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Topic: Best places to work in Chicago
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| Author | Message |
| Tarra Bytes | Posted – 12/9/2005 4:25:03 PM | show profile As writers, PR specialists, marketing execs, editors, copywriters--where are the best places to work in Chicago? |
| Misanthrope | Posted – 12/9/2005 5:29:44 PM | show profile ummmmm...... ..... could you be any more vague? |
| globetrotter78 | Posted – 12/9/2005 5:33:14 PM | show profile Specifically what companies are good to work for in Chicago that employ writers and media professionals? Didn't seem too vague to me. |
| Tarra Bytes | Posted – 12/9/2005 6:36:00 PM | show profile Like... The best ad agency The best in-house marketing department The best PR agency The best trade pub The best magazine |
| pob | Posted – 12/9/2005 10:21:34 PM | show profile VSA does good work. |
| worm | Posted – 12/10/2005 10:29:04 AM | show profile Sissy--Are you asking because you're looking for a job, or are you looking for information for a story? |
| hank | Posted – 12/10/2005 12:30:45 PM | show profile Mayor$ office. |
| Tarra Bytes | Posted – 12/10/2005 1:16:49 PM | show profile Looking for a new full-time job... I want to work somewhere in the Loop, and somewhere that is ''writer'' friendly. Some companies don't understand the purpose and value of a marketing department in general, let alone the job of a writer--corporate or otherwise. The same is true of some agencies. I'm asking for advice from Chicago writers on where to work. I'll tell you where not to work...The Pampered Chef's corporate office... what a joke that is, and it's a sure waste of time and talent. |
| js60657 | Posted – 12/11/2005 5:31:21 AM | show profile you won't get an answer here... dear child, you must be new to the media game. there is nothing wrong with your question, except for the fact that in this industry, unfortunately, you won't get a straight or useful answer from anyone, because of the competitive nature of the business. did you see what happened when you asked? what was the first response -- a smartass answer. the second? a cynical opinion of your post. now, people in this business will give you loads of information on work places -- if they are bad places to work -- you've seen that here already. but ask them for advice on how to 'break into' the biz (any biz really - news, pr, etc...), and you'll get the coldest of cold shoulders. people who may have been welcoming to you, the newbie, before, may shun you when you start asking those 'where do i go to work' questions. Here's what i hope is useful advice - where do you want to work? Figure out where, and then badger and pester the management there to get your foot in the door. Don't worry about where the 'best' places to work are you'll find that out soon enough - besides, in any media field, even bad workplaces can become good stepping stones to the next gig. |
| Misanthrope | Posted – 12/11/2005 3:05:21 PM | show profile thanks for the homily js.... but I think the question was rather vague and not really something anyone else who doesn't know the original poster can answer. What are the best places to work? Well, according to what criteria? Does the poster want to make a lot of money? Does s/he want flexibility and a supportive work environment? Good benefits package? Chance for advancement? Ability to get involved in different kinds of projects? Specific type of writing, subject matter, or client base? If she had been a bit more specific about what KIND of environment she finds appealing, I bet there would have been more helpful responses. And then there's the fact that she listed five different career positions..... So what's the best place to live in Chicago, js? |
| Tarra Bytes | Posted – 12/11/2005 7:11:22 PM | show profile Yikes. No fighting, please... And, I'm not entirely new to the biz. I've just worked with an agency and two in-house depts for a number of years, so I haven't seen many different environments. I also do quite a bit of freelance work, but not at such an extensive level that I'm able to estimate how good of an environment my clients' offices are to work in full time. Also, having 10+ years of experience, I am quite open and willing to give newbies tips and advice. I'm not guarded at all. Well, when it comes to a client whose new business I'm pitching I am...but in general...I enjoy helping out when I can. No big deal if you or any other posters feel uncomfortable answering my questions...or if you are confused in general by them. I just wanted to know what some people had to say about Chicago companies. I often just hear the bad stuff from the orgs and associations to which I belong. I was curious if there was any good stuff out there. Thanks... |
| Tarra Bytes | Posted – 12/11/2005 7:37:12 PM | show profile Just for wits and giggles, I'll let you know what kinds of bad experiences I've had...just so you can understand my definition of ''bad company to work for.'' That way maybe you'll understand what I mean by ''good company to work for.'' AGENCY #1 (Location: Gold Coast...starts with ''J'') At this hipster-swank ad agency, my entire department was fired while I was on vacation in Italy for three weeks. Upon my return, the victims' black and white headshots were turned upside down in the entraceway to the agency so that all would know of their demise. Though I remained, I was subjected to the work of about 8 account execs and a copywriter. Luckily I'm a pretty smart cookie and found out that the agency was operating back-door large operation bookie services. (I kid you not!). So...now you're wondering: ''Yeah right, Sissy Barbecue. And you mean to tell us a place like that would operate on the Gold Coast?'' Soon after I found out about this...they somehow went out of business and the owners have never been heard of since. IN-HOUSE MARK-COMM DEPT #1 After fleeing the above agency, I thought I would be safe at this ultra conservative maker of kitchen tools that soccer moms seem to fight over. After learning that they were nearly as corrupt as the agency, I stayed on because I was getting some interesting experience. My writing was edited by a 60-year-old wanna-be-diva who liked to smear doughnut jelly on my drafts. Sometimes coffee, too. Let's call her Jane, but she wasn't the worst part of the job. I soon learned that the company was branding their image and products with religious ideals. I was even assigned the task of writing prayer cards asking a higher power for sales. Things got really ugly when the company took a public stance of the abortion debate. Although this was all bad, the worst part was the up-to-20 drafts my nine other writers and I went through per assignment. Our manager...not Jane...his name was Sean, had (and still has) no idea what he was doing, and was not confident enough to make firm decisions, so we were always rewriting and designing, often missing expensive deadlines. I think these two places are pretty bad places at which to work. Or...is this typical? |
| Misanthrope | Posted – 12/12/2005 2:17:04 PM | show profile Eek.... I don't know that much about agencies, but from the perspective of a working journalist with quite a few years of experience under my belt, the stories you cite sound sadly commonplace (except for the religious weirdness -- that's a new one for me!) In general, I've found that the writers I've worked with have been (on the whole) competent and professional. But, when it comes to management, all bets seem to be off. I've seen people who have no idea whatsoever how to do their jobs remain in high-level editorial management positions for years despite huge problems with organization, social skills, etc. I think that's just the nature of the business, unfortunately. I'm also seeing now that the quality of the work environment almost everywhere has gone down substantially in the past few years. I think that, since the economy tanked in 2000-01, everyone who's left has been taking on more and more work, and everyone is pretty frazzled and resentful. That makes work environments worse. |
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