Have you ever wondered what it's like to work in an advertising agency, as well as what different types of jobs you can hold at one? All week long we will be featuring stellar females from WONGDOODY, an advertising agency with offices in Seattle and Culver City.
Avoid burning bridges with past employers. It's age-old advice that can be hard to follow, especially under extenuating circumstances. But truly, you never know when a good relationship will come in handy.
Case in point: Megan Blacksher, senior director of human resources in the Seattle office of ad agency WONGDOODY Megan got her current gig after WD's president called her out the blue to let her know they were hiring. Her hook-up? A former boss who had sent him her way.
Megan spends her time at WONGDOODY doing everything from recruiting and training to employee relations and communications. But her favorite part of the job is helping people solve conflicts and finding the next great employee who's a perfect fit for the team.
The very best way to get a job is to find people you know in the industry, ask lots of questions and get a realistic view of what the career choice entails.
How did you discover your current job?
I got a phone call from the president, Pat Doody, to let me know they were looking for an HR director. He was referred to me by a former boss of mine in the ad industry and apparently, it was meant to be!
What is your typical day like, and what types of things do you do in your job?
What I love about my job is that I don’t really have a typical day. My areas of responsibility include recruiting, employee relations and communication, coaching, training, HR and business strategy -- to name a few.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Honestly, I love the WONGDOODY team. Getting to work in a creative environment with smart people where I can use humor to get through the day makes it fun and rewarding to come to work. When I can help people solve conflicts or find the next great candidate who’s a fit for our culture and an asset to the team, that’s even better.
What challenges keep you awake at night?
At this point in my career, I try not to let work keep me up at night. Right now, my 11-month-old does a good enough job.
What is the biggest personal sacrifice you have to make because of your job?
Well, as a working mom, this isn’t unique to me, but time away from my family is the biggest sacrifice. But I choose to work because I really enjoy it. My work is an important part of who I am, and I think that my satisfaction with that part of my life actually helps make me a better mom.
What is one lesson you've learned in your job that sticks with you?
One of my most valuable lessons that applies to work and beyond is that there are always two sides to a story; two perspectives to a situation. We all have our own filters that affect our perceptions and one of my favorite things to say is, “The truth is always somewhere in the middle.” This reminds me to be objective in a career that naturally has me straddling fences on a pretty regular basis.
Who are your role models?
My mom, because of her kind and loving spirit in everything she does.
What are some of the rules you live by?
In no particular order (and I’m sure leaving some important ones off the list):
- Be grateful. Practicing gratitude is pretty powerful.
- Write goals down. Something about the written goal makes it so much more likely to happen.
- Try not to go a day without a genuine belly laugh.
- Don’t misuse your and you’re. Ever.
What advice do you have for women who want to be in your industry?
The same advice I have for people who want to be in any industry: network. The very best way to get a job is to find people you know in the industry, ask lots of questions and get a realistic view of what the career choice entails. Then do some serious soul-searching about how that career or industry fits your own personal and professional goals. If it's not a fit, keep NETWORKING!
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I hope to still be at WONGDOODY and part of the company’s growth as a top agency in the U.S.