Work in the time of intention

One of my favorite things about being part of a spirited community (go Trojans!) is the ease and empowerment individuals have to reach out to one another.

Every once in awhile, I’ll get a ping from a spirited, confused, earnest 19-year-old that wants to learn everything there is to successfully landing that coveted first agency job.

They’re always prepared, with a list of questions written in a notebook. What I find is that each individual focuses on minute details that though important, don’t ultimately matter. What good is a one-page resume if, during the interview, the applicant clearly has no idea what their interests are.

Here’s what I always tell them after they’ve sent me a LinkedIn connection request

1) Approach finding that job with a framework, not a rubric of expectations

“You know, for my first PR agency job, I’d like to work in the B2B health marketing space, specifically in the dialysis space” said no one, ever. And yet, there are plenty of professionals that find telling stories about kidney machines remarkably rewarding.

That being said, have appropriate and reachable expectations that are crafted not from wishful thinking (sorry, your first job isn’t going to involve world-class travel and a black American Express credit card) but from forward looking goals based on your past experiences in internships, campus jobs and school organizations.

“I’d like my first job to have a specialized training program for those interested in government affairs.”

See? Much better. And it gives you room to fall in love with something else, perhaps even spleen machines.

2) Focus on management and culture, not clients

Just because you’re interviewing to be on the Porsche account doesn’t mean that agency will always be charged with promoting fast cars. And who’s to say that the work will be any fun?

Management structures, determining who’ll be in charge of looking after your first few career milestones, and who’ll have your back when the worst happens - those are the true causes of interesting work.

3) Experience the world, in your own way

The best assistant account executives/account coordinators are three dimensional people. They’re writers, runners, equestrians, comedians, travelers, singers. They read books that aren’t just about marketing.

They’re humans that appreciate stories of all sorts, and have empathy for more than just themselves. That doesn’t mean that you should go screw around in Cambodia with your babysitting money - unless that’s what you need to get outside of your own head.

One girl’s “backpack through Europe” is another gal’s “spend time Grandma in Minnesota for two months.”

4) Separate your work from your self

There are no “A’s” in the real world, and there won’t be semesters. You’ll be in charge of pacing your career, but don’t take everything personally.

A single screwup does not a screwup make, and not all criticism is meant to send you off a cliff.

5) Pay attention

If you can’t answer the question “What are you good at?” with at least one work-friendly characteristic, you’ve got to get out there and figure out what sorts of activities and rewards make you sparkle on the inside.

Journal, dissect. Log what keeps you up at night, and what makes your temples hot with frustration. You won’t ever be able to control your surroundings and the individuals around you, but you’ll always be able to control how you process and dissect what’s around you.

And it helps when you have a sense of what you’re like.

There’s a power in paying attention to your intentions, but it’s up to the individual to act and work on what comes after.

Clare Sayas is a marketer in the San Francisco area. Say hello: @claresayas.