MEDIA | CAREER INSIGHTS
Adweek | EAPs Will Allow Employees to Be Heard and Have Their Privacy Respected
by Hillary Black
I was watching Billions one night, and as someone with a Master’s degree in social work, I was intrigued that the financial firm hired an in-house psychologist to counsel the talent. As it turned out, these people were in-house performance coaches, who also happened to act as therapists.
This fictional example serves as a revealing metaphor of reality. Most industries, including advertising, have yet to make an employee assistance program (EAP) the norm. That’s because companies hire organizational psychologists or human resources managers to work in the best interests of the organization.
She Runs It | August Member of the Month, Hillary Black, Co-CEO of Kay & Black Talent Management + | MSW and Co-Founder of PerQ
Initially, I had a desire to make ads the way Charles Bukowski and E.E. Cummings wrote poems. While my initial professional goal was to become a copywriter, I soon realized after taking classes at the School of Visual Arts that my real skill—and passion—was helping people identify and showcase their core strengths to find their perfect creative home. So, I started my career in 1994 as a creative assistant at Kirshenbaum & Bond and then shortly after joining a boutique creative and production recruitment firm in 1995, I became a recruiter. In 1999 Leslie Kay and I joined forces and we formed Kay & Black in 2007.
We Are Next | How To Prepare For An Interview

photo courtesy of We Are Next
For years, Leslie Kay and Hillary Black have been connecting advertising agencies and brands with top talent through their recruitment, staffing and coaching firm, Kay & Black (a Certified Women Owned Business). Their team specializes in recruitment for full-time and freelance talent in all areas of advertising, marketing and design. Kay & Black also provides professional development workshops through their educational division Campus and career coaching services through their one-on-one division perQ. Who better to provide tips on how to prepare for an interview the right way?
SUPER GIRLS CLUB | Women in Health & Wellness: Interview with Kathryn Freund, certified sound healer and reiki practitioner
Kathryn Freund is a certified sound healer and reiki practitioner based in Brooklyn, NY. By day, she is a recruiter, Co-Active career coach and graphic designer in advertising at Kay & Black and perQ. In a world as hectic and fast-paced as New York’s ad scene, Kathryn finds balance and joy in supplementing her coaching practice with her healing talents to support her candidates and clients professionally, emotionally and spiritually.
Create & Cultivate | How to Calculate Your Hourly Rate as a Freelancer.

photo courtesy of Create & Cultivate
When I started freelancing in 2014, determining my hourly rate was pretty daunting. What’s too high? What’s too low? Will this be enough to support my monthly bills? When someone has a full-time job, they’re given a salary that sets a financial road in place for raises, promotions and new positions ahead. When that person starts freelancing, a new road is set before them with a million different turns to take.
There’s an actual formula I recommend to anyone needing guidance in determining their rate as a freelancer. It starts by researching the salary you would ideally have if you were employed full-time for the services you look to provide your clients.
Campaign US | Age doesn’t matter – it’s all about storytelling in advertising
Panelists discuss ageism in the industry at The One Club Creative Summit.
“Aging is something that’s happening to all of us at exactly the same rate, so it seems strange to me that people are going to discriminate for it,” said Piper Hickman, group creative director at 360i. “My favorite thing at work is when a 30-year-old says, ‘I don’t look good today’ — no, this is literally as good as you’re going to ever look — harness it.”
ADWEEK | How to Land a Job in Advertising When You Have No Industry Experience
Want to switch careers? Here’s how.
Despite spending several years successfully leading digital and branding efforts, respectively, for Chicago-based agency Schafer Condon Carter (SCC), John Anthony and Kathy Gaynor never expected to land careers in advertising. But it’s a switch that neither regret.
Linkedin | Gobble Gobble, Ho Ho Ho.
Best or worst time to look for a new job?
Best or worst time to look for a new job?
With Thanksgiving around the corner and Christmas not far behind is now the time to start looking for your next opportunity?
As career coaches and recruiters, we believe now is the BEST time to start working on your career goals. Have you updated your resume? How does your LinkedIn profile compare to others that are at your same level? How updated is your portfolio of work?
Now is a great time to assess how you are promoting yourself.
WEWORK Blog | Women Affected by Breast Cancer Find Strength in Numbers
When Emily Keeton was first diagnosed with breast cancer, connecting with others in the same situation was tough. It wasn’t until someone told her about a woman who was tweeting about her treatment that Keeton felt she had found a kindred spirit.
LADIES GET PAID | Undressing Your Compensation
You are moving confidently through an interview when all of the sudden the hiring manager asks, “Please walk me through your salary history, starting at the first place of employment.” Crap. How do you navigate this question without losing the opportunity or your temper? You’re irritated that they’re even asking, and you worry you won’t be paid enough based on your level, even though your expertise qualifies you to earn more. Suddenly, you feel yourself sweating from head to toe, and this one question will turn you into someone you are not — defensive.
Ghosting And The Art Of Disappearing.

Image credit The Art Of The Holiness
Professional Ghosting.
Ghosting is a term popularized by dating culture and has moved into the realm of the professional workplace. We are seeing more and more articles about the topic and are
hearing more and more people being affected by it.
Ghosting can be anything from unanswered emails in a flooded inbox to avoiding paying consultants after they have completed work. As recruiters we have seen how candidates looking for work will ghost prospective employers when they either lose interest or are moving forward with another offer. We have encountered clients who will ghost when they are juggling multiple candidates, priorities change and even when they move onto other prospects.
Why does this happen? How have we allowed this behavior to seep into our professional sector?
ADWEEK | 9 Tips for Landing Your First Job at an Advertising Agency
You’ve sent your resume to every agency you could possibly think of, or at least all the ones you really want to work at. And maybe you’ve scored a few interviews. So what happens next, and how do you make sure you’re prepared for your first interviews right out of college?
Leslie Kay and Hillary Black, co-founders of talent management firm Kay & Black, told Adweek that while schools are teaching students how to create great work, graduates are not prepared to showcase that work in a portfolio or interview.
Hispanic Heritage Month | Latinx Community: We See You

Latinx Community We See You
“I paint flowers so they will not die.” – Frida Kahlo
Hispanic Heritage Month is meant to remind all of us of the beauty in our community and to fill us with pride.
We also have to continue recognizing the lack of diversity in our industry.
According to the 2017 Bureau of Labor Statistics Population Survey, of the almost 560,000 people employed in advertising, public relations and related industries, only 8.9 percent identify as hispanic or latino.
Latinas and Latinos in advertising work very hard to be their best and to contribute the most they can despite barriers that exist.
They do it with passion. They do it overcoming obstacles. They, sometimes, do it while mastering a second language.
They don’t give up.
And in the process, they create amazing work.
Kay & Black would like to share with you just a glimpse of the Latinx community in advertising.
By doing this, we hope to in our own way, paint more flowers to honor latinas and latinos everywhere.
Hispanic Heritage Month | Latinx Community: We See You
“I paint flowers so they will not die.” – Frida Kahlo
Hispanic Heritage Month is meant to remind all of us of the beauty in our community and to fill us with pride.
We also have to continue recognizing the lack of diversity in our industry.
According to the 2017 Bureau of Labor Statistics Population Survey, of the almost 560,000 people employed in advertising, public relations and related industries, only 8.9 percent identify as hispanic or latino.
Latinas and Latinos in advertising work very hard to be their best and to contribute the most they can despite barriers that exist.
They do it with passion. They do it overcoming obstacles. They, sometimes, do it while mastering a second language.
They don’t give up.
And in the process, they create amazing work.
Kay & Black would like to share with you just a glimpse of the Latinx community in advertising.
By doing this, we hope to in our own way, paint more flowers to honor latinas and latinos everywhere.
Glassdoor | Phone interview coming up? Don’t make these mistakes.

Image courtesy of fastcompany.com
Phone interviews have become an inevitable part of the job-hunting process. Here are 12 things to keep in mind to make sure you succeed.
These days, phone interviews are an unavoidable part of the job interview process, and for good reason: They save everyone involved time and effort. But that doesn’t mean that phoners require zero energy on the part of the candidate. Yes, you should spend more time preparing for an in-person interview, but many companies treat phone screens as the official first round of the hiring process. That means candidates are expected to go into them prepared with as much information about the company, position, and their own skills and strengths as possible.
We asked HR pros about their top phone interview pet peeves, and they had no shortage of advice to offer. Apparently, it’s quite easy to mess up your phone interview. But here’s the thing: It’s also not hard to come across well if you keep some key things in mind.
LinkedIn | One Size Never Fits All.
One size fits all.
Does it? Who is the all? What are the standards and who made this assumption?
Saying something is one size fits all is essentially saying that we are a homogenous society with standardized styles, tastes, sizes and shapes that are all equal. Implying this, is saying there is a generalization that we have all agreed upon and it is “the” standard.
LinkedIn | How To Fight Ageism In Advertising
We have no control over the aging process, however we do have control over how we are perceived regardless of our years. We do have control over staying relevant, and we do have the ability to define the path we take.
Recently, Hillary Black, our Joint CEO, moderated a panel at @The One Club’s Creative Summit on Ageism. The panel focused on how important it is to stay current in this ever-changing industry. Remaining relevant will help to future proof your career. Showcasing a compelling personal brand story through your portfolio, resume, bio, and LinkedIn, while incorporating your own human story through such things as your “side hustle” can be a way for others to truly learn more about the real you. Sharing sincere interests in life shows the proof that you a more interesting person than just what your resumes dateline.
LinkedIn | Quality vs. Quantity
Is less more when it comes to Talent Acquisition?
The main difference between Quality + Quantity is the fact that quality refers to the characteristic or the feature of something, whereas quantity refers to the numerical value of something.
Quality is subjective, whereas quantity is not.
Recognizing that time is money, a common goal amongst HR and Talent Acquisition specialists is to reduce the time spent to fill positions and in doing so, the cost. The question remains: What is more critical to focus on; Quality Talent or a Mass Quantity of Candidates?
LinkedIn | 2018 Resolutions for Partnerships & Growth
New Year’s resolutions are the key to success. We believe they help us stay focused, motivated and inspired to meet our goals. Goals are meant to take us where we need to go and making resolutions is a chance to concentrate energies on what we want to achieve. For 2018 we want to share our leadership goals with our community. Here’s to a new year and our top 5 resolutions.
- Do the best work for our clients by relying on outstanding teamwork, communication and a shared value system steeped in strong work ethics, and integrity.
- Provide the finest customer service delivering the results clients and candidates expect
- Stay on top of new technologies and trends offering more valuable services to clients and candidates. Starting this year we will be offering payrolling services on contract employees.
- In 2018 we will continue to expand on our mentoring and coaching divisions, Campus & perQ. These divisions will offer us the opportunity to give back to the community.
- This year Kay & Black, wants to make the staffing process effortless by broadening our reach and adding new areas of concentration: Account, Strategy, New Business, Media and Production. Clients can now find everything from creative to strategy.
Our Resolutions for 2018 will strengthen our team so we can be a more valuable partner to our clients and candidates.
“Great things in business are never done by one person. They are done by a team of people”
–Steve Jobs
MM.LaFleur | The Most Provocative Woman in the World
Cindy Gallop, advertising executive turned multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, has built her whole career out of memorable statements. An outspoken advocate for more open attitudes about sex, she founded her first tech startup, Make Love Not Porn, in 2009; this year, she created her own fund, All The Sky Holdings, to help other “Sextech” companies get off the ground. Here, she talks disruption, workplace harassment, and why trust makes businesses successful.
CREATOR | 14 Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Advice for Helping Other Women
In honor of International Women’s Day, we thought we’d ask some of our members for their best advice for helping women achieve and grow every day.
Question: What’s the best way for women entrepreneurs to help each other?
The New York Times | How To Manage Your Career
There is no shortage of books claiming to reveal the secret truth behind successful careers. Then there are all the podcasts, TED talks, late-night motivational speakers and your relatives’ sage advice. The bottom line of most of these advice-givers? A successful career requires managing the person in the mirror – overcoming your tendencies and habits that can undermine efforts to find happiness at work. Read on to see what professors and researchers suggest for managing different situations, whether you want to improve your situation at work, if you suspect changes are coming down, or if you are making a go of it in the gig economy.
ADWEEK | Young & Rubicam Is Starting a Program to Help Parents and Caregivers Re-enter the Workforce
The agency on Tuesday announced the launch of its own career reboot program called PowerOn. In a statement, Y&R said the training program aims to “reclaim the untapped talent and recruitment potential” of those facing the challenges of re-entering the workforce.
New York City Salary History Legislation | October 2017
Effective October 31, 2017, the New York City Human Rights Law makes it unlawful to inquire about the salary history of an applicant for employment in New York City, defined as the City of New York including all five boroughs, stating “it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer, employment agency, or employee or agent thereof.
Fast Company | This Is How To Bring Up Salary During The Job Interview Process
The salary you negotiate for yourself deeply impacts your attitude about any new position you accept. While the discussion is key to securing fit in a new role, you may not feel like you’re the one driving the conversation. But you should, and you can be.
Ink.com | After Giving 1,000 Interviews, I Found the 4 Questions That Actually Matter
Hiring for culture fit can seem like a mystery, but these 4 interview questions will help you get it right every time.
Bustle | How To Get A Raise No Matter What, According To Businesswoman Cindy Gallop
We all know we should do it, and hopefully, we all know we deserve it — but that doesn’t make asking for a raise any easier.
Do The Damn Things | Checkmate: Put Your Imposter Syndrome In Its Place
I mentioned my tendency to be harder on myself than I am on others. I call this self-critical voice my “bad brain,” and if I don’t check it, it loves to run wild and wreak havoc.
Glass door | 10 Things You Need to Check Before Submitting Your Resume
Whew! You’ve revised your resume, updated all of the information on it and incorporated all of the right keywords. You must be exhausted and so ready to apply to your dream job. However, before uploading that PDF resume, there are a few key things to double-check.
Refinery29 | The Ridiculously Easy Guide To Negotiating Your First Salary
The hardest part of negotiating is first knowing how much to ask for. If you don’t know the going rate for a job in your industry, you may not even try to negotiate.
Chase.com | How to plan for the episodic career
When Dan Walsh finished college, in 2006, he landed a graphic design job at a San Francisco nonprofit organization. Then, the Great Recession arrived, and suddenly, Walsh was among the millions of Americans looking for work.
Fast Company | Creative Job Creation
Creators don’t get paid. Brands are over “likes.” Former creative directors Ken Hamm and Pat Stern want to fix all of that with PRoPS.
Adweek | Why These Ad Students Are Really, Really Obsessed With One Droga5 Exec in Particular
You’re an aspiring ad maven looking for a big break, or at the very least, somewhere to hang your hat and make a mark this summer. What do you do?
Work like a dog? Outsmart your competitors? Get your portfolio in order? Well, if you’re a couple of Miami Ad School students in New York, you target your potential employer—personally—and shoot videos about her Twitter feed.
What could go wrong?