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School of Journalism and New Media
University of Mississippi

Creating big ideas in the Big Easy

Posted on: April 22nd, 2014 by
Rebecca Hollis

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Hollis

By John Monteith

Rebecca Hollis (’06) creates big ideas for a living. She works at Peter Mayer Advertising in the Central Business District of New Orleans.

“My profession is based on a skill-set, so I use the skills I was taught in the classroom every minute of every day,” Hollis said. “I think I have a better understanding and appreciation now of why we had to present every single piece of design work to the entire class, because I use that capability in client presentations all the time.”

Hollis has advice for graduating seniors, who are facing a tougher job market than ever.

“Be nice,” Hollis said. “Employers much prefer to hire people who are humble, hard-working and easy to be around than someone with the 4.0 resume and an ego any day.”

Hollis said students should seize every internship opportunity they encounter, as most employers are looking to hire candidates that already have experience, even at entry level jobs.

Her agency is “fiercely independent and forward-thinking,” Hollis said. She works in collaboration with copywriters to create strategy based concepts for any form of advertising for their clientele.

Hollis worked at Maris, West & Baker in Jackson, Miss., during the extended break between the fall and spring semesters. The following summer she secured a major internship at Southern Living magazine.

“Internships give you the experience of a job as well as the opportunity to get your foot in the door with certain employers that could lead to immediate hires upon graduation,” Hollis said. “Squeeze them in, and approach companies whenever you have a few weeks of spare time. You might be surprised who will take you up on it.”

Her resume kept expanding and she accepted a permanent position at The Ramey Agency upon graduation. After five years, she applied for a position at Peter Mayer Advertising. She has been there for two years.