Bunch of Ideots #2

I’ve been thinking for a while now that I should have a podcast.

Why? I have a lot to say.

Is it interesting? Maybe not.

Should you listen to it? Well, do you have anything better to do? It is only 10min, stick around. Maybe we have some shared ideas or goals, maybe not. Leave it the comments.

Listen to the podcast here.

And if for some reason you’d rather read it, I got you:

You see, I like going to interviews.

And I can imagine you making a weird expression of pain and frustration because, honestly, who likes that?

Actually, I got it from my sister. Although we run from situations where we are being judged and over analysed, she never feared them in the pursuit of being better.

And I started to realise we all should do it more.

First of all, going to interviews is important because we often forget what we accomplished over the last few months or years. We get so lost in routine or daily frustrations that we forget how badass we are!

I cannot recommend enough the book “Fuck Being Humble” by Stephanie Sword-Williams.

She talks about self-promotion in a way we should all learn in school: knowing what we stand for is key to our self-worth. Don’t let your parents, education, bosses, colleagues or media tell you you need to be stuck in a box. There are no linear careers anymore - do your own path.

So before any interview: give yourself some self-love and go into that zoom meeting shamelessly promoting yourself! I can assure you deserve it!

The second reason for an interview, in a more pragmatic way: it is only by doing it that we can know if our work is being noticed, what is the competition doing and (attention here) how much money are you currently making. Are you being ripped off or are you making what you should? - Ask yourself this from time to time. I don't mean to be a pessimist, but chances are you are below the average.

And the third reason, it is a great way to network! If you have an interview with the Human Resources of a Creative Director that really inspires you, why not reach out to them later? Even if not a position, but because you admire their work, you need a mentor or you just need to figure out life and maybe they can help.

We are human. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people.

But enough of the pep-talk. Let’s get to business and dissect an interview:

You talk a bit about your education, your work experience, the interviewer asks you a few questions no one cares about, you lie about all of them, they say they really like you and you might get the job, and then you never hear from them again.

That's it. 30 minutes of delight that don't last long.

Later we say to our friends “they didn’t even have the courtesy of giving me feedback afterwards”, the impostor syndrome kicks in, we feel like shit for a few days and then we go on with our lives. Right?

However, in the creative field, interviews are a lot more fun (and you can’t see my face but I am being really sarcastic here).

Because we don’t even get to talk with anyone. This is how they work:

You send your resume, portfolio, website, cover letter and all nine thousand requirements they ask for, and a few days later an email arrives in your inbox.

On that email, there is a briefing - usually up to 2 or 3 exercises which you also have 2 or 3 days to answer.

Stressful? You bet. Unnecessary? 100%.

But it doesn’t stop there. You then send the exercises all done with your most amazing ideas and after that is just void. Silence. In today's lingo: you, my friend, have been ghosted.

If this sounds like utter bullshit to you, imagine how we feel doing this over and over again.

Oh, I forgot to say that sometimes they even publish our ideas without consent.

How wonderful is it to look for a new job in Portugal? A-ma-zing.

Obviously, I also had amazing interviews with amazing people - I don’t want to insult everyone on the planet. Just those bunch of idiots who have no empathy for other human beings.

If this happened to you or your friends, share this podcast. Let’s stop this from happening but also let them know they are not alone. And for all companies around the block that do this: creativity is a fucking parachute, once you open it, it gives you total freedom. But if you don’t have it, pay for it - don’t steal other peoples' work. That’s just not cool.