scott goodson's writings : STRATEGIC PLANNER WANTED (THE RIGHT ONE)

(image paulin, sweden)

As an agency grows, walls are opened up, desks are ordered, but one of the most difficult jobs is to hire new talent. It's challenging because culture is everything and maintaining your culture is a lot easier when you're under 50 frogs, errr staffers. Most of the important guidelines and processes can be communicated to members of a smaller team through osmosis. But as you add on new members to the agency, especially people from old elite agencies like BBH, Goodby or Widen, it gets a lot harder and more challenging. People bring their own experiences with them, especially if they're good. One of the most refreshing and best things going for an agency like StrawberryFrog is the opportunity to bring in new and seasoned top talent as the agency is unsentimentally taking off its training wheels and powering up the hill. Like now, after putting on a lot of new business, we are recruiting two senior planners into our agency.

These new positions offer us the opportunity to bring into the team fresh blood, creative and strategic excellence, lust for great thinking, independence and piracy. The right candidates will find an amazing home and responsibility.

Medium-size agencies have a hard time training young planners, because we don't have the bulk of the huge corporate agencies that can afford expensive training programs. When clients select an agency, they want the top team to move fast and this requires someone who experience and the desire to make a difference. People who like their freedom and don't need to be constantly reminded that they're great or that they work for a legendary agency.

Not everyone of course fits into every culture. StrawberryFrog is led by a group of seasoned management Frogs who have young families, who have a desire to do the most innovative and amazing work out there, but not at the cost of giving up one's family or friends. We are humans - um frogs, and everyone deserves enjoyment in their lives. The pond will never be a sweatshop, although people are most welcome to work on their assignments and free to come and go as they please.

So when it comes to hiring we go through many interviews with many members of the team. It's not a foolproof system, and when it doesn't work one needs to be honest and resolve it fast, before the culture of the agency is affected. There's nothing worse than a sad dog in an agency fuelled by energy and optimism and talent.

And yet, when it goes well, it's amazing. Probably the best experience one can have. It's not the corporate environment certainly, and there is accountability - but in that are also a lot of fun and the opportunity to really make a difference.

And so our search continues. Resumes to Chip@StrawberryFrog.com