For those of you in the job search trenches, I feel for you! But take heart–all is not lost.  I’m happy to call my recent job search a success story. I’d like to share my experience of getting hired at Slack and Company, along with tips to help your search.

My story begins on Slack and Company’s career page. Before applying for the Account Manager position, I did my due diligence and scoured their website.  After my research, I decided to apply, and sent in my resume and portfolio.

• Tip #1: The job market is cluttered with people who are over, under and perfectly qualified for the job for which you have just applied. How are you going to stand out? Consider creating a portfolio that shows your capabilities and projects you have worked on. I made mine (for free) at Yola.com.

I showed up to my interviews a few days later with my polished and printed resume and 2-3 pages of research, notes and questions.

• Tip #2: It might go without saying, but DO bring copies of your resume with you. Even if your interviewers have one printed out, present one to them anyway. It just looks good.

• Tip #3: Do your research and write down questions so you don’t forget to ask them! Ask things you really want to know. Good examples are, “what will my days be like, what is the structure of the team, how would I be successful in this role?”And listen to your interviewer: when you have questions about what they say, ask! You are interviewing them too!

• Tip #4: It was August; I got off at the wrong train stop with 10 minutes to make the meeting; I ran to my interview.  I made it, with just enough time to run to the bathroom to quickly freshen up- but it was August and I was wearing a suit. As you might imagine, I was a sweaty disaster when I introduced myself to my interviewer.  With no other option but to keep moving forward, I basically called myself out and explained why I was sweating, and I asked for a Kleenex. The tip here is to be real, call attention to obvious things and keep going despite adversities in your way. Ask for a tissue if you need it.  People appreciate sitting across from a real person, even if they are sweating. At least I wasn’t late…

During my interviews, I learned a lot, I asked a lot of questions and I went out of my way to be a presence that they could not forget. I felt like my research paid off, and I also learned how small the agency world is…

• Tip #5: Not only does a company want someone who can do the job (and do it well) they want someone who will fit in with the culture of their workplace. Be yourself! Try to have fun! You will know if you fit in based on the people you meet and how you feel in the atmosphere.

• Tip #6: The world is a small place, and chances are, people you interview with know (or at least know of) people you have worked with in the past. The relationships you build are part of your career path too, (maybe the best part!) so create great working relationships everywhere you go and don’t burn bridges—people talk!

Janna Retzler, Account Manager, Slack and Company

Soon, I happily landed the role as Account Manager for Slack and Company.

The moral of my story story is this: while looking for jobs can be no fun, getting a new one, and a GREAT one, is fun. Keep at your search, do your research, be picky, choose well and remember: the job for you is out there!

Interested in working at Slack and Company? Visit our career page and turn your search into a success story like mine!

So when does a logo refresh go wrong? When you attempt to preserve a graphic element, but you extract its frame of reference. I noticed today that State Farm refreshed their logo.

Old logo

New logo

On one hand, I applaud their effort for trying to make a logo that was designed long before the the digital age more digital-friendly. Look at the old one. Can you tell what it says in those red ovals?  I know my eyes aren’t the same as they used to be, but for as long as I can remember, it’s always been hard to read the words “Auto”, “Fire” and “Life”, until they got to up there in size—like the sign outside my insurance agents office. But I’m sort of left scratching my head as to why they kept the ovals and completely ditched the words. According to the State Farm VP of Marketing who oversaw the project, the reason for the refresh was to communicate the concept that State Farm offers a broad array of insurance and financial services—along with making it more digital-friendly.

I’m not sure they succeeded on all fronts.

But then again, I guess they assume that all the teens and young adults who are looking for an insurance provider already know that State Farm carries Auto, Life and Homeowners insurance. Or maybe they’re assuming the marketing campaigns will do the heavy lifting.

For me, if the goal was to communicate an array of services, I would have ditched the ovals all together because now they don’t stand for anything—at least in the eyes of this consumer, who also happens to be a customer.

What do you think?