I was speaking with our new Account Director, Diana, this morning about getting organized around the office. She asked me about syncing cell phones with the office Now-Up-To-Date calendar, not realizing that I almost never use my cell phone except when I absolutely have to. I tend to think of the cell phone like a lethal weapon.

We had a huge debate in the office last year, before we moved, about new office calendar systems. Aquent HQ uses Entourage, but it really doesn't fit our office's organizational needs. For one, you have to invite everyone to meetings if you want to see them. Since there are tons of interviews, client visits, and appointments during any given week, inviting everyone in the office to every appointment would be a nightmare (though we all might feel extremely popular). Though Now-Up-To-Date isn't perfect, you can use it on OS X machines  and it makes more sense to us than iCal or anything else we could find.

There's a myriad of organizational systems out there. And by "out there", I mean on the market and in my office. Some people scribble everything in a notebook, I bring my PowerBook everywhere I go, people write down stuff in Treos... But it seems to me people mostly use notebooks for certain things and laptops for others.

Starting in a new office is tough, but it's always an interesting thing to see how a group of people organizes themselves to be as productive as possible. Where are their To Dos? How are jobs routed? How do you tell everyone where you are when clients always need you?

Adaptive Path had this recent blog entry by their new staff member which talks about the joys and frustrations about figuring out how to work in a new organization and "drink the Kool-Aid".

Which may be going a bit far for me, since I don't like Kool-Aid.

Any thoughts out there about great tools for sharing in an office environment?

BTW, I am not using the word "sharing" as a euphemism.

Thank you for keeping this blog clean.

(Hey all, I'm running a bit late today and promise to have the Networking Events updated by Monday. Sorry about the tardiness!)

The Aquent ASAP Job List
"Black is the New Black"

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT:

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

1. Flash Designer
2. Print Project Manager/Account Executive
3. Photoshop Guru
4. Hands-On Web Designer
5. Sr. Programmer/Coder
6. Web Developer/Coder
7. Copywriter
8. Web Developer/Coder
9. Bilingual Packaging Designer (Food)
10. Marketing Project Coordinator
11. Sr. Designer (Sports)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Flash Designer

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 3+ years professional experience designing in Flash
• Animation skills, intermediate ActionScript skills
• Must have entertainment industry experience
• Hands-on skills in Illustrator, Fireworks, and Photoshop

PERKS!:

• Small, growing ad agency with high-end entertainment clients
• Laid-back environment
  

LOCATION:

• Hollywood
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Print Project Manager/Account Executive

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 3 to 5 years of experience
• Extensive knowledge of print process, including overseeing design and copy development
• Client-facing experience

PERKS!:

• Internal, agency-style creative department
  

LOCATION:

• Pasadena
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Photoshop Guru

TERMS: One Month Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Incredibly advanced Photoshop skills
• High-end professional experience retouching for magazines, packaging, etc.
• Please respond with samples of the above and a history of your experience

PERKS!:

• Working on globally-recognized consumer brand
• Great pieces for your portfolio!

LOCATION:

• Compton
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Hands-On Web Designer

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Hands-on development skills
• Experience developing look-and-feel for large, high-visibility consumer Web sites
• Prior work on search-driven sites preferred

PERKS!:

• Casual environment
• Highly-trafficked Web site
• Great job location
  

LOCATION:

• Old Town Pasadena
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Sr. Programmer/Coder

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5+ years of Web programming experience
• Advanced skills in CSS (floats, positioning, and box models)
• JavaScript, PHP, and knowledge of XML
• Experience with Unix

PERKS!:

• Cool, team-oriented environment
• Work with Interaction Designers on interesting, fun projects

LOCATION:

• Santa Monica
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Developer/Coder

TERMS: Three Month Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 3 to 5 years of Web application development experience
• Expert in semantic markup techniques
• Hands-on skills in DHTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• PHP and Ajax a plus

PERKS!:

• Very fun creative group working in a friendly, positive environment
• Work is on movie and TV properties
  

LOCATION:

• Santa Monica
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Copywriter

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Must have entertainment experience
• Past work writing brochures and print collateral for corporate clients
• Witty, clever style of writing
• Please send samples/URL links for consideration

PERKS!:

• Cool design house with entertainment clients
  

LOCATION:

• Los Feliz
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Developer/Coder

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2+ years of experience hand-coding HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript
• Must send recent URLs you've worked on
• Permanent salary is $60K

PERKS!:

• Cool design firm with a casual environment
• Incredible boss and nice group of people

LOCATION:

• Westside
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Bilingual Packaging Designer (Food)

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Packaging design experience required
• Excellent skills in InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator
• Bilingual Spanish and English

PERKS!:

• Great creative design team
• Ability to work directly with clients

LOCATION:

• Glendale
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Marketing Project Coordinator

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Experience working within marketing or creative services department
• Familiarity with print marketing materials and the print process
• Prior work in a support role handling administrative and coordination functions

PERKS!:

• Opportunity to learn and advance to a project management role
• Growing marketing and creative team
  

LOCATION:

• Glendale
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Sr. Designer (Sports)

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Previous role designing packaging, point-of-purchase, and other promotional collateral
• Experience with sports-related products, services, or an incredible passion for sports
• Excellent hands-on skills in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator
  

PERKS!:

• Great creative design team
• Ability to work directly with clients

LOCATION:

• Glendale
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED:

Point your friend right to this link and have them drop your name to the Agent.

INTERESTED IN OTHER AQUENT POSITIONS?

Go here, my friend, then select Job Openings

* MyAquent users, use your UserName & Password to express interest in jobs. Everybody else, he registration is easy!

The JOB CENTER will track which jobs you've applied for and the current status.

I hadn't heard about bait cars until I was listening to this story on NPR this morning.

Police departments all over the US and Canada are placing wired, remote-controlled vehicles in theft hot spots, then are alerted the moment thieves break in and drive them away. The police then track the vehicles by GPS, pursue them, then knock out the engine by remote control. The whole thing is caught on videotape and used as evidence in court.

I stopped watching COPS years ago because I'm not crazy about watching the sordid lives of creepy people (which is the same reason I don't watch Dancing With the Stars).

And just as these kids below predicted, it was probably a really bad Christmas.

(Warning, this video contains drug use. And worse language than you may be used to. Depending on where you work.)

If you go over to YouTube and the Bait Car Web site, you can see tons of these. Probably the saddest, crazy one is this video with a meth addict stealing an SUV. It is crazy scary.

Well, in case you hadn't heard, last night Adobe revealed their Creative Suite 3 package in New York, which they shared to the whole world via webcast. (Okay, some of the people in Papua, New Guinea were doing something else.)

If you were unable to see it, and Adobe doesn't seem to have it up at their site yet, the good folks over at CreativePro.com have this nice overview of five of the upgraded apps: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and Flash.

Editor-in-Chief Terri Stone cautions that these are merely overviews of the programs, not a review. The applications aren't even shipping yet, but they'll have reviews once the code is finalized.

I volunteered to help debug, but the guard at Adobe wouldn't let me near the building.

Where is the love, I ask you.

To: Marketing Department
From: The Office of Jake Sanders

Due to the rather poor numbers during the opening weekend of our movie (we came in behind the IMAX film on the British House of Commons), it looks like we will need to put a substantial spin on all marketing materials associated with our remarkable feature film.

On a side note, I personally believe both Mary-Kate and Ashley deserve a standing ovation for their portrayal of identical twins separated at birth on opposite sides of the Mason-Dixon line at the start of the Civil War, as does David Lee Roth for his rousing version of "You Are So Beautiful (To Me)." And if Carrot Top does not win the Oscar for his performance as Robert E. Lee, there is seriously something wrong with the Academy.

So in the wake of less-than-glowing reviews, our Copywriters have been toiling around the clock to "rework" the critics' quotes so they will be suitable for our ads, Web banners, viral marketing, and the like.

Below is actual text from the reviews, followed our expertly cleaved copy for use in marketing materials. (Copy is in ALL CAPS in the review itself for those of you who may doubt our authenticity.)

I still have a lot of faith in our superb film "One Twin Line", and I hope you do, too.

Best of luck.

Jake

----

Review: This is not what I'd call FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. If you must attend this movie, take a family you really hate.

Copy: FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Review:  THE two sister "ACTORS" WILL STEAL YOUR still-beating HEART right out of your chest and stomp on it.

Copy: THE ACTORS WILL STEAL YOUR HEART!

Review: EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WAS LAUGHING that this catastrophe actually cost $120 million to make.

Copy: EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WAS LAUGHING!!

Review: ROMANTIC? No. Hysterical? Yes. IT'S ASTOUNDING that anyone gave this project the green light. Truly awful.

Copy: ROMANTIC! IT'S ASTOUNDING!

Review: Like a GREAT big greased pig turning on a barbecue spit, this is a kind of awful SUMMER FARE I will never really understand.

Copy: GREAT SUMMER FARE!

Review: The only HILARIOUS part of this MOVIE was when patrons lined up and asked for their money back.

Copy: HILARIOUS MOVIE!

Review: If the studio thinks THIS YOUNG ACTOR IS THE NEXT JAMES DEAN, then I'm the next Angelina Jolie.

Copy: THIS YOUNG ACTOR IS THE NEXT JAMES DEAN!

Review: When the projector broke, THE AUDIENCE STARTED CHEERING.

Copy: THE AUDIENCE STARTED CHEERING!

Review: Like A really, rough ROLLER COASTER RIDE, you may consider bringing your barf bag to this film.

Copy: A ROLLER COASTER RIDE!

Review: One of the worst, most indulgent, most pointless films of his career. A piece of trash THAT MAKES MY TOP TEN LIST for one of the most dreadful movies ever to be made.

Copy: MAKES MY TOP TEN LIST!

Review: Like a car crash, YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THIS disaster.

Copy: YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THIS!

Review: I'd BE FIRST IN LINE to SEE the cast and crew hanged for THIS venture.

Copy: BE FIRST IN LINE TO SEE THIS!

Review: If you let your kids SEE THE MOVIE, keep in mind THAT you'll never be able to explain to them why it IS these idiotic producers went to such great lengths MAKING up such a stupid HISTORY of the Civil War.

Copy: SEE THE MOVIE THAT IS MAKING HISTORY!

Review: Leaves no cliché or stomach unturned. IT'S a REALLY GOOD thing I took Dramamine.

Copy: IT'S REALLY GOOD!

Review: This may WELL be one of those things WRITTEN by those infamous monkeys sitting down at the typewriter.

Copy: WELL WRITTEN!

Review: Neither ORIGINAL, nor particularly FUNNY, I've seen better plots at Forest Lawn.

Copy: ORIGINAL! FUNNY!

Review: Puts a GREAT big "F" at the front of "Fiasco".

Copy: GREAT!

H  O  T     T  A  L  E  N  T
The Newsletter of Aquent's Available Talent

M  A  R  C  H   |   2  8   |   2  0  0  7
__________________________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hot Talent

Featured Talent This Week

That Bit at the End - "I Laughed Till I Cried"

Subscribe | Unsubscribe Information

__________________________________________________

HOT TALENT

Spring in Los Angeles has always made us want to break out in song.

Which is why we created this very SINGABLE version of our weekly newsletter.

Set to that 50's hit "My Boyfriend's Back", we invite you to follow along as we take you on a musical journey through the city's top Creative and Marketing Talent.

Then give your voice a rest and follow the links for profiles, samples, and resumes.

In the key of C!
__________________________________________________

FEATURED TALENT THIS WEEK

Joyce S. - User Assistance Manager|Writer
Laurie R. - Web|Interactive Project Manager
Kelcey P. - Graphic Designer
Jennifer C.  - Web Content Manager
__________________________________________________

Joyce S.
User Experience Manager|Technical Writer

Joyce has an exceptional experience in technical publications, writing, user experience, and data analytics from the world's leading software company.

At Microsoft Corporation since '95, she was most recently developing metadata for next generation search technology and prototyping next-generation wizards. Managing a team of Information Architects as User Experience Manager she was responsible for the overall assistance experience in Windows Vista as well as the functionality around finding and surfacing assistance content.

As Technical Publications Manager at Dun & Bradstreet's software group, Erisco, Joyce managed a team of Technical Writers and production people, overhauling its publishing tools and processes to improve efficiency and lower costs. She also managed vendors and partnered with other D&B subsidiaries to develop corporate-wide user interface and documentation standards.

She's a multitalented Aquent Talent available for just the next 3 months!

Click here for her on-line Aquent profile.

Desired Work: Freelance
__________________________________________________

Laurie R.
Web|Interactive Project Manager

Managing Earthlink's email campaigns and banner ads for the last five years, Laurie thrives in fast-paced, detail-oriented environments.

While at Earthlink she was an integral part of the marketing strategy team, crafting messaging, helping choose target markets, reviewing creative briefs, managing aggressive schedules, and much more at a need-it-now pace.

As Print Project Supervisor at Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Laurie project managed all the print for specific movie titles, such as packaging, DVD stickers, POP, sell sheets, and posters. Prior to Disney she held Project Coordinator roles with Women.com Networks (now ivillage.com) and Arthur Anderson Marketing.

She's just become available this week, but may not be the next. So please take a look at her resume and give us a call!

Click here to see her on-line Aquent profile.

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

__________________________________________________

Kelcey P.
Graphic Designer

An experienced Designer with many years as a freelancer under his belt, Kelcey's colorful and fun work has livened up ads, collateral, outdoor, environmental, identity, and logos all the way from Nova Scotia to LA.

Working on creations for Soda Pop Curtis, Trident Holdings, Emerging Energy Technologies, YKN Sunglasses, and more, he juggles multiple projects, clients, and vendors simultaneously, to make sure everything gets done on time and under budget. A skilled hand illustrator, Kelcey has a unique flair for logo design and creating company identities.

But enough of our yapping, click here to check out his on-line profile for his exceptional samples and resume!

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere, Advertising/Account Management, Copy Writing, HTML, Lotus Freelance Graphics, Macromedia Director, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express, Real Video
__________________________________________________

Jennifer C.
Web Content Manager

There may be a lot of funny things going on at National Lampoon's Radio Network site, but jumbled content isn't one of them.

Which is why they had Jennifer.

Designing and maintaining sites for their weekly top 40 comedy program and companion site for national and international radio affiliates, she was involved from the get-go for researching and acquiring content management systems as well as developing the look-and-feel and functionality of the site itself. Her hectic schedule included customizing the CMS for each site, acquiring content, managing production logs, trafficking assets, and troubleshooting SEO and SEM processes.

Jennifer's background includes managing and editing ad loops as Production Manager at Clear Channel's Live Nation and producing multiple sites (including Burger King's) as a Flash Designer at EMAK Worldwide.

If your site is causing laughter, but for all the wrong reasons, then you really need to call us about Jennifer.

Seriously.

Click here to see her on-line Aquent profile.

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Professional Categories: Creative Department Management, Production Management, Online Traffic Manager, Web Project Management, Web Content Management
__________________________________________________

THAT BIT AT THE END
"I Laughed Till I Cried"

To: Marketing Department
From: The Office of Jake Sanders

Due to the rather poor numbers during the opening weekend of our movie (we came in behind the IMAX film on the British House of Commons), it looks like we will need to put a substantial spin on all marketing materials associated with our remarkable feature film.

On a side note, I personally believe both Mary-Kate and Ashley deserve a standing ovation for their portrayal of identical twins separated at birth on opposite sides of the Mason-Dixon line at the start of the Civil War, as does David Lee Roth for his rousing version of "You Are So Beautiful (To Me)." And if Carrot Top does not win the Oscar for his performance as Robert E. Lee, there is seriously something wrong with the Academy.

So in the wake of less-than-glowing reviews, our Copywriters have been toiling around the clock to "rework" the critics' quotes so they will be suitable for our ads, Web banners, viral marketing, and the like.

Below is actual text from the reviews, followed our expertly cleaved copy for use in marketing materials. (Copy is in ALL CAPS in the review itself for those of you who may doubt our authenticity.)

I still have a lot of faith in our superb film "One Twin Line", and I hope you do, too.

Best of luck.

Jake

----

Review: This is not what I'd call FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. If you must attend this movie, take a family you really hate.

Copy: FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!


Review:  THE two sister "ACTORS" WILL STEAL YOUR still-beating HEART right out of your chest and stomp on it.

Copy: THE ACTORS WILL STEAL YOUR HEART!


Review: EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WAS LAUGHING that this catastrophe actually cost $120 million to make.

Copy: EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WAS LAUGHING!!


Review: ROMANTIC? No. Hysterical? Yes. IT'S ASTOUNDING that anyone gave this project the green light. Truly awful.

Copy: ROMANTIC! IT'S ASTOUNDING!


Review: Like a GREAT big greased pig turning on a barbecue spit, this is a kind of awful SUMMER FARE I will never really understand.

Copy: GREAT SUMMER FARE!


Review: The only HILARIOUS part of this MOVIE was when patrons lined up and asked for their money back.

Copy: HILARIOUS MOVIE!


Review: If the studio thinks THIS YOUNG ACTOR IS THE NEXT JAMES DEAN, then I'm the next Angelina Jolie.

Copy: THIS YOUNG ACTOR IS THE NEXT JAMES DEAN!


Review: When the projector broke, THE AUDIENCE STARTED CHEERING.

Copy: THE AUDIENCE STARTED CHEERING!


Review: Like A really, rough ROLLER COASTER RIDE, you may consider bringing your barf bag to this film.

Copy: A ROLLER COASTER RIDE!


Review: One of the worst, most indulgent, most pointless films of his career. A piece of trash THAT MAKES MY TOP TEN LIST for one of the most dreadful movies ever to be made.

Copy: MAKES MY TOP TEN LIST!


Review: Like a car crash, YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THIS disaster.

Copy: YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THIS!


Review: I'd BE FIRST IN LINE to SEE the cast and crew hanged for THIS venture.

Copy: BE FIRST IN LINE TO SEE THIS!


Review: If you let your kids SEE THE MOVIE, keep in mind THAT you'll never be able to explain to them why it IS these idiotic producers went to such great lengths MAKING up such a stupid HISTORY of the Civil War.

Copy: SEE THE MOVIE THAT IS MAKING HISTORY!


Review: Leaves no cliché or stomach unturned. IT'S a REALLY GOOD thing I took Dramamine.

Copy: IT'S REALLY GOOD!


Review: This may WELL be one of those things WRITTEN by those infamous monkeys sitting down at the typewriter.

Copy: WELL WRITTEN!


Review: Neither ORIGINAL, nor particularly FUNNY, I've seen better plots at Forest Lawn.

Copy: ORIGINAL! FUNNY!


Review: Puts a GREAT big "F" at the front of "Fiasco".

Copy: GREAT!

__________________________________________________

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If you don't want to receive any more of these newsletters, please reply with the word "remove" in the subject line. 

Also, please feel free to reply to give us updates on your contact information.

And of course, we'd love to hear your feedback!

__________________________________________________

Tim Donnelly
Propagandist | Blogger | Stuff Coordinator

A Q U E N T
6100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA  90048
Phone: 323 634 7000 | Fax: 323 954 8517
tdonnelly@aquent.com

We represent more than 400,000 marketing and creative professionals around the globe.
Visit aquent.com to learn more.

We all journal for the Wall Street Journal!

You're probably now painfully aware why I was kicked out of the Campus Copywriters Club.

The Wall Street Journal is running a new ad campaign, Every Journey needs a Journal, which focuses on now-made-it types' career highs and lows. Ending with the high, of course. (We don't want to see a story on Ross Perot, do we?)

Sheryl Crow dealing with cancer, David Neelemen (from JetBlue) getting fired from Southwest Airlines, Jake Burton losing $100,000 after starting Burton Snowboards... but all ending up making it in the end.

It's a nicely done, clean site for a newspaper, though the Behind the Scenes videos aren't really much to look at.

I think the final step for them might have been to make the stories a little more compelling. I mean, that's what this newspaper is know for, correct?

(Thanks to Jim and Franki Durbin at brandstorming for the post)

(From guest Aquent blogger Becky)

Well it’s real. Yep, doctors and sports nutritionists are now telling us that Pickle Juice is actually good for us. And someone has already begun to capitalize on it:

Pickle Juice Sport

What’s even more amazing than this product being genuinely market-viable (it’s currently being retailed in 7-Eleven and Albertson’s), is the Website! It’s actually GOOD! Which amazes me. How come Web-based companies like Linked-In can continue to have poor UI design and this Pickle Juice company has a good one?

But, if you ask me, I’ll invest. I think UI is a great predictor of whether a company is going to make it or not, because it’s a reflection of whether or not they care about their customer’s perception of them. For more on this read this Forbes article on bad UI design.

And if you don’t have time, just skip to the last paragraph for a laugh.

The Aquent ASAP Job List
"Still PABA Free"

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT:

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

1. Designer with Automotive Experience
2. Microsoft Access & Excel Guru
3. Word Expert
4. Traffic Manager
5. Account Executive
6. Microsoft Access Programmer

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Designer with Automotive Experience

TERMS: Temporary (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Recent samples of B2C car brochures
• Must have previously art directed an auto shoot
• Please provide samples if interested!

PERKS!:

• Great project working for top ad agency in LA
  

LOCATION:

• Westside
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Microsoft Access & Excel Guru

TERMS: Short-Term Temporary (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Expert hands-on skills in Access and Excel
• Knowledge of SQL and VBA highly desirable
• Able to self-manage on stand-alone project

PERKS!:

• Great short-term position for project-oriented Microsoft expert
  

LOCATION:

• Glendale
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Word Expert

TERMS: Short-Term Temporary (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Ability to do the following flawlessly in Microsoft Word: tables, style sheets, importing graphics, and typography
• Insider's knowledge of PC keyboard shortcuts
• Mad fast skills!

PERKS!:

• Great marketing and ad agency
• This is an opportunity to make a long-term freelance relationship with a terrific client
  

LOCATION:

• Torrance
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Traffic Manager

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 3 to 5 years as a Traffic Manager at an agency or in-house department
• Solid working knowledge of Excel, Word, and FileMaker
  

PERKS!:

• This company is a GLOBAL LEADER in fashion today
  

LOCATION:

• South Bay
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Account Executive

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 1 to 2+ years of creative services project management experience
• Ability to provide excellent customer service to advertising clients
• Salary is $50K
  

PERKS!:

• Great opportunity for an experienced AAE or Account Coordinator to move up in title and pay, while remaining in industry
• Client is a small advertising agency

LOCATION:

• Pasadena
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Microsoft Access Programmer

TERMS: Temporary (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Ability to code forms in Access
• Ability to discuss past Access projects in depth

PERKS!:

• Great ad agency
• Project has a flexible time line
  

LOCATION:

• Torrance
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED:

Point your friend right to this link and have them drop your name to the Agent.

INTERESTED IN OTHER AQUENT POSITIONS?

Go here, my friend, then select Job Openings

* MyAquent users, use your UserName & Password to express interest in jobs. Everybody else, he registration is easy!

The JOB CENTER will track which jobs you've applied for and the current status.

A couple of great freebies for you on a Friday.

Adobe has released an alpha version of their new development tool (code name) Apollo. It allows Web Developers fluent in Flex, HTML, Flash, JavaScript, and AJAX to "build and deploy rich Internet applications (RIAs) to the desktop."

Here's the pitch:

Apollo enables developers to create applications that combine the benefits of web applications – network and user connectivity, rich media content, ease of development, and broad reach – with the strengths of desktop applications – application interactions, local resource access, personal settings, powerful functionality, and rich interactive experiences.

And our old Road Tour partner Lynda.com is also giving a free training by Mike Chambers, Adobe's Senior Product Manager for Developer Relations. Just go to this link and make sure your browser will open up a popup from that site.

Dude, Free Friday is better than Taco Tuesday ever was.

(If you missed my announcement of Creative Suite 3, you should check that out here.)

I miss my bike. I really do.

For a year or so (during Daylight Saving Time) I could ride 4 miles from my son's school to Aquent every Friday . This was a switch up to dropping both my son and daughter off at their preschool and riding from there (5.5 miles). And from the times when I could ride from my home to work (9 miles plus the distance bike tires can fall into a drainage grate).

When I told people I did this, they'd occasionally accuse me of somehow "cheating". As if it wasn't a real ride if I did some of it by car. My defense was how many kids do you see being carried on the back of a bike in Los Angeles? Less than .000000001%? Well, there's a pretty good reason for it. Have you seen how people drive here? They don't buy Hummers due to their great gas mileage.

Regardless, my wife switched her work hours back in the fall and now it's impossible to get two kids to two different schools and myself to work via bike. I've tried working it out in my mind, it's just not going to happen. This will all change next year when my daughter starts kindergarten, which brings me joy to no end.

Because there's nothing like starting a day after riding a bike, not even a double latte. Or whizzing by the $3.49 a gallon station on Fairfax and smiling.

Until then, it's back on the bike trainer and reading or listening to This American Life's podcast.

Which, when I think back to falling into those drainage grates, is not such a bad tradeoff.

Dear trusted Bentley & Sons customer,

We would like to extend our deepest apologies to any of our valued clients who received an erroneous gift from Bentley & Sons this 2006 holiday season.

As the firm that manages your retirement funds, we hope you can appreciate that it was our desire to express gratitude to you, our top customers, in a fiscally responsible manner.

It was this rationale that had led us to choose a lovely (and very cost-effective) ornamental Lucky Bamboo plant as a client gift this year. Suitable for the office or home, the superbly low-maintenance Lucky Bamboo has been as a symbol of prosperity to the Chinese people for thousands of years.

We were assured not only would this plant provide good "feng shui" no matter where placed, but that it had minimal light requirements.

With these specifics in mind, our Marketing Department ordered over twenty thousand of what we believed to be the perfect gift for our clients: Item #4687, the Lucky Bamboo Plant in a Cobalt Blue Ceramic Vase.

That was our plan.

We recently found out that, through some misunderstanding with our vendor that many of you took delivery of Item #4787: the Venomous Spitting Hemlock Plant in a Fire Engine Red Ceramic Vase.

Our vendor is still trying to track down the source of the confusion (he believes it lies in the dissimilarity between the Mandarin and Cantonese dialects).

Unfortunately, not only does the Spitting Hemlock reputedly cause negative energy, it is also notoriously fussy, and may very well be the most dangerous type of vegetation on the planet.

While touching the Lucky Bamboo is said to bring good fortune, stroking the Venomous Spitting Hemlock Plant will cause abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium, incoherence, and possible coma.

You can imagine our embarrassment at this mishap.

We wanted to thank our clients who caught this error initially and alerted us to the problem while their Spitting Hemlocks were still in the box.

For those of you who removed the erroneous plant from its box (black with illustrations of a skull and crossbones prominently displayed on all sides), we ask that you refrain from handling the plant itself. Doing so has caused at least sixteen hospitalizations among our preferred customers, and we do not wish to add your name to the list.

If you have already positioned the plant on your desk or in a sunny nook inside your house, we request that you dispose of it in the nearest biohazard waste receptacle. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and safety glasses while handling the plant and throw the gloves away when you have finished.

If you notice that your plant is bearing tiny yellow berries and seems to quiver violently when you approach it, we beg you to refrain from making any sudden movements and to slowly exit the room. Our vendor (More-4-Less Discount On-Line Plant Emporium) has cautioned that upon reaching what he calls the "Berry Stage," this plant becomes particularly dangerous. At this point any rapid movement in the plant's general vicinity is considered an act of aggression. The plant will attack if provoked. This type of Hemlock (conium lethal lethalicus) possesses poisonous barbs, which it can shoot with deadly accuracy up to 25 feet.

If your Venomous Spitting Hemlock Plant has already reached this juncture, evacuate your office or home and dial the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ask for Special Agent Adler at the Lethal Plant Squad as he has been very sympathetic throughout this calamity and is the only individual at the bureau credentialed to handle aggressive flora.

Please also phone Special Agent Adler if your plant has recently disappeared. While coworkers may have merely removed it, these plants may develop locomotion and should be considered hazardous to the public at large. If your plant is missing, exit the building by shielding your face and exposed limbs with a heavy winter coat or blanket. Be sure to check under the desks during your egress, as Spitting Hemlocks can conceal themselves and subsequently jump 15 feet to attack their quarry.

We apologize in advance to those offices with multiple Bentley & Sons customers who may have received six or more of the incorrect plants.

Thank you for your continued understanding.

For those customers who received our proper (and very attractive) Lucky Bamboo offering, we genuinely hope all that your holidays were meaningful and that the Lucky Bamboo brings you good fortune and prosperity for years to come.

If you or a loved one are currently hospitalized after coming in contact with the Venomous Spitting Hemlock plant, we offer you our deepest apologies and invite you to phone our office your earliest convenience so we may know where to send flowers.

Wishing you the best in 2007,

Bentley & Sons

H  O  T     T  A  L  E  N  T
The Newsletter of Aquent's Available Talent

M  A  R  C  H   |   2  1   |   2  0  0  7
__________________________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hot Talent

Featured Talent This Week

That Bit at the End - "Plant One on Me"

Subscribe | Unsubscribe Information

__________________________________________________

HOT TALENT

We're happy to announce our Hot Talent Newsletter will soon be Podcasting!

That means when you wake up at 2am and are dying to hear about Aquent's best Designers, Production Artists, Traffic Managers, and Brand Managers, you can tune in and hear all about them on your iPod or other MP3 player!

Soon our Hot Talent Newsletter will be with you 24/7 in an ultra-convenient format.

No more balancing your laptop while doing laundry, washing the car, or mowing the lawn!

While we work out the final kinks (such as which one of us has the best Podcast voice), why don't you check out these four terrific Aquent Talent and their profiles, samples, and resumes.

.WAV!
__________________________________________________

FEATURED TALENT THIS WEEK

Jason H. - Art Director|Creative Director
Max K. - Director of Search Marketing
Patricia P. - Print Project Supervisor, Traffic & Broadcast
Sunita S. - Marketing and Research Executive
__________________________________________________

Jason H.
Art Director|Creative Director

More than 10 years combined of agency, client-side, and freelance experience in interactive, print, packaging, and event design, Jason has impressed clients around the globe!

As founder and Creative Director of an international design firm for the last seven years, he worked directly with clients throughout all stages of project development on a broad range of projects from initial presentation to stunning completion. His clients run the industry gamut including automotive (Mercedes Benz, Aprilia motorcycles), entertainment (Disney, Groove on Records), financial (Lotus Investments, Fidelity, Credit Suisse First Boston), pharmaceutical (Merck), and fashion and beauty (Phashion Magazine, Contesta Rock Hair).

Jason's just as comfortable with hands-on Web development and print production as he is heading up a crack team of creatives.

Now that's what we call service!

See his on-line Aquent profile here!

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, HTML, JavaScript, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Fireworks, Macromedia Flash, Macromedia FreeHand, Microsoft FrontPage, CorelDRAW!, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint
__________________________________________________

Max K.
Director of Search Marketing

Max is another amazing Aquent Talent who won't be on the market long!

(Believe us, we only say that when it's true.)

An Internet Marketing guru with SEO, SEM, pay-per-click, and direct marketing and analysis experience, he has over five years of on-line marketing experience with an emphasis on search marketing.

Most recently at search engine optimization company SEOPerformance, he set-up and managed clients' PPC advertising campaigns across dozens of industries and was responsible for over $6 million in annual budgets. With experience in Web development and programming, Max can break it down with the tech team, then explain to creative what can be done and how long it's going to take to get there.

Open to industry, call us now about Max, before someone else does!

See his on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance
__________________________________________________

Patricia "Ann" P.
Print Project Supervisor, Traffic & Broadcast

Patricia (who goes by "Ann") has extensive experience in advertising broadcast production and traffic management as well as print project management.

While at Dailey & Associates she coordinated the work of all agency departments in the production of TV and radio spots for the likes of Nestle Confections and ConocoPhillips. Most recently Print Project Supervisor at Disney, she oversaw production of packaging, consumer ads and coupons, trade ads, and a wide variety of POP components for properties from Buena Vista Home Entertainment, ABC TV, and Pixar.

If you need someone who really knows the ins and outs of vendor relationships, can create hyper-accurate cost analyses, and who keeps every project moving along at lightning speed, then call us about Ann!

See her on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent
__________________________________________________

Sunita S.
Marketing and Research Executive

With a background in research, analysis, marketing, and strategy for on-line, mobile, gaming, and TV, Sunita should be your go-to when you're dying to get a message to consumers.

Most recently at Threshold Marketing/TOMC/Buzztone, she devised roadmaps for companies to create, launch, and offer new on-line services and provided key strategic outlines for using emerging media for marketing campaigns. At Sony she helped launch the mobile and video sites for sony.com and worked with Creative Artists Agency for strategy on the mycoke.com site.

Sunita's vast experience includes helping conceptualize goals and target audiences for banner and email campaigns, researching prospects for clients venturing into interactive mediums, and creating campaign effectiveness presentations based on Web analytics reports and competitive analyses.

Her software toolbelt includes Site Clarity, HitBox, Falk, E.piphany, Google Adwords, Overture, and more!

She just might be a Web superhero!

See her on-line Aquent profile here.

Desired Work: Freelance and Permanent
__________________________________________________

THAT BIT AT THE END
"Plant One on Me"

Dear trusted Bentley & Sons customer,

We would like to extend our deepest apologies to any of our valued clients who received an erroneous gift from Bentley & Sons this 2006 holiday season.

As the firm that manages your retirement funds, we hope you can appreciate that it was our desire to express gratitude to you, our top customers, in a fiscally responsible manner.

It was this rationale that had led us to choose a lovely (and very cost-effective) ornamental Lucky Bamboo plant as a client gift this year. Suitable for the office or home, the superbly low-maintenance Lucky Bamboo has been as a symbol of prosperity to the Chinese people for thousands of years.

We were assured not only would this plant provide good "feng shui" no matter where placed, but that it had minimal light requirements.

With these specifics in mind, our Marketing Department ordered over twenty thousand of what we believed to be the perfect gift for our clients: Item #4687, the Lucky Bamboo Plant in a Cobalt Blue Ceramic Vase.

That was our plan.

We recently found out that, through some misunderstanding with our vendor that many of you took delivery of Item #4787: the Venomous Spitting Hemlock Plant in a Fire Engine Red Ceramic Vase.

Our vendor is still trying to track down the source of the confusion (he believes it lies in the dissimilarity between the Mandarin and Cantonese dialects).

Unfortunately, not only does the Spitting Hemlock reputedly cause negative energy, it is also notoriously fussy, and may very well be the most dangerous type of vegetation on the planet.

While touching the Lucky Bamboo is said to bring good fortune, stroking the Venomous Spitting Hemlock Plant will cause abnormal thirst, distorted sight, delirium, incoherence, and possible coma.

You can imagine our embarrassment at this mishap.

We wanted to thank our clients who caught this error initially and alerted us to the problem while their Spitting Hemlocks were still in the box.

For those of you who removed the erroneous plant from its box (black with illustrations of a skull and crossbones prominently displayed on all sides), we ask that you refrain from handling the plant itself. Doing so has caused at least sixteen hospitalizations among our preferred customers, and we do not wish to add your name to the list.

If you have already positioned the plant on your desk or in a sunny nook inside your house, we request that you dispose of it in the nearest biohazard waste receptacle. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and safety glasses while handling the plant and throw the gloves away when you have finished.

If you notice that your plant is bearing tiny yellow berries and seems to quiver violently when you approach it, we beg you to refrain from making any sudden movements and to slowly exit the room. Our vendor (More-4-Less Discount On-Line Plant Emporium) has cautioned that upon reaching what he calls the "Berry Stage," this plant becomes particularly dangerous. At this point any rapid movement in the plant's general vicinity is considered an act of aggression. The plant will attack if provoked. This type of Hemlock (conium lethal lethalicus) possesses poisonous barbs, which it can shoot with deadly accuracy up to 25 feet.

If your Venomous Spitting Hemlock Plant has already reached this juncture, evacuate your office or home and dial the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ask for Special Agent Adler at the Lethal Plant Squad as he has been very sympathetic throughout this calamity and is the only individual at the bureau credentialed to handle aggressive flora.

Please also phone Special Agent Adler if your plant has recently disappeared. While coworkers may have merely removed it, these plants may develop locomotion and should be considered hazardous to the public at large. If your plant is missing, exit the building by shielding your face and exposed limbs with a heavy winter coat or blanket. Be sure to check under the desks during your egress, as Spitting Hemlocks can conceal themselves and subsequently jump 15 feet to attack their quarry.

We apologize in advance to those offices with multiple Bentley & Sons customers who may have received six or more of the incorrect plants.

Thank you for your continued understanding.

For those customers who received our proper (and very attractive) Lucky Bamboo offering, we genuinely hope all that your holidays were meaningful and that the Lucky Bamboo brings you good fortune and prosperity for years to come.

If you or a loved one are currently hospitalized after coming in contact with the Venomous Spitting Hemlock plant, we offer you our deepest apologies and invite you to phone our office your earliest convenience so we may know where to send flowers.

Wishing you the best in 2007,

Bentley & Sons

__________________________________________________

SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE INFO

If you don't want to receive any more of these newsletters, please reply with the word "remove" in the subject line. 

Also, please feel free to reply to give us updates on your contact information.

And of course, we'd love to hear your feedback!

__________________________________________________

Tim Donnelly
Propagandist | Blogger | Stuff Coordinator

A Q U E N T
6100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA  90048
Phone: 323 634 7000 | Fax: 323 954 8517
tdonnelly@aquent.com

We represent more than 400,000 marketing and creative professionals around the globe.
Visit aquent.com to learn more.

On March 27th, Adobe will be offering a Webcast of their Creative Suite 3 launch in New York.

There will be long speeches, bad musical acts, and on the red carpet Joan Rivers will be desperately trying to be funny.

Wait, that's the Academy Awards.

I'm actually not sure what Adobe's webcast will involve, but if it doesn't involve Joan Rivers, count me in.

March 27, 3:30p Eastern Time (12:30p PDT)

Bookmark this page then just go back on the 27th.

If you're looking for an in town Adobe CS3 event, then go no further than Venice to LA Flash! (If you go any further, you'll actually be in the ocean.)

LA Flash will be celebrating their 4th anniversary by hosting an event from 7p-10p on launch day. It's free, plus they'll have wine and will be giving away a brand spanking new copy of CS3.

All the details are at this link.

Sometimes it doesn't pay to clean.

I washed my front porch down with a hose on Saturday instead of sweeping it as I usually do and as I stepped back to admire my work I saw what looked like a tiny white worm crawling around. (You're not eating, are you? Please don't eat and read this.) I brushed it away and forgot about it until the next morning when I went to pick up the Sunday paper.

You know those termite mounds they show in Africa that are six feet high? Well, these weren't quite those, but in my mind they were eerily similar. I brushed one away and sure enough twenty or so subterranian termites began crawling around and complaining that I'd interrupted their breakfast.

That would be my house.

You know, I try not to use poisons in my garden. I try to get along with every living thing that saunters its way into my front yard, including pill bugs (rolly pollies) and other insects that creep me out personally. I am not a Bugist. But I do draw the line at termites. I realize that they're beneficial in nature to break down trees and wood that would otherwise set Malibu back on fire. But I really do draw the line at eating my investment.

And there is the creepiness factor.

I mean, someone builds the house, you buy the house, now something is eating your house. Lots of little somethings that live together underground serving some invisible queen.

It's all creepy.

Not really reason enough to wipe out the whole colony, I confess, but the eating your house thing, that really has to stop.

We salute you.

If you're bent over your computer all day (aren't we all?), chances are that your upper back is really tight.

Jojo over at the Cool Tools blog discovered this amazing massager when her physical therapist showed her a picture of the similar-looking Thera-cane.

I haven't tried this personally, but it looks much less painful than trying to convince my wife to give me a shoulder massage.

And more HR friendly than asking someone in the office to do it.

Which is well worth $27.

The Aquent ASAP Job List
"Please Remain Calm"

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT:

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

1. Account Executive
2. Associate Creative Director (Copy)
3. Graphic Designer
4. Innovations Manager
5. Project Manager
6. Senior Product Interface Designer
7. Sr. Designer, Long-Form Collateral

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Account Executive

TERMS: Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Strong project management skills and experience interfacing with internal marketing clients
• Previous experience developing and managing communications plans, including budgets, through all media channels
• Strong working knowledge of all aspects of advertising production and strong copywriting skills
• Experience in the development and implementation of integrated communications plans

PERKS!:

• Great opportunity to work for a large corporation with high brand recognition
  

LOCATION:

• Downtown
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Associate Creative Director (Copy)

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 8+ years of experience, agency background preferred
• Experience with print, broadcast, and online
• Team management experience
• Healthcare or insurance background helpful

PERKS!:

• Dynamic creative team with a strong brand
  

LOCATION:

• Pasadena
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Graphic Designer

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 3 to 5 years of previous graphic design experience working on sell sheets, posters, and other print collateral
• Experience interfacing with clients
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• CPG experience helpful but not required

PERKS!:

• Working with fun products
• Household brand name
  

LOCATION:

• Glendale
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Innovations Manager

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Bachelor’s Degree (MBA preferred) and 5+ years of Consumer Marketing and/or Brand Management experience
• Proven strategic marketing and planning skills
• Experience creating, finding, and delivering new products that are successful in the market
  
  

PERKS!:

• Blue Chip Fortune 500 Company with national name recognition
• Great chance to get best practices experience within a large corporation
• High growth potential
  

LOCATION:

• Moorpark
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Project Manager

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2 to 3 years of experience managing creative projects
• Agency experience preferred, agency-like experience a must!
• Experience trafficking work and liaising between account and creative teams

PERKS!:

• Ad agency with great clients: national retail, gaming, entertainment, and consumer package goods
• Laid back atmosphere
• Cutting edge creative design
  

LOCATION:

• Westside
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Senior Product Interface Designer

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Experience designing interface for devices other than personal computers (TVs, PDAs, cell phones)
• Broad experience in all aspects of product development (user research, concept design, final production)
• Knowledge of consumer AV products, digital media and content services
• Some Web UI experience preferred, hands-on Web skills ideal

PERKS!:

• Super cool design group within a global product company
• Hourly rates range from $40 to $65/hour, depending on experience
  

LOCATION:

• Westside
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Sr. Designer, Long-Form Collateral

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5 to 7 years experience
• Experience working on collateral with heavy typographic elements
• Ability to organize lots of text
• Clean, modern design style

PERKS!:

• Growing creative team
• Great opportunity to add terrific pieces to your portfolio
  

LOCATION:

• Glendale
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED:

Point your friend right to this link and have them drop your name to the Agent.

INTERESTED IN OTHER AQUENT POSITIONS?

Go here, my friend, then select Job Openings

* MyAquent users, use your UserName & Password to express interest in jobs. Everybody else, he registration is easy!

The JOB CENTER will track which jobs you've applied for and the current status.

People are always asking me (enough people that I would actually comment on it), "How in the world did you ever become a Thousandaire?"

It's quite humorous, actually, because the steps are so easy and yet so elusive to most people.

Save as they try, many people can't manage to save $100 in their bank accounts, much less ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

What would you do if you had a cool $1000 sitting pretty inside your bank's secure vault?

* Order that Big Grab-sized chips next time you're ordering a sandwich at the deli?
* Pick up that Creedence Clearwater Revival CD you've been dying to get your hands on?
* Smile the next time someone asks you if you're FINANCIALLY SECURE?

Let's face it, wealth has its privileges!

If you follow the simple advice outlined in my book and companion DVD "The Enlightened Thousandaire" today, then you could have ONE THOUSAND big ones earning 2% in your bank as soon as July 2007!

How? You'll have to just order and find out. But to whet your appetite, here are just a FEW of my secrets to saving money:

* How to have Starbucks coffee every morning ON THE HOUSE! (hint: they only use their grounds once!)
* How to say NO to costly and unnecessary personal items such as deodorant and underwear.
* How cutting your own hair using scissors, bowl, and pocket mirror, can save you HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS a year.
* Day old bread is a bargain, but what about week old bread? Many times it's absolutely FREE!
* How to save big on lunches by growing nutritious vegetables right at your office desk!
* You say ratty old bed sheet, I say brand new tablecloth and matching napkins!

I'd better stop before I give away the whole farm!

After completing my "Enlightened Thousandaire" training, you'll be clued in on everything from foraging in the urban landscape and "retreading" sneakers to home hog butchering and pilfering electricity from neighbors' outdoor outlets.

If you're ready for an adventure, climb aboard!

Order "The Enlightened Thousandaire" before April 1st and receive a free coffee mug! (Company logos on coffee mug vary)

Imagine, no more lying awake all night wondering when you'll be able to finally afford a mattress. No more wasting your time with get-rich-quick schemes that promise "the system does 98% of the work" or "takes as little as one hour per day" (as previously authored by my ex-wife Julie Travney and myself).

This is an honest to goodness, down-to-earth guide on how to make money by not spending it from your bank account.

It does not involve multi-level marketing, selling lotions, vitamins, or going door-to-door asking for bus fare (as previously suggested by my ex-wife and myself). This is the only guaranteed* way to have ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS safe in the FDIC institution of YOUR choice!

Why are you waiting? Why are you sitting there?

Stop reading this and order by clicking HERE.

Thank you!

Click the link!

There's nothing more to say down here, I'm just filling out space for the Web site to make it look busier.

Go up and click the link!

Click it!

Stop reading!

I'm telling you there's just a Web page counter down here and a picture of a palm tree on a deserted beach (not really my cup of tea, but my ex-wife suggested it).

Click the link!

Click it!

Thank you.

And stop reading.

Nothing down here.

(*Savings not guaranteed by author, publisher, nor the author's ex-wife. Total cost of The Enlightened Thousandaire book, DVD, free coffee mug, and priority shipping and extra-special careful handling of merchandise $998.45. Thousandaire, LLC not related to Millionaire, LLC, nor liable for lawsuits currently pending against Millionaire, LLC or its subsidiaries. Content checked and approved by the California Department of Corrections.)

See?

H  O  T     T  A  L  E  N  T
The Newsletter of Aquent's Available Talent

M  A  R  C  H   |   1  4   |   2  0  0  7
__________________________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hot Talent

Featured Talent This Week

That Bit at the End - "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

Subscribe | Unsubscribe Information
__________________________________________________

HOT TALENT

Just for fun we've translated our Hot Talent Newsletter intro from English into Japanese, then back to English (courtesy of Babel Fish).

"All week we of Aquent presently passing by us, welcome to current events communication of the hot talent where the brightest talent where it works, it can utilize in the week when a larger LA area comes to be best, is designated as the feature."

Looks like our Copywriter may be out of a job!

Regardless of your language preferences, please take a look at these four fantastic Aquent Talent below then follow the links for profiles, samples, and resumes.

Kanpai!
__________________________________________________

FEATURED TALENT THIS WEEK

Rose A. - Web Content Developer  | HTML Coder
Alon G. - Print & Web Copywriter
Stacy J. - Marketing Director
Richard D. - Traffic, Project Manager
__________________________________________________

Rose A.
Web Content Developer | HTML Coder

An award-winning Content Developer and Hand-Coder, Rose has never met an application she couldn't master!

Now available after her 10-months assignment at UCLA's External Affairs department, Rose carried out programming, design, and editorial tasks for several of their advocacy and financial support sites. She has outstanding hands-on experience in both contextual advertising and non-traditional marketing strategies. At Sony Pictures she content-managed and coded SoapCity.com and helped develop a spoof called "SoapVivor" which increased traffic and provided an interactive experience for their users.

For the Google AdSense group Rose ensured text ads were correctly related to search words and worked closely with engineers and linguists to improve effectiveness of services.

When you need your code and content to sing and dance, then talk to us about the person whose been dealing with both for more than 10 years!

See her on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe ImageReady, Adobe Photoshop, BBEdit, Copy Writing, HTML, JavaScript, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia HomeSite, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Word, UNIX
__________________________________________________

Alon G.
Print & Web Copywriter

An award-winning, conceptual Copywriter Alon excels in copy for advertising, employer communications, direct mail, radio, print collateral, outdoor, Web content, interactive, press releases, newsletters, scripts, and case studies.

Most recently at J. Walter Thompson, he was responsible for concepting, writing, editing, and proofreading copy for a staggeringly wide range of clients. His extensive roster includes Mattel, Nestle, Scotts, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, UCLA Healthcare, Boeing, Universal Studios, Disneyland Resort, Shell, Honeywell, Amgen, Southern California Edison, Farmers Insurance, Intel, Jack in the Box, Aids Healthcare, and SAIC.

If you need outstanding copy and your company does work in the automotive, entertainment, healthcare, hi-tech, biotech, aerospace, financial, fashion, education, petrochemical, food & beverage, utilities, real estate, insurance, non-profit, or government sector...

You're in luck!

See his on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance
__________________________________________________

Stacy J.
Marketing Director

A director-level Marketing and Promotions Professional, Stacy got her blue-chip CPG beginning at Nestle as Promotions Manager on the Friskies account. Managing cross-functional teams, she had responsibility for a $73M promotions budget and a strategic role in the development of national promotional plans.

Most recently Marketing Director for California Avocado Commission, she directed consumer communications programs including PR, advertising, online, and foodservice while developing and managing a $30M marketing budget. At Paramount Farms she developed and executed annual promotional marketing plans based on brand objectives for a $300M business including Sunkist Pistachios and Almonds.

Ready to hit the ground running for virtually ANY company, she's available immediately for both permanent and contract work.

See her on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance or Permanent

Professional Categories: Event Management, Promotions, Agency Management, Brand Management, Marketing Management

__________________________________________________

Richard "Gregg" D.
Senior Traffic Manager

If you can find a Print Project and Traffic Manager with more experience, we'll eat our collective hats!

Richard (who goes by Gregg) is a Trafficker's Trafficker, able to manage hundreds of complex multi-million dollar accounts through the creative and print production process. Most recently at Deutsch Advertising working on the United HealthCare account, he was charged with setting up and managing print collateral, advertising, and new business presentations for all five of their divisions.

He's done amazing work for Home Savings of America, Brierley & Partners, Young & Rubicam, Kresser, and a host of others for accounts like Hertz, Vail Resorts, United Airlines, UPS, Sony, Lufthansa, Sprint, Epson, and yes, more, more, more!

Gregg's experienced in all areas of print creative and has coordinated workflow between staff spread apart as far as Los Angeles and Dallas (creative teams) and Atlanta and London (account management print production teams).

And he's probably the only Sr. Traffic Manager ever to appear in a "Seinfeld" episode.

(But that's a different story.)

See his on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance
__________________________________________________

THAT BIT AT THE END
"Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

People are always asking me (enough people that I would actually comment on it), "How in the world did you ever become a Thousandaire?"

It's quite humorous, actually, because the steps are so easy and yet so elusive to most people.

Save as they try, many people can't manage to save $100 in their bank accounts, much less ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

What would you do if you had a cool $1000 sitting pretty inside your bank's secure vault?

* Order that Big Grab-sized chips next time you're ordering a sandwich at the deli?
* Pick up that Creedence Clearwater Revival CD you've been dying to get your hands on?
* Smile the next time someone asks you if you're FINANCIALLY SECURE?

Let's face it, wealth has its privileges!

If you follow the simple advice outlined in my book and companion DVD "The Enlightened Thousandaire" today, then you could have ONE THOUSAND big ones earning 2% in your bank as soon as July 2007!

How? You'll have to just order and find out. But to whet your appetite, here are just a FEW of my secrets to saving money:

* How to have Starbucks coffee every morning ON THE HOUSE! (hint: they only use their grounds once!)
* How to say NO to costly and unnecessary personal items such as deodorant and underwear.
* How cutting your own hair using scissors, bowl, and pocket mirror, can save you HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS a year.
* Day old bread is a bargain, but what about week old bread? Many times it's absolutely FREE!
* How to save big on lunches by growing nutritious vegetables right at your office desk!
* You say ratty old bed sheet, I say brand new tablecloth and matching napkins!

I'd better stop before I give away the whole farm!

After completing my "Enlightened Thousandaire" training, you'll be clued in on everything from foraging in the urban landscape and "retreading" sneakers to home hog butchering and pilfering electricity from neighbors' outdoor outlets.

If you're ready for an adventure, climb aboard!

Order "The Enlightened Thousandaire" before April 1st and receive a free coffee mug! (Company logos on coffee mug vary)

Imagine, no more lying awake all night wondering when you'll be able to finally afford a mattress. No more wasting your time with get-rich-quick schemes that promise "the system does 98% of the work" or "takes as little as one hour per day" (as previously authored by my ex-wife Julie Travney and myself).

This is an honest to goodness, down-to-earth guide on how to make money by not spending it from your bank account.

It does not involve multi-level marketing, selling lotions, vitamins, or going door-to-door asking for bus fare (as previously suggested by my ex-wife and myself). This is the only guaranteed* way to have ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS safe in the FDIC institution of YOUR choice!

Why are you waiting? Why are you sitting there?

Stop reading this and order by clicking HERE.

Thank you!

Click the link!

There's nothing more to say down here, I'm just filling out space for the Web site to make it look busier.

Go up and click the link!

Click it!

Stop reading!

I'm telling you there's just a Web page counter down here and a picture of a palm tree on a deserted beach (not really my cup of tea, but my ex-wife suggested it).

Click the link!

Click it!

Thank you.

And stop reading.

Nothing down here.

(*Savings not guaranteed by author, publisher, nor the author's ex-wife. Total cost of The Enlightened Thousandaire book, DVD, free coffee mug, and priority shipping and extra-special careful handling of merchandise $998.45. Thousandaire, LLC not related to Millionaire, LLC, nor liable for lawsuits currently pending against Millionaire, LLC or its subsidiaries. Content checked and approved by the California Department of Corrections.)

See?
__________________________________________________

SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE INFO

If you don't want to receive any more of these newsletters, please reply with the word "remove" in the subject line. 

Also, please feel free to reply to give us updates on your contact information.

And of course, we'd love to hear your feedback!

__________________________________________________

Tim Donnelly
Propagandist | Blogger | Stuff Coordinator

A Q U E N T
6100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA  90048
Phone: 323 634 7000 | Fax: 323 954 8517
tdonnelly@aquent.com

We represent more than 400,000 marketing and creative professionals around the globe.
Visit aquent.com to learn more.

In case you missed Eric T. Peterson's Web Analytics Demystified webcast we sponsored a few weeks back, due to a scheduling conflict or you couldn't get on (there were over 2,200 people registered), you're in luck!

Turns out they can record these darn things and have them play back on demand. And that's exactly what they've done with this particular webcast.

If you're mystified about Web Analytics, this will de-mystify you. Thus the title.

Honestly, Peterson is very down-to-earth and incredibly well spoken on the topic (he's been in the field since '98). And he's also very no-nonsense. He'll tell you what you can and can't do with Web Analytics and give you practical advice such as what types of managers should get which reports, etc.

If you're interested in hearing it just click here.

If you want the slides from the presentation or need help getting set up, email me and I'll help you out.

During business hours.

I did want to make that clear.

I don't mind posting this site's content verbatim, because I have a strong suspicion the people will never understand it.

I believe this is another case of translating something from English into an Asian language then back to English. Or a Beta version of a program that inserts words where it thinks they ought to be.

The result is something that looks like my 3rd grade report on the subject.

Stunning.

I now give you this site's definition of:

The St Patrick's Day

On St Patrick’s Day the Irish celebrate one of the favorite holidays. The St Patrick’s Day holiday is also celebrated by many other people, too. This is a favorite holiday for many people when they go out and celebrate. St Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday that many people love to enjoy. Many people are in joyous moods on the celebration of St Patrick’s Day. Remember that when it comes around this year and you will enjoy it too. Make it a point that you take part in the St Patrick Day celebrations.

They dress up in green and the enjoy the Saint Patrick’s Day parade and many other festivities, too. The Saint Patrick's Day parade is a favorite of many other people. During the St Patrick’s Day holiday many people drink green beer to celebrate and enjoy the fun that this holiday brings for many people. There are many other ways that St Patrick’s is celebrated. There are plenty of lucky charms and clovers all around so that the people really feel that St Patrick’s Day is there.

When St Patrick’s Day comes around many people decorate with lots of green decorations and clovers. There are plenty of other great St Patrick’s Day decorations and you can find a lot out about them online. When you find a good site then you should bookmark it to pull it up whenever you need too. Also print out any of the great ideas that you wish to keep. You will want to have it so that you can find the information quickly. Be sure that you find a lot of different decorations so that you can make your home look really festive during the St Patrick’s Day celebration. It will be a fun time for everyone so make sure that you also get into the festivities and that you celebrate by wearing green and drinking green beer if you can. Enjoying St Patrick’s Day happens every year so it will be fun to anticipate it coming so that you can have fun with all the rest of the people.

Be sure that if you want to learn a lot more about St Patrick’s Day that you get a book on the subject. The books about St Patrick’s Day will give you all kinds of historical information on the history of St Patrick’s Day. Make sure that you learn as much about it as you possibly can and then you can celebrate even more. St Patrick’s Day can be fun for the young and the old so find out all the customs that go along with it. If you are Irish you will definitely want to learn as much as you can about it. For younger and older people, alike there is plenty to enjoy during the St Patrick’s Day holiday. Make the most of what is happening and enjoy it all. Make sure that you take the time to have a really fun time on St Patrick's Day.

During the celebrations that happen all around the St Patrick's Day, you will enjoy the luck of the Irish. For one day you can pretend to be Irish and enjoy all the fun that you can. There is plenty of fun to be had so make sure that you do get to enjoy it the most that you can. With all the fun that St Patrick's Day brings you will have a really good time. So make sure that this year you get involved in the activities that will be happening in your area. You will have a wonderful time on St Patrick's Day.

For any number of reasons. The sound quality is poor, but the Danish pop king's dancing (front and center, playing the keyboard) more than makes up for it.

       

Many thanks to eagle-eyed, Larry Gassan! (Merely a pun by accident.)

The Aquent ASAP Job List
"Spring Forward. Fall Back."

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT:

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

1. Administrative Assistant
2. Assistant International Marketing Manager
3. Customer Segmentation Marketing Manager
4. Jr. Designer (Children's Apparel)
5. Research Project Manager
6. Senior On-Line Marketing Manager
7. Visual UI Designer
8. Web Designer with Flash
   

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Administrative Assistant

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2+ years of experience in an administrative role
• Interest in advertising and beauty consumer products
• Hands-on Microsoft office skills and a great attitude
• Salary is $35 to $40K

PERKS!:

• Fun company with opportunity for advancement
• Great benefits

LOCATION:

• North Hollywood
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Assistant International Marketing Manager

TERMS: Temporary or Temporary-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5+ years of marketing project management experience
• 3 to 5 years of experience in international product marketing

PERKS!:

• Great team working with a terrific manager
• Strong benefits
• A well-known company with a strong brand
  

LOCATION:

• West LA
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Customer Segmentation Marketing Manager

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 7+ years of experience
• Full cycle project management experience
• Background in retention marketing and market research and analytics
• Must have overseen and managed CRM program launches
• Salary is $85K plus bonus
  

PERKS!:

• Strong brand
• Work directly with DMO and oversee a $1M budget
  

LOCATION:

• West LA
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Jr. Designer (Children's Apparel)

TERMS: Temporary-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Ability to design patterns, logos, and illustrations for children's apparel
• 2 to 3 years of experience
• Please respond with samples of the above

PERKS!:

• A hip apparel company
• Global brand
  

LOCATION:

• South Bay
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Research Project Manager

TERMS: Temporary-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Masters of Public Health
• Research experience, preferably in healthcare industry
• Ability to act as liaison between market research and marketing communications departments

PERKS!:

• Rewarding and challenging opportunity within a growing marketing team
  

LOCATION:

• Glendale
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Senior On-Line Marketing Manager

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 7 years of email marketing experience
• Previous experience working on email campaigns, banner ads, and with online marketing analytics
• Must have experience in  e-commerce B2C marketing and ROI for Web
  

PERKS!:

• Start up culture with the stability of a large company
• Small hands-on group with big impact on the marketing direction for the site
  

LOCATION:

• West LA
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Visual UI Designer

TERMS: 3-Month Temporary (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 1 to 5 years of experience as a GUI Designer
• Formal training in graphic design and/or user interface
• Experience designing for screens and interactive content
• Hands-on skills in Photoshop and Illustrator. Flash is a bonus

PERKS!:

• Great mobile device company
• Nice staff in a hip, industrial space
  

LOCATION:

• Calabasas
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Designer with Flash

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Great conceptual design and the ability to create for Flash sites
  
• Ability to work in a PC environment
• Samples that show high-end corporate design with a nice look and feel (and the ability to push the edge)
• Must be savvy on implementation, creative, and delivery of projects

PERKS!:

• Company specializes in award-winning website, print, and video designs

LOCATION:

• Downtown
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED:

Point your friend right to this link and have them drop your name to the Agent.

INTERESTED IN OTHER AQUENT POSITIONS?

Go here, my friend, then select Job Openings

* MyAquent users, use your UserName & Password to express interest in jobs. Everybody else, he registration is easy!

The JOB CENTER will track which jobs you've applied for and the current status.

People like to talk about the Big Picture. Marketers, Designers, Creative Directors... It seems like there's a heck of a lot of people these days who want the term "thought leader" to apply to them. I understand that. It's fun to do the Big Stuff. Inventing new technology, dreaming up ad campaigns, etc. But the little stuff, like washing the dishes is essentially a drag. (Not to be confused with talking about washing the dishes and its relation the Roman Empire over a bottle of first-growth Bordeaux, which is a lot more fun.)

Why do I bring this up? Because when you're revamping your resume you don't need a lot of heady advice from people who have theories on fonts and pagination, you need down-to-earth advice from folks who look at resumes all day long. People who have so many resumes cross their desk that they can only give each one a mere 15 seconds before they sort it into a Yes or No pile. (Scarily, the No pile is the shredder.)

I've written about the absolute necessity of proofreading your resume here, but Matt Grant recently pointed to this good post from Rands in Repose, a hiring manager, who tells step by step what he goes through in those 15 seconds he gets a look at someone's resume.

Some of this won't be appropriate for Art Directors (say when he tells you to convert your resume to plain text), but he's spot on when it comes to hiring managers and HR people skipping the Personal Objective and Hobbies section.

Heather Hamilton over at Microsoft also has a lot of good advice about the good, bad and downright ugly in regards to resumes.

Speaking of really awful resume concepts, don't ever do this.

A recent article in Ad Age titled "Marketers Need to Stand Up to Hysteria From the Outrage Nuts", makes the point that humorous ads, by their very nature, are going to upset somebody, somewhere.

Recent examples being Kevin Federline's Nationwide spot, Snickers' "Kiss" spot, and GM's "Suicide Robot" spot (later edited for air).

The author, Jonah Bloom, points out, "There are few fact-finders anymore, and everything in the public domain is instantly spread and dissected by a blog-buoyed media that is more about commentary than reporting."

True enough bloggers spread the word fast, especially when they are dissatisfied, but I'm not sure if this article is pointing out the speed in which our culture reacts to advertising or that our culture has become too politically correct to deal with funny ads?

Bloom points out the classic ""You don't have to be Jewish to love Levy's" campaign as a couldn't-be-run-today ad. And tells Marketers to stand their ground.

It's a tough line, trying to be funny and outrageous without offending anyone, but I don't think telling Marketers to stick to their guns, regardless of their campaign is quite the answer. Of course your clever campaign is going upset some people, you just have to figure out whether those people have a legitimate beef or not.

I mean, he's not thinking we should put Don Rickles in front of a camera and airing whatever comes out of his mouth, is he?

(We received this viral e-mail the other day. Aquent has no affiliation with this company or its product.)

Long time no talk!

I wanted to tell you about a game that's changed my life. Really!

After a long day at work I find there's nothing better than coming home and sitting down at my computer to play a few relaxing hours of Third Life, LLC (tm).

Haven't heard of it?

Well, if you like WORKING in corporate America, then you'll love PLAYING in it!!

A 3-D virtual world that really puts you inside the world of a dynamic corporation, Third Life, LLC is nothing more than a lifesaver for today's exhausted employee.

My character (called an avatar) is named Gwen. I've been playing for awhile, so I've made it out of the mailroom and landed a middle management role in a little-known branch of this huge multi-national conglomerate.

As Gwen I get to interact every time I play with a variety of fun characters:

Mr. Campbell, CEO. He either can't remember my name or is calling me up to his office to chew me out. Sometimes I have to turn down the computer's speakers or my husband comes in wondering what the heck is going on!

Jimmy, the Mail Guy. He has my old job and is the "newbie" in the department. He just loves to invent excuses so he can take Fridays off and go snowboarding up in the mountains!

Paul and Mary in Accounting. If I lose an invoice or don't have the correct P.O., I have to cross the Pit of Despair to go see them. Believe me, it's no picnic!

Unmarried Guy. He doesn't have a name, but he doesn't need one. His avatar is a giant roving eye that wanders the hallways looking to strike up conversations with attractive women. Watch out for him during the office Holiday party!

June. She has the desk right by mine. Realistic? She even has a little digital clock that counts down the minutes to her retirement!

Julie, my assistant. She's just become engaged to someone else in Third Life and spends a lot of her time writing out her married name over and over again on a legal pad. ("Julie Dawn Markowitz", "Julie D. Markowitz", "J.D. Markowitz"...)

What's so great about Third Life, LLC  is that other people out there in "First Life" are controlling what each one of the characters does. So when Jimmy ended up putting my documents in the shredder instead of the copy machine out of spite (I let his boss know he wasn't taking care of his ailing mother, he was actually snowboarding), it was eerily real!

There are just so many realistic features about this on-line world:

When my avatar Gwen goes to parties, she always has to explain what she does at the company, what her department does, and where she's located on campus.

And every time Gwen goes "home" she has to tell her family what it is she actually does for a living and how to pronounce her company's name.

Even the office plants on everyone's desks are dead!

Whoa! Is this reality or virtual reality?!

I told my husband I can't wait to get to the next levels inside Third Life so I can participate in super realistic scenarios like "Nasty Corporate Takeover", "Head Count Freeze", and "What Happened to My 401(k)?!"

I tell you, after a few hours of Third Life, LLC , I'm ready to get some shut-eye, then get up for another exciting day at the office!!!

See ya!

Jane

H  O  T     T  A  L  E  N  T
The Newsletter of Aquent's Available Talent

M  A  R  C  H   |   0  7   |   2  0  0  7
__________________________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hot Talent

Featured Talent This Week

That Bit at the End - "Get a Second Life"

Subscribe | Unsubscribe Information

__________________________________________________

HOT TALENT

It's summer! It's winter! It's summer! It's winter!

There's nothing like spring in Southern California.

Except July in Omaha.

And December in Seattle.

Depending on the day.

Even though our weather may be unpredictable (perhaps your sweater /corduroy combo had you breaking into a sweat on your walk to lunch), our weekly newsletter is something you can count on each and every week for remarkable Aquent Talent right at your fingertips.

Or within mittens' reach.

Whichever.

Be sure to follow the links for profiles, samples, and resumes.

Enjoy!
__________________________________________________

FEATURED TALENT THIS WEEK

Mattias B. - Zend Certified PHP Programmer
Jullallan "Jull" W. - Flash Designer
Arata C. - Web Producer
Rosie A. - Marketing Assistant | Coordinator
__________________________________________________

Mattias B.
Zend Certified PHP Programmer

A Zend PHP 5 Certified Engineer, Mattius has worked with all aspects of the language and possesses an extensive knowledge of both PHP 4 and PHP 5.

Which we believe means he's a PHP Black Belt.

Mattias has over 8 years of experience in Web development and creating strategies to increase site traffic through search engine optimization and placement. Most recently contracting at Yamaha Music Soft, he developed their in-house PHP applications for MIDI music file processing and sequences for music production.  As a Web Developer he has extensive client-side experience in HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and designing MySQL databases.

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention that he's exceedingly passionate about software development and its ongoing leaps-and-bounds advances.

Or that he won't be available for long!

See his on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent
__________________________________________________

Jullallan "Jull" W.
Flash Designer

A Flash designer with truly kickin' animation skills, Jull has experience creating vibrant Flash sites and banner designs as well as graphics for TV shows, videos, and even mega-scale Vegas productions.

At entertainment company King Productions for the last 6 years, he was their go-to Graphic and Web Designer working on everything from video editing and to site design and implementation. Educated at both MIT and RISD, his artist's eye and architectural design background really show in his creative work .

Please act fast, if you're interested.

Pardon the pun, but he'll be gone in a flash!

See his on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance

Skills: Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Photoshop, CAD, CorelDRAW!, HTML, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Fireworks, Macromedia Flash, Management, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Windows, Office Management, Real Video, UNIX
__________________________________________________

Arata C.
Web Producer

A Web Producer with extensive agency experience, Arata has more than 5 years of experience working with high-profile clients on large, complex sites.

Most recently at CIS One, she simultaneously managed 15 to 30 ongoing accounts, primarily focusing on e-commerce and CMS driven sites. Her bustling days consisted of meeting with clients to develop creative and technical specs, trafficking and managing all assets, and working with Developers both on- and off-shore to make sure all deadlines were met. At Alienbug Design in Tokyo, she managed the Japanese versions of the Visa, ESPN and BMW sites. At Japan's second largest ad agency, she managed the brand migration for Vodafone, the largest mobile service provider in Europe, when they changed their name.

She handles schedules, budgets, and keeps control of the project from concept through completion...

And is bound to be your next Web star!

See her on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Accounting, Advertising/Account Management, HTML, Lotus Freelance Graphics, Management, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Real Video
__________________________________________________

Rosie A.
Marketing Assistant | Coordinator

Fresh picked Aquent Talent!

As Marketing Assistant at Sunkist Growers, Rosie was involved in the project management and tracking of an $800K budget, setting up and maintaining of projects, market research, working with ad agencies, consumer reports and competitor analyses, and coordinating meetings and large-scale events.

At Golden Saab, a distributor of internal network systems, she created print advertising, presentations, and POS material; promoted programs to prospects and the media; and worked with existing customers to ensure their product and customer service quality met industry standards.

She's got both B2B and B2C experience, is extremely articulate and professional, and as far as her clients are concerned, is cream of the crop!

See her on-line Aquent profile!

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Microsoft Project, Marketing/Commercial Services, Marketing/Interactive, Marketing/Media & Entertainment, Marketing/Professional Services, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe ImageReady, Adobe Photoshop, Advertising/Account Management, CorelDRAW!, Customer Service, HTML, Management, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express
__________________________________________________

THAT BIT AT THE END
"Get a Second Life"

(We received this viral e-mail the other day. Aquent has no affiliation with this company or its product.)

Long time no talk!

I wanted to tell you about a game that's changed my life. Really!

After a long day at work I find there's nothing better than coming home and sitting down at my computer to play a few relaxing hours of Third Life, LLC (tm).

Haven't heard of it?

Well, if you like WORKING in corporate America, then you'll love PLAYING in it!!

A 3-D virtual world that really puts you inside the world of a dynamic corporation, Third Life, LLC is nothing more than a lifesaver for today's exhausted employee.

My character (called an avatar) is named Gwen. I've been playing for awhile, so I've made it out of the mailroom and landed a middle management role in a little-known branch of this huge multi-national conglomerate.

As Gwen I get to interact every time I play with a variety of fun characters:

Mr. Campbell, CEO. He either can't remember my name or is calling me up to his office to chew me out. Sometimes I have to turn down the computer's speakers or my husband comes in wondering what the heck is going on!

Jimmy, the Mail Guy. He has my old job and is the "newbie" in the department. He just loves to invent excuses so he can take Fridays off and go snowboarding up in the mountains!

Paul and Mary in Accounting. If I lose an invoice or don't have the correct P.O., I have to cross the Pit of Despair to go see them. Believe me, it's no picnic!

Unmarried Guy. He doesn't have a name, but he doesn't need one. His avatar is a giant roving eye that wanders the hallways looking to strike up conversations with attractive women. Watch out for him during the office Holiday party!

June. She has the desk right by mine. Realistic? She even has a little digital clock that counts down the minutes to her retirement!

Julie, my assistant. She's just become engaged to someone else in Third Life and spends a lot of her time writing out her married name over and over again on a legal pad. ("Julie Dawn Markowitz", "Julie D. Markowitz", "J.D. Markowitz"...)

What's so great about Third Life, LLC  is that other people out there in "First Life" are controlling what each one of the characters does. So when Jimmy ended up putting my documents in the shredder instead of the copy machine out of spite (I let his boss know he wasn't taking care of his ailing mother, he was actually snowboarding), it was eerily real!

There are just so many realistic features about this on-line world:

When my avatar Gwen goes to parties, she always has to explain what she does at the company, what her department does, and where she's located on campus.

And every time Gwen goes "home" she has to tell her family what it is she actually does for a living and how to pronounce her company's name.

Even the office plants on everyone's desks are dead!

Whoa! Is this reality or virtual reality?!

I told my husband I can't wait to get to the next levels inside Third Life so I can participate in super realistic scenarios like "Nasty Corporate Takeover", "Head Count Freeze", and "What Happened to My 401(k)?!"

I tell you, after a few hours of Third Life, LLC , I'm ready to get some shut-eye, then get up for another exciting day at the office!!!

See ya!

Jane
__________________________________________________

SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE INFO

If you don't want to receive any more of these newsletters, please reply with the word "remove" in the subject line. 

Also, please feel free to reply to give us updates on your contact information.

And of course, we'd love to hear your feedback!

__________________________________________________

Tim Donnelly
Propagandist | Blogger | Stuff Coordinator

A Q U E N T
6100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA  90048
Phone: 323 634 7000 | Fax: 323 954 8517
tdonnelly@aquent.com

We represent more than 400,000 marketing and creative professionals around the globe.
Visit aquent.com to learn more.

Even though Adobe has plans to take the application on-line, it's going to be a scaled-down version.

Part of their plan to compete with similar Internet-delivered services offered by Google and Microsoft.

I mean, did you really think you were going to be able to upload your 560GB file onto their server?

I've become hyper aware of the whole Second Life phenomenon, through the endless blogs, magazine articles, PR, and my friend Matt Grant's observations.

Ad agencies open virtual offices. Reuters opens a virtual bureau. Companies hold virtual interviews.

Finally someone has said something about Second Life that I was very interested in hearing.

"Who the heck cares?"

Pulitzer Prize winning writer Dan Neil talked about his weeklong experience in Second Life in the LA Time's West Magazine. His conclusion?

"If you had the drive and the imagination�not to mention the absurd amount of free time�to create a business or design a product, why wouldn't you do it in real space? If you could find friends and brainstorm good ideas and fuel a love affair, why wouldn't you do it in the here and now?"

When it comes down to it, Second Life is just an excuse to have something cool to show off to your clients, friends, and peers, but it does not really count as a viable work tool. It's not a phone. It's not a spreadsheet program. It's not even a Post-It. Trying to imagine Henry Ford or even Bill Gates, doing business in Second Life is enough to send you into hysterics.

"Have you seen the new Model A? Here, let me fly around in the air a bit and show you the whole thing. I hope the fact that my avatar is a giant clam doesn't put you off..."

Honestly, people.

Get a first life.

I'm letting Emily take the heat for this one (well, she did okay with Olivia first...) But she sent this out to a some of the Aquent Talent today:

So, it is my co-worker, cube mate and best buddy Olivia’s birthday on Sunday.  As some of you know, we are big on birthday desk demolition here at Aquent.  If it is your special day, you best watch out, ‘cause your desk will be under 12 pounds of “decorationâ€?  when you come in.  We try to match the demolition to the interests or something of importance to the person.  But the longer you are here, the more creative we have to get because you run out of the obvious choices.  Like for Olivia.  We already did the French thing (because she lived in France), and this year we were hard pressed to think of a compelling theme for her desk.  Until my co-worker, Tim, reminded us of a Halloween a few years past where Olivia dressed up like Joyce.  Why you ask?  Joyce had made a list of the worst album covers of all time.  It really was a special day here in the office and we wanted to relive the glory, as she is still called Joyce to this day.  So, for my Friday check in, I wanted to spread the joy(ce).  In honor of Olivia’s birthday and her desk demo, I have attached two album covers that just can’t miss!

Happy Friday!!


If you need more information on Joyce, you need to go to Snobsite and you will laugh. You will cry.

Aw, happy birthday, dear Olivia..... Happy Birthday to YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU.

The Aquent ASAP Job List
"It Goes Without Saying"

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT:

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

1. TV Graphics Production Artist
2. Production Artist
3. Interactive Associate Creative Director
4. Online Media Art Director
5. Online Marketing Analyst
6. Video Vault Librarian
7. Copywriter
8. Associate Studio Manager
9. Jr. Information Architect / UI Designer
10. DVD Licensing and Acquisitions Manager

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: TV Graphics Production Artist

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Hands-on skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
• Skilled in Final Cut Pro

PERKS!:

• Great position for someone who loves video and print production
• A good ad agency that values work/life balance

LOCATION:

• Century City
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Production Artist

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Recent advertising agency experience as a Studio Artist, Production Artist, or Mechanical Artist
• Ability to quickly build complex mechanicals
• Super fast hands-on Photoshop and Illustrator skills
• A keen eye for design but still enjoys production
  

PERKS!:

• Cool design firm with national clients
• Superb Art Directors and Designers
  

LOCATION:

• South Bay
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Interactive Associate Creative Director

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 6+ years of interactive design experience on large, complex sites
• Strong focus on User Interface
• Solid management and team building expertise
  

PERKS!:

• Part hands-on Designer, part team lead, and part client collaborator
• Work with a brilliant team of Designers in a cool, creative shop!
  

LOCATION:

• Culver City
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Online Media Art Director

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Online ad experience
• Great samples of online ads, rich media, and banners
• 5 + years of experience in interactive and 2 to 3 years in online media
  

PERKS!:

• Cool, creative shop
• Team up with a Copywriter to produce creative online advertising
  

LOCATION:

• Culver City
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Online Marketing Analyst

TERMS: Temporary (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Experience executing promotions, interpreting and translating data, data mining, pulling lists, and running queries
• Strong project management skills, vendor management, and program analysis experience
• E-commerce or CRM background preferred

PERKS!:

• Global entertainment firm with high brand recognition
  

LOCATION:

• Glendale
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Video Vault Librarian

TERMS: Temporary (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Previous video conversion and duplication experience
• Experience with Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, or similar software
• Great organizational and project management skills
• Ability to convert footage to different formats such as AVI, QuickTime, etc.
• Database experience

PERKS!:

• Company repeatedly makes Forbes' Top 100 Companies to Work For list

LOCATION:

• Thousand Oaks
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Copywriter

TERMS: Temporary-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5+ years of advertising experience
• Please include samples of clever, funny ad copy for well-known CPG brands

PERKS!:

• Great creative team working to come up with clever campaigns
• Products are three well-known national brands
  

LOCATION:

• West LA
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Associate Studio Manager

TERMS: Temporary-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5+ years of Production Artist experience
• Previous management of workflow processes, etc.
• Ad agency background preferred

PERKS!:

• Great opportunity for a Production Artist looking to step up into a studio management role
• Fun, well-known agency

LOCATION:

• El Segundo
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Jr. Information Architect / UI Designer

TERMS: Temporary-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 3 to 5 years of experience in User Interface or Information Architecture
• Solid HTML hand-coding skills
• Must have 3 professional samples that show wireframes or UI design for major sites

PERKS!:

• Well-known entertainment company
• Great team working on the UI and architecture of a major site
  

LOCATION:

• South Bay
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: DVD Licensing and Acquisitions Manager

TERMS: Temporary-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Home entertainment background a must
• 2+ years of experience buying and selling DVD rights
• Must know publishing processes and policies and lead rights verification processes
• Prior work with international markets

PERKS!:

• Company is a well-known major entertainment studio
  

LOCATION:

• Burbank
  

CONTACT AGENT

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Point your friend right to this link and have them drop your name to the Agent.

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That's an expression we used to say a lot when I worked in TV. When we made mistakes, I mean. Because sending the wrong punchline to Dabney Coleman is a lot different than having your patient wake up speaking Farsi and walking backwards.

Of course, we didn't realize that there are actually a lot of other jobs out there where your mistakes could affect lives.

Which is exactly what our Talent Julane Marx discovered when she was working with our on-site team at Amgen.

Over on Aquent's The Talent Blog Matt Grant did and interview with Julane that's pretty insightful about career advancement, loving what you do, and being an essential part of a team instead of a prima donna.

That's an important point, that last one.

Take it from a guy who worked in TV.