Following the successful interview with Jed Hallam, the second of the series features Tim Whirledge of Ogilvy PR. Tim successfully graduated from the Ogilvy Grad scheme after completing his communications degree at Leeds University.



1. How is work at Ogilvy going?

Work is great thank you, very busy as per, but you wouldn't have it any other way would you? Actually sod it- don't do it kids- do an MA, then do an MBA, then do another degree and another, study at the university of life!- you just can't beat the 'creative freedom' of being a student! (Though working here does come a close second)

2. What is your role and what kind of things do you get up to during the average working day?

A bit of background - I work in Ogilvy pr which is part of the uk ogilvy group offering comprising above the line - ogilvy advertising, below the line consulting and customer relationship management (crm) - ogilvyone, brand design - coley porter bell, healthcare marketing - ogilvy healthworld, POS marketing - ogilvyaction and B2B marketing - primary contact.

After coming through the ogilvy grad scheme working in a few of these group companies, I have come to appreciate other comms disciplines but the reason I came back to opr to work in the digital team was because I honestly believe the web is a gamechanger for pr agencies because an interuptive marketing model I believe, will not lead communications campaigns within my (our) career lifespan (and that PR is where it's at!)

My role therefore is to try and elevate pr thinking leveraging my knowledge of an increasingly social digital world where marketing messages are increasingly earned and not bought. I work across all of our practices (corporate, consumer and broadcast) as well as working heavily with the folks in ogilvyone to offer integrated creatives ideas to client's business problems.

Day to day work; client briefings, strategy docs, research, reporting, power naps and tea breaks!

3. Would you ever consider in-house?

Yes, when I'm 40 and I need to go home at 5 on the dot every night whilst getting my agency to burn the midnight oil on my behalf! Seriously though, I would but I think an agency is such a great place to work across loads of different brands and sectors trying to reach lots of different people and learn from so many different and talented people to hone your skills. Its something that I'm not looking at right now but probably will in the future if the right brand came along.

4. What skills do you think are required to do what you do?

- natural inquisitiveness
- the ability to empathise
- the ability to articulate yourself to a wide variety of people
- the ability to analyse and question everything
- the ability to take the piss out of yourself

5. Did you know what you wanted to do after leaving University?

I did actually because I kinda flunked my first year at Uni (I studied management studies at Leeds Uni and then changed to communications studies - best of both worlds right?- so I can manage AND communicate. Nice.) So I felt it necessary to try and give myself a 5 year plan after a rather unproductive 2002. I'm a bit behind schedule though- think I'm just about getting to accomplish year one targets in year six.

6. Do you plan to stay in this sector of PR?

I don't work in a sector - you could say I'm sector neutral and that's the way I intend staying for the time being. If I had to move to a sector specific shop I'd want to work in sports PR

7. Dream job?

Sports journalist or Soccer AM producer

8. How did you end up getting your role at Ogilvy?

Through applying to the Ogilvy grad scheme. In the final round I was 20 mins late and gave a 10 minute presentation littered with cheese puns. To my bemusement they took me on.

9. Best and worst parts of the job?

Admin. Working in a big agency there tends to be a lot. Reporting too. Although essential to proving our raison d'etre, it's still a ball-ache.

10. Brand you most admire?

Nike, Derby County FC and Ricky Gervais - he's done really well to keep his stock high by not selling out (yet)

11. Something anyone going into PR should know?

Digital is a game changer for all marketers and our generation entering into the workplace are expected to appreciate this, sometimes more than our superiors, since we've grown up consuming content online since our first silly hotmail account name back in '95.

Oh and content is king and conversation is the chaffeur.

12. Tool that is the most useful for your work?

Google
Youtube
Google blog search
Technorati

There are loads more but a good kettle is also absolutely essential.

13. Any advice to students applying to graduate entry-level jobs?

Let your personality and creativity shine through and be yourself otherwise you'll have to be that person until you leave the company.
Oh, and no spelling mistakes - seriously!


Have an opinion and add value. Our work is all about opinions and those ideas that are delivered with the their most validating arguments/opinions usually get bought or made (and you get promoted).

Also, go for jobs in companies you actually want to work for because you admire their output. If they reject you, then think about that second degree...