Update: My second visit to Portland.

The subtitle to this blog is “Documenting my attempt at getting W+K to like me”

When I wrote that I didn’t know how true that actually was.

A couple of weeks ago I got a mail from Jelly, the ecd, asking what it was I actually did. I was just wondering if they ever wondered about that too, apart from my pdf they knew nothing of me.
So I put together a portfolio of stuff I did, am doing and am planning on doing. The “planning on doing”-part greatly outweighed the “did do” part.

The few times I did get a job interview at a real advertising agency (in the Belgian advertising world, which is a cottage industry compared to the likes of W+K). I usually get the brush off with lines like: “Come back when there’s more of your stuff that actually sees the light of day.”

Jelly’s response to my portfolio was “I like the way you think, come over so we can chat some more.”

Is that great or what? Not only did that make me feel a million dollars it also confirmed what I thought all along: those guys that gave me the brush off knew Jack Shit ; ).

So I got Jelly to like me I guess, but he told me they take all their decisions collectively, so I had to come back and meet the rest of the crew.

Which I did last week. I went back trying to get everyone to like me, because, as I found out, they not only take all their decisions collectively, they take ‘em unanimously.

Okay, so there was no *trying* involved, I didn’t bring back Belgian chocolates or Trappist beers for everyone. I just went there and talked with about 20 people about stuff, what I thought, what I liked. Nothing more, nothing less.

And if everyone liked me I would get a job at W+K Portland!

I had the two most charming ladies take care of me for two days, set up meetings and lunches with about half the company. I even talked with the HR ladies about immigration issues! It all became a tad too tangible at times. I had to keep reminding myself I wasn’t there yet. Remind myself to start my answers with “Should this thing go through…” and “If I should ever…”

At first I thought it went alright. I met a lot of knowledgeable people, talked about the stuff I do, how I approach things, didn’t try to be a smartass. I did pretty okay I think.

I thought.

Because a few days have passed since. Days that I was all alone in my (very nice) hotel room staring at the ceiling. Riding a rental bike around Portland. (Not to check out neighborhoods Christian, just because you like to ride!) Sitting in a (very large business class) airplane seat. The point: I had way too much time to re-hash every conversation in my mind. Now I got this endless list of stupid things I said and would keep ME from liking me, let alone all the people I met.

So there you go. That’s where I’m at. They should take their decision this week and get back to me.
After that I’m either, well, *getting married* and moving to Portland. Or thinking about what my next year’s Seeking entry should be.