Advertising

Strange how adverts have changed over the years.

I somehow cannot see this being used today

There was a time, many years ago when I worked *shamefaced shuffle* in sales and marketing.

Look, I was young, impressionable and dazzled by the prospect of a free car, long spells in nice hotels, with an expense account, so don't be too hard on me please.

The actual job wasn't too bad, except for the bit about trying to manipulate buyers into ordering equipment and testing kits (I worked in the medical laboratory area) that wasn't quite what they wanted.  As an aside, the most entertaining visits I made were to what used to be called VD Clinics, and now in this age of Political Correctness, STD clinics. Walking in with my rep suit and sample briefcase to the reception area was always a hoot.  Seeing the seated patients in their waiting area studiously avoiding all eye contact, the blokes with caps pulled down over their faces, the women with scarfs over their heads, and all for some unfathomable reason, wearing trench coats.

I had no fear.

I always made sure I wore my badge.

You know, the one which said, "DON'T LOOK AT ME, I WORK HERE"

Eventually, as I gained experience in my chosen career, I was given more responsibility in the product development and marketing areas.

This was when I first made contact with an advertising agency.

Not to put too fine a point on it, they were weird.

I suppose creative types are always a bit on the edges of the behavioural spectrum, but this lot weren't just weird, they were gloomily weird.  I've since come to understand the pressures most of them worked under, the extremely tight deadlines, the difficult clients, the hyper-sensitive photographers and of course the tremendous volume of vodka consumed.  I got the impression that they were all permanently semi-pissed.

I was working with them on a small magazine based campaign, designed to increase the sales of our top-of-the line Streptococcus typing kit.

It took about 3 meetings to create the brief, choose and adjust the first drafts and at the last, finalise the accepted advert.  I got completely pissed every time. 

I did enjoy the champagne and the smoked salmon snacks. 
I also enjoyed the whole side of best quality Scottish Smoked Salmon which was delivered to my home after the contract was accepted.
I didn't enjoy the meeting with my boss when he got the final bill.

I still say it was his fault for not giving me a budget to work to. All he said was get the campaign going.

Ah well, we learn from experience.
I learned that a budget was essential.
I learned that I really liked smoked salmon.
I learned that bastard bosses can switch blame faster than a hyperactive ferret on ice.

My next company was quite nice really .


As some of you may know, I'm responsible for coordinating the relief teachers at Nuova Lazio High School, and I like to think I do quite a good job.  I definitely know that I do a better job than Ringo did when he had the responsibility for relief.  I don't make the last minute panic and confusion he used to create when his disorganised brain tried to work in a logical and planned fashion.

Part of this job is being thoroughly prepared.

This means that I need a list of relieving teachers who:

1. Are qualified
2. Can arrive at short notice if needed
3. Are reliable
4. Can handle some quite disruptive classes, made worse by not always knowing the kids.
5. Are cheap.

It's number 1 and 5 which cause problems.

The school is given a fixed amount from the MOE (The Ministry, not the teacher) to pay for all the relief used during the year.  These teacher are paid at varying rates, according to qualifications and experience.  A brand new qualified teacher gets about NZ$45,000, paid pro rata per hour worked.  A teacher with a MSc and 10 years experience gets about NZ$68,000, again pro rata.  An unqualified reliever gets about NZ$30,000.

We used to be allowed to use unqualified teachers (an ordinary punter) after they went through a police check.  The New Zealand Teacher's Council would give these punters a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT), and we could then use them to cover classes when the teacher was off.

But now the NZTC is getting very wary about awarding the LATs (It was discovered that a qualified, registered teacher had been teaching for 4 years with a conviction for some unsavoury child abuse) and they now want proof that we've been trying our best to get a qualified and registered teacher to fill the relief jobs.

So they suggest that we advertise locally.

I've made one up.

I'll get it added to our school newsletter and see what the response might be.







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