March 7, 2013

PRESENTED BYAlex Schmelkin

DEMYSTIFYING MEDIA& DESIGN CAREERS

ABOUT ME

First job Hofstra UCCE (1995)First website Hofstra.edu (1996)Yesterday MCNY (1997) Founded Davanita (1998) Acquired by Avatar (2000)Today Ai (2002+)

• Founded 2002• Manhattan• 50 Employees• Transactional Expertise• End-to-end Ecommerce• IMA Top 10 Agency

WE PLAN AND BUILD

DIGITAL BUSINESSES

Careersin Digital

IN OR OUT?SPECIALIZE.NETWORK.

IN OR OUT?SPECIALIZE.NETWORK.

IN OR OUT?

BRANDvs.

AGENCY

IN OR OUT?

BRAND vs. AGENCY• Steady• Build a career and

advance• Great exposure to

commercial concepts• Ownership and control• Can get “stuck” on

projects

• Variety of projects• Dynamic and creative

environments• Learn from great

people, quickly• Can get “stuck” on

accounts• Agency hopping

IN OR OUT?SPECIALIZE.NETWORK.

THE INDUSTRY EXPECTS YOU TO BE A SPECIALIST.

SPECIALIZED

YEARS IN CAREER

Years 2 – 5

COMMON CAREER PATH IN DIGITAL INDUSTRY.

SPECIALIZED

YEARS IN CAREER

COMMON CAREER PATH IN DIGITAL INDUSTRY.

BUSINESS

MANAGEMENT

Years 2 – 5

UX DesignStrategy Technology

Management Project Manager Engagement Manager Chief Experience Officer

Design Lead

Art Director

Visual Designer(s)

Copywriter

UX Lead

Info Architect

Content Strategist

UX Researcher

Digital Strategist

Example Ai Project Team

Digital Strategist

Business Analyst

Data Analyst

Tech Lead

Developer(s)

Fender(s)

QA Engineers(s)

Sys Admin

IN OR OUT?SPECIALIZE.NETWORK.

NETWORK

Participate in local meet-ups.Consider an internship.Publish some thoughts.Attend an industry conference.Start early with LinkedIn.Find a good recruiter.

Get yourself out there. It pays off.

INTERN (2005)

SENIOR PM (2013)

• Write thoughtful cover letters

• Build a portfolio site• Connect on LinkedIn• Demonstrate personality

during interviews• Share 2-year goals

BUILD YOUR PERSONAL

BRAND

YOU

Thank you.

Alex Schmelkinas@alexanderinteractive.com