"Nightmare Interviews With Google"

Last year Alyson Shontell, a graduating senior from Syracuse University, interviewd for a Associate Product Marketing Manager's position at Google. She didn't get the job, but the insights she leaves behind tells a sad tale of how cold Google's recruitment process and staff are. Her two back-to-back phone interviews, didn't last long and ended up focusing on math related to AdWords.

Eventually she was told,

"That's all. Good luck with your job search."

While it is possible this young new grad threw a little attitude into the her answers and therefor received a short call, but who could really blame her? I mean if they really just want Mathematicians and Engineers to answer SAT questions. Hire them. It's also quite possible Ms. Shontell didn't have the ability think analytically.

Her article detailing the interview is a must read on the Business Insider and leads you to a link of 15 other Google interview questions.

Nightmare Google Interview.

Creative Directors are in the business of professional insanity

Alex Bugosky wrote a really smart piece on Creative Directors recently. Though I'm not sure if I as a CD are "professionally insane," I get the sentiment. I also found one paragraph of advice that struck my as it has always been the way I have tried to work as a CD.

He wrote:

"You’re not supposed to have your own thoughts. You learn to discount your own thoughts. It’s not fair to the people who work for you. You don’t want to compete with your art directors and writers. You want to build their ideas. So if you do have an original thought (and it does happen) you better to give it to somebody else so they can warp it and give it back to you."

In my career I have found many, the majority, Creative Director's that dictate an idea and expect their team to simply execute it. Ego? Maybe. Insecurity? Possibly. Whatever the reason, it has always been an issue for me to watch them do so. Not that they have done that to me, per se, but to watch them do it to their teams.

I would encourage you as creatives to keep this in mind. If you haven't checked out Bugosky's blog the link is below:

Alexboguskys posterous.

You Suck at Photoshop. Tutorials by Donny.

How To Suck Less By Luke Sullivan

Luke Sullivan from Mediastash.tv on Vimeo.

I worked with Luke Sullivan, ECD/CCO of GSDM, at Fallon years ago. He even signed my copy of his book "Hey Whipple Squeeze This:" From the many awards he has accumulated most people know Luke is talented, but he is also very funny, smart and on occasion, he napped under his desk.

This is a great presentation he gave to the Miami Ad School in MPLS. Much like Bob Barrie's famous power point speeches, Luke is very entertaining and informative.

Congrats Luke.

Get Free Stuff Through Interactive Commercials

Apparently Cablevision remotes have a "Select" button that gives customers "more of what they want from TV," interactive TV.

"The Optimum Select experience begins with a thirty-second television commercial. During a commercial, a blue bar at the bottom of the television screen will invite the viewer to press the "SEL" button on the remote for more information. If the viewer chooses to press "SEL", the current program is shifted to the top right corner of the screen to allow continued viewing and the additional information about the product or service advertised in the commercial will appear in the rest of the screen. From this screen, the viewer can again use the remote to request a sample, coupon, or gift card, depending on the specific campaign."

The free service will also give customers the option to purchase directly from their sofa next year.

Unilever, Gillette, retailer Century 21, and Benjamin Moore are participating in the launch.

More info here.

Fucking Awesome Part 2: Be Fucking Awesome!

There's never been a way to tell how fucking awesome you are until now. Be Fucking Awesome ranks just that.

Just do not confuse it with Fuckng Awesome, because that's a totally fucking awesome other site. A t-shirt logo site that is well, fucking awesome.

So check them both out because you can never be too fucking awesome!

If you haven't already check out the social media idiots video on the previous post. It's totally fucking awesome. Seriously.

"FUCKING AWESOME SOCIAL MEDIA GURU." Honest.