Despite all having been working late, Thursday morning wasn't a time for tired eyes, when straight away we were given the challenge of improving Laithwaites Wine's direct mail. A somewhat different challenge to those of previous days, many of us were initially scratching our heads, unsure as to how to approach such a task. However, realising that in real working life it would be rare for us to fall into the target demographic, we stuck on our thinking caps and put ourselves in the comfortable moccasins of Laithewaites drinkers. Before you knew it, the ideas were flowing, and we all came up with far more than we'd envisioned to begin with (though the Champaign prize for any tested ideas may have helped a teensy bit too).
Post invigorating coffee break/table football match, many delegates were given a wake up call by Sam and Felix of Essential Communications. Prior to arriving at the IDM, the social media agency reps had done some digging on all of us, and read out some facebook statuses/info. Whilst I'd had a tidy up of all the embarrassing frapes that naturally occur when a student negligently forgets to log out, not all had. To save your eyes from going blind at what was written I wont type the things that came up, but needless to say, everyone's social media accounts are a lot more employer-friendly now.
We were all then educated on how to brand ourselves, both in efforts to gain that first job, and throughout our careers. Again I was surprised at how few people had gone beyond mere facebook, and into the realms of Twitter, Linkedin or blogging. However, as the increase in my follows/ers and connections indicate, pretty much all now have a more prominent online presence.
After lunch and a spot of presentation polishing, it was time. The main event of the week was upon us; the Patrons evening at The Goring Hotel.
Heading off in our Apprentice-esque suits and black cabs, we were greeted at the swanky hotel by a Champaign reception and lots of unfamiliar faces. However, after the obligatory photos and a brief speech from Derek Holder (in which the fantastic programme coordinator Janice Pickard got the praise she sorely deserves), we were all mingling and chatting away quicker than you could say "job".
Overall the evening was a smashing success. Whilst the evening being renowned for leading to employment meant that everyone was flexing their networking muscles harder than those at a Mr Universe convention, the covert waiters sneakily refilling everyone's glasses meant that everyone was relaxed and friendly throughout. From those working client side, established at a highly reputable agency, or those just creating one, the plethora of people to talk to and learn from made the night a definite highlight of the week.
Unfortunately however, it had to end. And so all 27 delegates - somewhat merrier than we arrived - headed back to St Mary's in our black cabs, in need of a good nights sleep prior to pitch day.
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