Work Placement in a Related Business

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Unit Purpose and Aims

The purpose of this unit is to;

The unit is a requirement for an extended work placement (normally 6 months).  It’s a unit where learners are expected to put into practice everything they have learned on the  course but in a real world work environment.

Learning Outcomes

Learners will;

1.  Formulate questions and identify problems which will need resolution

Learners can;

1.1 Identify questions to answer and problems to resolve

1.2 Plan and carry out research, appreciating the consequences

2. Be able to Make decisions based on work needs

2.1  Interpret issues, events or problems from different perspectives.

2.2 Analyse and evaluate information, judging its relevance and value

2.3 Support conclusions using reasoned arguments and evidence

3. Be able to think creatively

3.1 Generate ideas and explore possibilities

3.2 Ask questions to extend their thinking

3.3 Try out alternatives or new solutions and follow ideas through

4. Be able to reflect on their practice.

4.1  Review progress, acting on the outcome

4.2 Invite feedback and deal positively with praise, setbacks and criticism

4.3 Communicate their learning in relevant ways for different audiences

5. Be able to interact with colleagues.

5.1 Collaborate with others to work towards common goals

5.2 Organise time and resources, prioritising actions

Learning Tools, Resources & Links

Things that will help the learner develop understanding of this unit;

Mentors  please add your ideas, examples, case studies, links to articles, videos, etc. here.

This was posted on the Creative Review discussion page sponsored by SCA;

I’ve been making a list for a while now, copying bits and bobs from here and there while adding a few tips of my own. I hope it helps!

In General there is no such a thing as a bad placement and it is possible to turn a placement into a job, even in this currently climate. Placements help to motivate you but it’s up to you what you learn/get out of them.

Pre-placement:

Ring up or find out the name of the person you need to contact.

A two week placement is not long enough but a month is just right, but what ever is offered make the most of it!

Find out as much as you can about the company.

You know nothing about the industry so don’t act like you do.

Get your portfolio ready.

On placement:

Get there early on your first day and take some deep breaths.

Make sure you talk to everyone during your time even if you think you will annoy them.

Take everything in.

Work hard, harder, hardest.

Keep Focussed.

Don’t eat crap for lunch as this only makes you crash in the afternoon.

No Facebook/twitter/MSGs and keep mobiles calls to a minimum.

Always make notes of what your asked to do.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, it’s better than spending hours doing it the wrong.

Take your portfolio in everyday just incase people want to see it.

Take on any brief that is given and make the most of them.

Listen.

Buy biscuits.

Make tea.

Offer to do anything. (well almost anything)

Try to enjoy yourself, it is allowed.

If you do leave before others, ask if they need help before you go.

Try and spot the people who may have time between briefs to talk to you.

Try and spot the people who don’t have time between briefs to talk to you and ask to help.

Get used to people not using your name when referring to you, ‘Oi’ or ‘Erm’ may be your new name.

You find that everyone knows everyone else in the industry, so ask for email addresses of people in other agencies.

Be careful who you beef about, it could be a mate of the designer sitting next to you!

Go out for drinks after work if asked.

Buy a round.

Try not to come into work hungover unless it’s the bosses fault.

Become a networking whore.

Believe in yourself but be humble, no body likes an ego maniac.

Post-placement:

Keep in contact.

Ask if you could go back.

Say thanks.

Remember You haven’t made it even if you are offered a job.

You’re only as good as the last brief you did.

You’re never untouchable.

Enjoy the ride, you’re getting paid for something you love.

Finally…

My placements never really taught me anything apart from how I though/would have like to have been treated, but then again what the hell did I know. My first real life experience as a designer was being thrown in the deep end on my first job. I was very lucky, I’d worked my arse off for 7 years after leaving school and as a result landed a decent job in a well known studio in London.

At the time I thought I’d made it, I had a job and I was now a proper designer, how little did I know. On my first day, it went so bad that I offered to hand my notice in, but my then bosses saw something I couldn’t and told me to stick it out and keep the faith. It wasn’t easy, in fact it was probably the fight of my life. But I knuckled down, grew stronger everyday and with many a set back, started to slowly build faith in my own ability. 5 years on and the day came to fly the design nest and move onto pastures new, yes 5 years, and I still didn’t know everything or anything really. What I did know was that I didn’t know everything and that’s the first step to becoming a good designer.

Design college teaches you the design vocabulary but doesn’t always teach you the best way to use it. A one year foundation and a three year degree course isn’t really long enough? Becoming a designer takes a life time of learning, there’s always someone ahead of you and there’s always someone behind you, the trick is not to get ahead of yourself, know where your at, listen to those who are wiser and pass on to those who aren’t.

I’ve always believed that there are no rights or wrongs in design just opinions. However some opinions are more respected than others, and that respect has to be earned.

The best of luck
Chris Hilton
2010-07-09 18:44:33

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POST PLACEMENT ATTITUDE

So, you have a placement. What next?

Having developed the relationship and been offered a placement, you now have a special opportunity to create your own position within the agency. Many junior positions within the creative department of an advertising agency are created due to the enthusiasm and raw creativity that students like you can offer. When such an opportunity presents itself you should be pro-active:

• Get totally involved with the subject matter being learned
• Don’t sit around waiting for work to be given, go and find it!
• Ask to sit in briefings.
• If you are not busy ask to go on location, on shoots, visit recording studios, photographic studios, go to production houses to see how advertisements are edited.
• In short – just get involved!

High levels of energy results in being noticed and, ultimately, being remembered and wanted.

Remember: being a creative in an advertising agency is not a 9 to 5 job. It is a vocation. You have to want to do it all the time, anytime.

Prior to the placement.

Find out who the clients are. Work on campaigns for them and get an idea about the style of advertising suited to the agency you’re having a placement with. Read up on the clients, so you don’t need much explanation and can dive right into the tasks you were asked to do.

Find about about the agency culture, what are their values, what are their aims, what are their interests.

Test how long it takes you to arrive at the agency door to door, so you wont be late on your first day. Test it during rush hour.

Who are the main competitors?

What makes that agency great? Be able to answer questions why you like the agency so much.

Find out who are the people you want to get to know better, look them up on linked-in, facebook or twitter. Learn to read their work, so you can have a decent chat with them.

Train humility, don’t think you’re young, fresh and a great thinker so everybody will kiss your arse. No one gives a toss about tossers. Be nice.