anna Marie D’Elia of Block & DeCorso.
For more information, to become a sponsor or volunteer for a breakout session, please contact Pat Hanley at the Ad Club office at 201.998.5133 or visit www.njadclubcareerday.com.

return to September 2006 Adtalk