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Energizing Like the Energizer Bunny it created in 1988, TBWA Chiat/Day keeps going and going and... The advertising agency specializes in creative innovation and counts well-known brands such as Taco Bell and Absolut Vodka among its clients. TBWA Chiat/Day has consistently been able to attract top advertising professionals from throughout the U.S. by emphasizing departmental autonomy and a congenial, informal work environment. TBWA Chiat/Day is currently part of the Omnicom Group, the leading advertising organization based in America, which is chasing the British WPP Group for the top advertising spot in the world. Commercials are good for you TBWA Chiat/Day is the product of a 1995 merger between TWBA and Chiat/Day. TBWA, best known for the legendary Absolut Vokda campaign, was more traditional than Chiat/Day's "virtual agency," where staffers kept their belongings in lockers and used laptops instead of desktop computers. Though they did endure the inevitable culture clash, the agency has managed to flourish - Chiat/Day even agreed to modify its "virtual office" setup in the New York office. Bill Tragos, one of the founding partners of TBWA, leads the new agency, now one of the largest in the nation. Chiat/Day founder Jay Chiat chose to leave the new agency, but Lee Clow, the agency's chairman and recently named chief creative officer worldwide, maintained his post in the merged entity. Clow is well known in the industry for his creative genius, and was instrumental in the agency's development of highly successful work for Nissan, and Wonderbra and the ABC television network ("TV is good"). In August 1997, Apple renewed its relationship with the agency, which had created the award-winning Orwellian-themed Macintosh commercial for the computer maker. Chiat/Day had been dismissed from advertising duties for Apple after a badly-received campaign in 1995, but when Steve Jobs emerged as Apple's leader last year, he expressed an interest in working with the agency to increase Apple's decreasing market share. The agency repeated its Macintosh success with its "Think Different" campaign, picking up a "Best of Show" award from the Advertising Club of Los Angeles' annual Belding Awards Competition. Cashing in In early 1999, Chiat decided it could not let the dot-com business pass it by. The previous year saw almost no billings coming from Internet companies, so Chiat/Day decided to do something about it. First, it created a group known as the Digeratis, consisting of Internet-versed employees. Then, in October, the company shut down operations for a week to hold the "Reboot Expo," a series of training sessions to teach 850 of Chiat's employees about the Internet. Now the company handles such accounts as Apple.com, Kinkos.com, Pets.com, and Homestore.com. Altogether, Chiat brought in $300 million in Internet billings in 1999 and continues to serve small start-ups and established Internet companies, while other ad agencies gripe indecisively about the future of the dot-com.
TBWA Chiat/Day hires new employees most frequently for its New York headquarters. The agency advertises positions in national newspapers such as The New York Times, Adweek, and AdAge. With a small workforce, however, TBWA Chiat/Day has few openings each year. In addition, as "one of the hottest creative shops in the country," insiders say "it's pretty tough to get in – thousands of people want to work for us." Insiders say "referrals get you in the fastest," but your chances are really dependent on "the right resume at the right time." They also encourage aspiring advertising gurus to "make a lot of follow-up calls." The screening process is "long" and "fairly rigorous." Veterans report enduring up to five separate meetings, but stress the fact that interviewers try to create "a very relaxed environment." Sources say Chiat/Day "is really looking for commitment to producing the best advertising and a passion for the business." They are also looking for "people who are energetic, but not in a dorky, over-the top way: confidence, but not arrogance." The web site lists contact names for the Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and regional offices at www.tbwachiat.com/manufacturing/global_company/recruiting/index.html. Resumes and cover letters should be faxed and the company will send a confirmation of receipt through the mail.
Put the passion in advertising Employees say that TBWA Chiat/Day's "unique" work environment has been "critical to its success." "It is, without a doubt, one of the best advertising agencies in the world," says one proud employee. Most everyone feels "fortunate" to be working for such a "fantastic," "growth-oriented" company that "really puts a passion into advertising." Lemonade breaks in the afternoons "No one has an assigned office or cubicle," insiders at TBWA Chiat/Day report, and employees can "use any computer or telephone." Such procedures create an "open," "congenial" atmosphere in which "upper management is receptive to new ideas." Employees in this "creative-driven shop" regularly dress in jeans and T-shirts - "our creative leader probably doesn't own a pair of dress pants," says one insider. Chiat/Day provides free fruit and bagels in the morning, beverages all day, and popcorn and lemonade in the afternoons, plus "frequent parties with food and favors to take home." The whole company also gets a paid weeklong vacation for the winter holidays, and employees enjoy taking a "television breaks" in the comfortable lounges that the agency calls "club houses." These are necessary diversions, as "there's a lot of stress sometimes, well, a lot of the time," reveals one creative department staffer. "Our standards are incredibly high," he continues, and the hours can be "incredibly demanding." "You learn a lot very quickly," adds another, "and you are expected to keep up with the rapid pace." Employees "typically work 50 to 60 hours per week" ? more if they've got a deadline to meet. Low pay - even for advertising Starting salaries are "slightly lower" than the advertising industry average ? "around $18 to 20k per year with no overtime." This is mainly "due to the fact that TBWA is a wonderful 'school,' and the job competition is fierce." But employees say the pay does get better as you work your way up. Besides, "the reason you come to a place like this," explains one source, "is because of the work ? you want to be a part of making great advertising." TBWA Chiat/Day employees praise the agency's "long-standing commitment to building a diverse workforce." According to one source, the international agency is "filled with so many diverse histories and cultures that you can be in meetings where it's hard to tell who is a minority." In addition, insiders say, "as a whole, the industry treats women well," and this agency is no exception.
Mary Caberera (212) 804-1104
BBDO Worldwide;DDB Worldwide;Dentsu;Grey Advertising;Publicis;Saatchi & Saatchi;Young & Rubicam More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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