John Alabazowski - MacLaren McCann

Name: John Alabaszowski
Company: MacLaren McCann
@johnala
john.alabaszowski@maclaren.com

John Alabaszowski, or John "A", is the Vice President Group Creative Director at MacLaren McCann, and he's been at MacLaren McCann for 7 years now. Though he said it's unusual to stay at one agency for so long, because MacLaren is so large, he's had the freedom to move around and work on many different accounts during his time there.

He works in a branch of MacLaren that focuses on relationship marketing - the relationship between website, mobile, social media and real-world experiences. Some notable projects he's worked on include a mobile version of the GM website, production of a series of FAQ videos for Goodwrench, the Gears of War 3 alternate reality game and promotion of an internship program for MasterCard.

John has worked in small, medium and large shops, and has also freelanced, and was able to give us some advice based on this. He told us when he first started freelancing, he would need to cold call places and ask if they needed a website. He warned us that when looking for a job, that we should not just take the first thing we can get. For instance, don't take a Flash-based job if we don't like Flash. He also explained that in his experience working at smaller shops, he had to be more of a jack-of-all-trades and prefers working a larger agency because he didn't want to be limited by his personal capabilities. He likes working at MacLaren because he's in a place where he can be an ideas person and tap in to many people's strengths to create the best possible work.

John also gave us some advice about how to be successful in finding a job.

Your Portfolio:

• Have one - online, or at least a .pdf, and carry it with you on a USB stick
• Put only your best work
• Put your strengths up front
• Diversity is good - demonstrates you can pick up a style guide and be flexible
  
• Show your passions (side projects)
• Organize it!

Your Interview:

• Research the company
• Know what's in your portfolio, and again, make sure it's organized
  
• Ask questions, even about your portfolio and what is good / bad about it
• Develop a thick skin - don't take critiques personally
  
• Definitely don't drink beforehand
  

Your Job:

• Do what you're paid to do, and more
• Be noticed, volunteer for things
• Find other things to work on
• Participate in social events
• Don't be drunker than your boss

Lastly, John reminded us not to take ourselves too seriously, to have fun and enjoy it!