Interviewing 101

After completing the interview process for the fall semester, I’ve come up with a few suggestions for all of you go-getters.

Dress appropriately. I don’t particularly want to see your favorite graphic tee or torn-up blue jeans. Believe it or not, first impressions do count.

Check your spelling. If there’s a word mispelled on your resume – it’s au revoir.

Bring all of the necessary materials. If you want to be a graphic designer, I need to see some work, and if you would like to be a copywriter, I have to know you can write. If you’re not sure about what to bring – just ask!

Be nice to the secretary. She is the gatekeeper you know.

Know what you’re applying for. If you don’t even know what you’re applying for how do you expect to get the job?

Come to “wow.” We don’t have all day, so you have to be at your tip-top game to really impress. Confidence is always the key ingredient.

I’m by no means an expert, but after interviewing quite a few people, I’ve realized – as long as you’re good to go on these few tips, you’ve got the job!

Zag Recess: My childhood takes a hit thanks to G.I. Joe

Last week was a busy one, so this week’s Zag Recess had to be special.

First we met at Boomerjack’s Grill and Bar to celebrate a successful summer. After chatting for a while, we learned about Kelsey’s love for the show Dog The Bounty Hunter, how Ligia’s father scared her high school boyfriends and Alex’s hatred of the Florida Gators.

Afterward, we headed to the theater to eagerly wait for a testosterone-filled explosionfest that would make Jerry Bruckheimer weep for producing G-Force.  At least that’s is what we thought…

SPOILER ALERT: G.I. Joe was terrible on a degree I could have never imagined. The movie went directly downhill by the end of the trailers.

To give you a better understanding of how bad it was, later that night I watched Miss Congeniality with my girlfriend and felt I had just watched one of the smartest comedies ever.

However our outings aren’t focused on how good or bad a movie was; we all had a great time together. Now you know how bad G.I. Joe is, so remember kids, “knowing is half the battle.”

(P.S. That cliché was used verbatim in the film.)

Printerrific!

Being a successful graphic designer means knowing all facets of the industry: PMS colors, contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity, software, product packaging and more.

But one area most amateur designers do not take into consideration when creating their work is the printer.

In a world consumed with computer screens and 1080ppi, people are progressively losing the love and admiration they once had in holding a well-designed printed piece in their hands.

The printer is a graphic designer’s best friend – they can make your work look terrific or terrible –  and I thought I’d introduce myself: Alex and I were off to Curry Printing Inc. for a press check and a mini tour.

Below are my top three experiences at Curry, in no particular order:

1. The Smell. As you walk into the front office, you are greeted by intense smells of ink, oil and glue. You have to get used to it, but it lets you know what you’re getting yourself into.
2. The Eyes. I consider myself to have a pretty good eye until I met Cody Curry. He is the owner/president of Curry Printing, and he put my attention to detail to shame. While we were conducting our press check, Cody pointed out spots and blemishes (what he called hickies) that were the size of a grain of salt – no exaggeration.
3. The Hands. Everyone at Curry Printing is so nice. We are greeted with smiles and firm handshakes – it definitely put me and Alex at ease at our first press check. Quality, precision, and customer service are what Cody said sets Curry Printing apart from the rest.

One thing is certain, printing is serious business that could make or break your hard work.

Zag Recess: We met Tim Love!

To work at a marketing agency, you need to be ready for anything. Quick changes, deadlines, last minute meetings; it’s a stressful world we live in, but it’s a world in which we thrive.

However, sometimes we just need to kick off our shoes, get out of the office and have fun as a team. These outings have become known around the office as “Zag Recess.”

Today for recess, we went to the grand opening of The Love Shack in the new So7 development.

First off, may I suggest to anybody reading this blog that you should go ASAP. The food was delicious and original (which is kind of hard to do with a burger).

The most exciting part though had to be when we met celebrity chef Tim Love. For those who don’t know, Chef Love is the owner and executive chef of The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in Fort Worth. He has also competed on Iron Chef America (which he won) and Top Chef Masters, so to steal from, Ron Burgundy he’s kind of a big deal.

Chef Love was nice enough to chat and take a picture with us. I’m pretty sure Alex, the office chef, was about to pass out from excitement like one of those girls who saw The Backstreet Boys for the first time (just kidding Alex).

All in all, great outing, but we’re already looking forward to next week – G.I. Joe Friday here we come!

Also, the blog Fort Worth Renaissance was kind enough to feature Alex’s post about The Love Shack (like I said, Backstreet Boys fan. Last time Alex, I promise) on their Friday web links. Thanks guys.

Everything is bigger in Texas

As I was driving down I-30 on Sunday, I was anxious about two things: attending my first football (soccer) match and being able to see what $1.15 billion and three years of construction bears.

I was bound for Cowboys Stadium.

From the two 300-feet arches to the sheer amount of glass, Cowboys Stadium is really something out of this world. It easily dwarfs anything in the vicinity – the highest point on the Titan at Six Flags is 60 feet shorter than just one of the arches.

Sunday was the final game of the World Football Challenge, a soccer tournament featuring well-known clubs from around the globe; it was my favorite club, Chelsea of London, pitted against Mexican giants Club America.

Though the previous games were played in large venues, there’s none bigger than Cowboys Stadium.

It took a while, but after firmly clamping my jaw back to it’s normal, upright position, I stepped inside the mothership.

Immediately, visitors are greeted with an enormous concourse, but the piéce de résistance is the 50-yard scoreboard – the largest high-definition display in the world. And again, my jaw dropped.

Overall, the experience was pleasant, though not without a few caveats. Parking is a nightmare, security is dodgy and concessions are pricy, but what’s new.

This stadium has a bright future ahead. With a diverse card of events like Paul McCartney next month, the NBA All-Star game in 2010 and Superbowl XLV in 2011, there’s no doubting the marketing potential for the city of Arlington as well as the Metroplex.

The investment brought forth by the city of Arlington and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will be returned – though it may be a while. Like they say in Field of Dreams, “if you build it, they will come.”

If anything, this building is a testament to the classic slogan, “Everything is bigger in Texas.”

I’ll be hard pressed to find anything quite like Cowboys Stadium.

Below is a gallery of more photos I took on Sunday: