After several years in the industry, advertising jargon has become a big part of Brevo’s culture and day-to-day work environment. To help creatives who are new to the game, we’ve come up with a breakdown of some of the most used words, acronyms, and phrases in Creative Marketing. Read more below!
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A short and sweet expression of approval, G2G means your work is “good to go!”
“Let me know if these are G2G!”
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A “Key Visual” or graphic that contains artistic elements and treatment that should be used repeatedly and consistently across brand or campaign materials.
“You may add KV options 1 and 2 to the client presentation.”
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Advertising aimed at a wide audience. Think: radio, billboards, TV, magazines.
“So what will the ATL deliverables be?”
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Advertising aimed at a small, targeted audience. Think: email, direct mail, brochures, flyers.
“They want us to focus on BTL executions for this campaign.”
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Typically a one-line directive, a CTA or “Call to action” urges viewers, readers, or listeners to fulfill a specific action: shop now, click here, read more, etc.
“Minor revision: kindly change the CTA to Shop Now!”
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A standalone web page that people “land on” after clicking an ad, so they can act upon an ad’s CTA or proposition.
“Our ad’s landing page is the brand’s e-commerce website.”
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Together, UI and UX outline a user’s interaction with and overall experience of a website, app, or software. UI refers to “User Interface” while UX means “User Experience.
“Have we conducted UI testing yet? We launch tomorrow.”
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A USP or “Unique Selling Proposition” is a product or service’s distinguishing benefit that drives buyers to choose it over competitor brands and offerings.
“Volvo’s primary USP is they’re the safest cars in the market.”
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The various media used to support a marketing campaign, from digital adverts to printed material. Marketing collateral collectively promotes specific products, services, or brand messaging.
“Let’s start putting together collaterals for the upcoming pitch.”
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A common or recurring problem that target customers are facing in their respective customer journeys, and that advertising professionals try to solve!
“Have you identified the target market’s pain points in their everyday lives?”
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Images, videos, text, or audio posted online by a brand’s end users. UGC or “User-Generated Content” highlights authentic experiences with a product or service, encouraging others to try, buy, or subscribe too.
“Can we use UGC for our posts?”
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The process of generating “leads” or potential customers who are showing interest in your products or services. An engaging lead gen ad or campaign can help a company collect valuable contact details for future business use.
“We’ll start running lead gen campaigns next week.”
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When a company sells its products or services to other businesses or vendors, we call it B2B or “Business to Business.” Likewise, we call companies who serve everyday consumers B2C or “Business to Consumer.”
“They don’t want to limit themselves to B2C. They’re expanding to B2B relationships as well.”
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Otherwise known as “Electronic Direct Mail,” an EDM is digital marketing collateral that promotes products or announcements directly via email.
“All EDMs were sent back for revisions.”
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When potential customers become actual buyers, or the act of responding to an ad’s CTA.
“What’s the average conversion rate for this ad?”
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QA or “Quality Assurance” is a screening process ad agencies enforce to ensure all its outgoing material or finished work meets client and company standards.
“Make sure to QA everything before you send it to the client for approval.”
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KPIs or “Key Performance Indicators” are statistics ad agencies keep track of to determine the success of a marketing campaign. e.g. profit margin, client retention, customer satisfaction, etc.
“Let’s determine our KPIs this month.”
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At Brevo, we believe in nurturing young talent. In fact, a handful of our current team members began their careers working for us as interns! This includes Driggs, a young creative who first joined the team last July as an art intern and is currently our newest full-time graphic designer.
We spoke with Driggs about the various lessons he gathered from his internship, and how it has informed and enriched his first job post-university. Read his story below!
The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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I was looking for some agencies with internship openings since I wanted to gain experience as a graphic designer. Mainly: I wanted to make sure that this was a career path that I actually wanted to pursue. Compared to the other agencies that were offering internships, Brevo stood out the most to me as it had something that others didn’t: it looked fun. Everywhere else felt like a boring job with mundane activities, while Brevo designed their internship like a creative bootcamp. With this, I decided to take a leap of faith and join Brevo.
Although I was just an intern, I loved how I was already treated like a fellow coworker. I wasn’t excluded from company meetings or brainstorm activities—I was actually pushed to even state and contribute my ideas. I felt really welcomed, and that made me want to work even more with Brevo.
Initially, I was a bit overwhelmed with managing my time and internship tasks. I usually critique myself a lot when I’m designing a piece, and that makes me take longer in accomplishing my tasks. Working with Brevo taught me that there has to be a balance between quality and time. As much as I’d like to spend time making a poster look “perfect,” I have to remember that I’m working with other people who will also be affected by the time I send my work. It taught me to be less of a perfectionist by considering the time of others.
By early November last year, a month after my graduation, I was set on finding a job as a graphic designer but I didn’t know where to start. Since my internship ended, I decided that I wanted to work with Brevo again. I already knew that I liked the people and their workflow, so I thought working with them would be ideal. Thankfully, Aaron from accounts reached out to me and asked if I was interested in being a full-time graphic designer. I happily accepted the offer.
Compared to when I was just interning, I love designing now knowing that what I do carries more weight. As a full-time graphic designer, I realize how I’m no longer an intern looking for experience. I love that what I do helps both Brevo and our clients grow even more as companies.
It’s only been less than a year since my internship, but Brevo's already changed a lot. In fact, a few of my coworkers were promoted! It makes me feel excited knowing that I’m working in a company that constantly changes and makes it a point to continually grow.
Follow Driggs on Instagram.
And just in case you missed it, check out PART 1 and PART 2 of our Brevo ex-intern interview series!
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Looking to start off your career the exciting way? Consider interning for us—just send your resume and portfolio to [email protected]o now!
Your very first internship doesn’t have to just be a college requirement—it can also serve as an exciting avenue to learn and (if you play your cards right) even land your first job! We spoke to two former Brevo interns (now happily employed at the agency) on how their first internship opened their eyes and impacted their career paths.
And just in case you missed it, catch PART 1 of our Brevo ex-intern testimonials here!
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I’ll be honest: when I applied for an internship, Brevo was the only company who responded to my application LOL! I was hoping to intern for a small promising company that wasn’t too far from my college dorm. I didn’t want to intern for a really big agency because I heard about how cutthroat they could be.
Second: I hate a lengthy commute. I will absolutely get lost in Manila’s streets if I interned for a company that’s far away! Finally, Brevo’s Jobstreet profile said that most of their employees were young—inside, I was like “YES, MY PEOPLE!”
Brevo replied to my application really quickly. I remember getting a response three days later, and going through my interview on Friday. The following week, I started my internship.
It was a really new experience to me, having to work with people I don't know in a place I'm not familiar with. Thankfully, Brevo welcomed me and helped me get settled quickly and comfortably. It was also super chill—I never had to work overtime, and everyone was really helpful whenever I needed guidance.
Looking back, I didn’t really face any big challenges in my internship! Oh, except for one thing: THE ELEVATOR. Our old office building had extremely long lines in the morning, so I had to leave for work like an hour earlier. Queuing for the elevator sometimes took me more than 20 minutes (!!!), so I learned to pack my own lunch with me or have it delivered so I didn’t have to deal with the insane lines.
After my internship ended, Imran said he’d keep a seat warm for me, so I started working as a full-time graphic designer a month after graduating. I liked how, pretty quickly, I’ve established good friendships with my Brevo co-workers. I liked that I didn’t have to start all over again when I started working for realz. Most of all, I’m glad that Brevo cultivated a work space for me where I can truly be myself.
Brevo has grown in a lot of ways since I joined three years ago. We moved to a bigger office space that fits us all, we won more clients, welcomed more team members, and drank more booze! But one thing that hasn’t changed is Brevo’s strength—still thriving despite the pandemic. We always manage to make things work out.
Follow Carissa on Instagram!
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Back in my college days, I was looking for an advertising agency where I can apply as an intern. I asked my friends if they know any agencies with art intern openings, and Carissa told me about Brevo. So I submitted my portfolio and sent it out.
I soon saw how Brevo prioritized a proper work-life balance and how it fostered a chill work environment. My co-workers helped me grow as a designer, but we still managed to have a lot of fun. We watched movies after office hours, went drinking at the end of the day, and even raced around in office chairs! It was nice, and I loved every part of it.
Before, I used to struggle with my own creative process. I sometimes got stuck at the beginning. Thankfully, my co-designers shared their own creative processes and what they’d do to overcome their creative block. They’d guide me with the things I get stuck at, giving me a new insight of how I can come up with better ideas.
I really did like my Brevo internship experience. I learned so much from the other designers, so I wanted to stay here in Brevo and continue growing. On the last day of my internship, Imran asked me if I wanted to be a full-time graphic designer after my graduation. I gladly accepted. It’s been three years and I still continue to grow in Brevo as a designer and enjoy the fun!
Follow Gio on Instagram!
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Looking to start off your career the exciting way? Consider interning for us—just send your resume and portfolio to [email protected]o now!
Newsflash: an internship is so much more than just a university requirement! For many, it’s your first taste of how the real world works. Out you go under the comfortable confines of school and org work, and in you venture into the hustle and bustle of real-life work. It’s an exciting opportunity to put the concepts and ideas you’ve learned in class into practice, as well as to network and make meaningful professional connections along the way.
Also up for grabs in the internship sweepstakes: your first post-college job? If you play your cards right, then you’ve got it! Need convincing? We speak with four Brevo interns-turned-employees about their first internships and how it has enriched their current flourishing careers.
The following interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.
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Back in June 2019, I was looking for an internship to fulfill my college requirements. Thankfully, my brother used to be co-workers with Brevo’s senior designer Gab, who shared an open call for graphic design and copy interns. This caught my brother’s attention, and not so long after, I applied.
I consider Brevo to be my introduction into the world of advertising. Before my internship, I had zero knowledge about writing copy. Most of my experience with writing had to do with making thought pieces for Young STAR or feature articles for The GUIDON. I wanted to expand my horizons and try something new.
Previously, I heard a lot of bad things about agency life, especially regarding the workload, the hours, and the horrible clients. I’m happy to say these were things I never experienced in Brevo! I saw it for myself how this agency valued proper work hours as much as they valued having fun.
This is what I loved most about my internship experience: it changed my perception of agency life and taught me a lot about what an ideal agency can be. Moreover, I loved being exposed to a group of hardworking, extremely creative, and crazy fun people!
I did face a few challenges in my internship, especially when it came to getting into the copywriter mindset. Coming in, I barely had any idea on how to write proper copy. This made me feel incompetent and a bit like an impostor at times, but I kept reminding myself that I chose to intern in Brevo to learn and hone this specific skill.
What really helped me overcome these feelings were Brevo’s Bootcamps, a series of short-but-fun tasks that really challenged me to think outside the box. Apart from that, everyone in the office was so accommodating and inspirational, and all this really helped me become the copywriter I am today.
I remember Bettina, one of my supervisors, told me that Brevo wanted to recruit me as part of the team as soon as I graduate, and I kept that in mind. After grieving my last few days of school (and my youth), I shot my shot and DM’d Carissa on Instagram to ask if there were any job openings.
A month later, I had my interview with (Brevo’s CEO) Imran, which honestly felt more like a catch-up than a job interview. Lo and behold, by August I spent my days on my desk writing copy for a leading cake company. The rest was history!
If we’re talking numbers, quite a lot has changed in Brevo since I’ve joined as an intern. I’m happy to see new faces and new talents in the team, even if it’s just through my computer screen. I’m very proud of the agency’s efforts to expand and still maintain the same warm company culture from my intern. Most especially, years later, I still love seeing my concepts and copy come to life once our artists apply their magic.
Follow Toots on Instagram!
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During my junior year as a Computer Science undergrad, I was looking for a company to intern in for my practicum semester. My best friend, a previous Brevo intern, recommended the agency to me and said many nice things about their work culture. Although they didn’t really have any openings for tech-related positions, I took a chance and sent in my resume.
After my first interview with Imran, I could tell that Brevo was different from the other companies I interviewed for. During our meeting, we talked about not just the value I could bring to the Brevo team, but also what value this internship would bring me.
Thanks to the pandemic, I had to complete my internship from home. Admittedly, I was pretty disappointed at first. But after getting to know the Brevo team through my laptop screen and countless Skype messages, I felt right at home. I loved how everyone was very welcoming and fun, proving that the warm work culture I heard so much about existed beyond the four walls of a physical office.
I did face a few challenges as an intern. As I haven’t met any of my coworkers in person, I found it challenging to coordinate with everyone for my daily tasks. At the time, Brevo didn’t have a resident web developer, so I was hesitant in asking anyone for help for the longest time. Eventually though, I fell in love with learning on my own pace and terms, which made me comfortable enough to talk to my co-workers and ask how I could help them too.
Towards the end of my internship, I saw that my load for the next semester was pretty light and that I’d have an ample amount of free time. So I took my chance and asked Imran if they were open to hiring me as a part-time web developer for the next few months. Although they generally didn't hire part-timers, he told me it was something he and my other supervisors were already considering! And that’s how I got my first real job.
It didn’t take much convincing for me to believe each Brevo team member had their own unique and charming quirks. The cherry on top is really how easily we seem to work together even during the new normal. I fell in love with the company’s innate system of collaboration during the lockdown, and how they provided clients with well-thought-out, top-tier creative work. I was stuck in a technical mindset care of my course, so being surrounded with all this creativity while I practiced web dev is incredibly refreshing.
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Looking for an unforgettable creativity-filled first internship? Shoot your shot and send your resume and portfolio to [email protected]o now!
All work and no play makes for a dull company, which is why every now and then, we at Brevo like to throw parties. Even now, we try to find the time to come together and rock out—we just happen to do it digitally.
Virtual video conference parties can be fun, but they’re not exactly easy to put together. It’s difficult to replicate the feel of a physical gathering, and we have to acknowledge the reality of Zoom fatigue. Still, it’s all we got, and it’s important for coworkers to meet virtually for recreational purposes!
When you get right down to it, connecting through the internet allows us to come together, build strong bonds, and make meaningful attachments. So we put together a list of best practices that can make your virtual gathering a night to remember.
A theme-less party is like a burger without toppings—it’s fine, but why settle for plain? Your party needs a theme, a concept, an idea that people can get behind. The theme can dictate your virtual party’s general vibe.
It’s also a chance to dress up! A Christmas or Halloween party will compel your guests to come correct in festive costumes or attire. And if the virtual party doesn’t fall on a particular holiday, that’s just more room to move around in! How about “Disco”? Or “Summer in the 90s”? Or “Mall Punk”? Organizers get a chance to go bananas with key words while guests get to make sense of the theme like a puzzle.
Consider as well a collaborative effort where the whole team decides on a theme together—that can take the form of a poll or a brainstorm. Themes are like creative prompts for your guests, that allow them to express themselves in unique ways.
Y’know how party invitations are automatically more enticing if they say there’s an open bar? That still applies to online gatherings, believe it or not, even though the new normal doesn’t let drinks flow as freely. When a company sends physical favors to their employees for the party, like free food and booze (and non-alcoholic options too!), that’s them saying “Hey, we’re bringin’ the party to you.”
Remember: “eat, drink, and be merry” isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a sequence of steps. You gotta do the first two before you can have a good time.
Setting the rhythm of a party happens as soon as people show up. A few early birds come in, hosts get a chance to give their ice breakers a test drive, and people get to ease into the feeling of being in the group. More people enter the virtual room, turn their mics and cameras on, and find themselves in a conversation finding its footing. The last batch of people come in fashionably late, and by this point the gathering has settled into a kind of groove, with people talking and listening and acclimating to the atmosphere.
This isn’t something you can achieve when everybody comes in at the same time, all at once, which can be overwhelming. So here’s a tip from Business Insider: stagger your invites! Make an invitation plan that lets people attend gradually, in portions and increments.
Speaking of rhythm! Nobody wants to show up at a party and be met with dead air, or the plain white noise of chatter. Ideally a playlist of bops is already doing its thing in the background. A solid party playlist can help build an atmosphere, and get your guests in the right mindset!
Ideally, you’ve got somebody manning the DJ booth equivalent of your chosen platform. There are also services that allow people to “pass the aux cord around,” so to speak, and people can take turns playing their favorite tunes.
It might be common sense at this point for anyone who’s ever held a Zoom party, but your gathering likely needs games. Putting games in your itinerary lets people know what to expect from the night. Not to mention prizes!
Games do a good job of helping wallflowers feel included too! Trivia nights, competitions, and song-and-dance presentations have a way of getting people out of their shells. Remember, the goal isn’t to turn your introverts into extroverts! It’s to bring people together.
This Valentine’s Month, we’re talking romance and relationships. Let’s begin by tackling an age-old question: can you work at the same company with your significant other? Is it possible to maintain both romantic and professional relationships with your lover-slash-colleague? To find out, Jeremiah Capacillo spoke with Brevo graphic designers Carissa Lucasia and Tim Leachon, aka the agency’s resident creative power couple.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Jeremiah: Hey guys! Okay, let’s start with the basics—how did the two of you meet and fall in love?
Tim: Carissa and I were actually both batchmates and coursemates at the College of Saint Benilde, we were both then taking up Multimedia Arts.
Carissa: We weren’t close for the first few years. We just knew each other from mutual friends and classes.
T: Later on, I followed Carissa on Twitter and we started chatting online.
C: A few pizza dates later and, well, here we are.
J: Carissa, you’ve been working as a graphic designer for Brevo since 2018. Tim, you joined the team as a designer in 2020. Did the two of you have any anxieties or worries about working together?
T: Nope, no anxieties for me so far. We’re used to working with each other since college, and we bring out the best in each other. I think if anything changed, [it’s] all in a positive way.
C: I’m gonna be honest, yes I was a bit anxious. I know myself, and I know that I’m a different person when I'm in a relationship, versus when I’m at work as a creative. I was also a bit worried that our personal life might overlap with my professional life, and I might not be able to handle it well. I was also thinking, what if there was a conflict of interest? Because Tim's my boyfriend, and suddenly he joined our agency. Will there be bias, or something? So we try to keep things as professional as possible now.
J: Did you guys put any boundaries in place to clearly delineate your work life and love life? Like just to make sure that there's no overlap?
C: I told Tim before he started to minimize the PDA in our work group chat. [laughs] I know some people don't like that, and personally I also don't like PDA that much. So when we do PDA, we make it a point to keep it between ourselves.
J: So, how has your relationship changed ever since you both started working together?
T: I got to see a new side of Carissa. It’s nice to see her hard at work at an office setting, so my respect for her as a creative really grew.
C: For me, the time we spend together each day has increased significantly. I like it because for example, I no longer have to check up on Tim to see if he’s eaten lunch, stuff like that. I also love seeing the ways Tim grows, like in terms of skills and time management, etc.
J: Okay! So next question: has working together made you see your SO in a new light?
C: For me, yes. I saw how much more creative Tim could be, and I saw how easily he gets along with people. Before we worked together, I didn’t really see how he worked with his former officemates. But even back then, he already got along really well with the Brevo team. So when he joined our agency, I fully saw just how well he can get along with new people.
J: Tim, how about you?
T: Well, I saw how different Carissa’s work environment was from where I used to work, and it made me appreciate how much hard work goes into producing actual design studio work. She inspired me to work even harder, seeing that she works way better than...
C: [laughs] Than who?
T: No I mean….as compared to my previous work environment, which was super chill.
C: Ahhh, okay.
T: So comparing that to how hard Carissa has to work daily, it inspired me to be more creative and work even harder.
J: Have you guys learned anything from each other since you started working together?
C: Hmm, what have I learned from Tim? [laughs] I guess I learned some technical stuff from him. At his previous job, he used to work on animation and video editing. So now, when I work on animation, I ask him for help. He helps me with exporting stuff, hotkeys, and other technical things.
J: So, time for the million-dollar question: do you think you can work in the same office as your SO?
T: Yes.
C: Yeees.
T: Big yes.
C: As long as you both set clear boundaries, and you’re both okay with working together.
J: Do you have any advice for couples who find themselves with the opportunity to work together in the same office?
T: Just don't mix up personal issues and work. It really affects your work process, and most likely you’ll end up not being able to focus on your tasks.
C: Very true. I'm not really the best at giving advice, but I agree with Tim—you really have to be able to separate your personal issues from your professional life. Like, you don't always have to be all work work work, or all love love love. There has to be a balance between the two. Also, enjoy the time that you have together!
Every December, a few days before Christmas Day, my creative agency Brevo ceases all operations for a two-to-three week period during the holidays. For the past three years, this is what we’ve always done each year, and what we will continue to do moving forward.
There are a few factors that led me to this decision. One, agency life is very hectic and fast-paced. Especially for creative people—I think they need to be able to step back and breathe every now and then. On a personal level, it allows them to spend quality time with family and friends over the break.
I honestly just think it makes for healthier and more productive employees. A lot of people want to skip the holidays, and I just don't think that's a good thing. A break lets them recharge and come back with a fresh outlook for the next year.
This isn’t easy, considering that the Christmas period is usually the busiest time of the year. When you work in an agency, and especially when you work with FMCG clients, the holidays are a crucial sales period. And they require an agency to be constantly churning out content, especially during a period where consumers are more likely to shop more.
When I was in the US, I had a meeting with a client today who told me: "We'll probably get two days off on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and then we're back to work." And the same thing happened to me in the UK—me and my co-employees would bargain with each other as we arranged our holiday working schedule.
For Brevo, I didn't want to have that type of environment. I considered all factors, and saw that the positives far outweighed the negatives. Personally, I think it has even made our agency more productive. And just being able to press that off switch for the holidays has done wonders in recharging one's creativity.
It isn't a common practice, and less so for the advertising industry. Still, I looked at it from a human perspective. It's always good to take time off, and letting employees know this is incredibly important. Our yearly shutdown shows my employees that the company is human, and that we encourage them to spend quality time with their loved ones. In turn, they hopefully develop a loyalty to Brevo and our culture, and how we operate. No matter how busy we get, we make it a point to not compromise our holiday break.
I remember bringing it up with one of our clients in our first year working together, and they were admittedly very surprised. But what was encouraging for me was by the second year, they started asking me when our Christmas break will take place so they can plan around it. I knew then that I had made the right decision.
We make it a point to reassure our clients that whatever needs to be done will be done before we go, and we have a plan for when we come back, and that it's like they won't miss a beat with us. And once they saw that, the clients all came on board. Now, we let our clients know the date of our shutdown beforehand, and thankfully everyone understands and respects it.
To date, Brevo hasn't missed a deadline due to our year-end shutdown. I credit that to much planning, especially from the accounts team. We plot our last day a couple of months ahead, and we start to plan accordingly in terms of projects and what we need to discuss with clients ahead of time. We plan out deadlines, and decide on what can be postponed to next year. Thankfully, our clients have always understood that. We haven't had any pushback from their end.
We're also selective when it comes to taking on projects during the holidays. If there's a particular project that will compromise our agency shutdown, we just wouldn't take it on. The long-term benefits to team morale and mental health far outweigh the short-term financial success. If you don't draw a line in the sand somewhere, then that line will always be moved. And that's something I always like to stand by.
Honestly, I would say to all CEOs out there: treat your team as you would want to be treated yourself. If you're that type of CEO that is constantly working, you need to understand that not everybody might be driven by the same things that you are, and you need to consider how your employees can benefit from time with their families.
At Brevo, I can just say that the results have spoken for themselves. We've had success in terms of year-on-year growth, with a minimum growth of 100 percent year-on-year in terms of revenue since we started. Since year 1, we've observed our Christmas break religiously, and our clients and employees have reacted positively to it—and more importantly, our bottomline has grown at least double every year.
For me, the proof is in the pudding, and I think a holiday break is something all companies should be taking on. And let’s not limit it to the holiday season, a healthy work-life balance is very important to the success of a business. I would say the results have been great for us, and I think they would for other companies, too.
Have you been resisting the urge to leave home and head to a cafe and catch up with your friends? If so, kudos for helping flatten the curve! Of course, steering clear of restaurants and pubs may be the wise choice, but it can also affect your social life. What other socially distant option do we have to see our friends but the dreaded Zoom call?
Thankfully, there are a few things we can do to spice up our con-call catch-ups without triggering workplace Zoom PTSD. Below, we list down a few activities to make video-call night with friends something to look forward to!
Missing weekend movie marathons with the gang? Or maybe you all just want to rewatch Game of Thrones together to remember what the point was? Here’s something to tide you over: Teleparty is a free Google Chrome extension that allows you to stream shows and films in sync with your friends. Available for Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO, it even comes with a little group chat box so you can all comment on the plot in real time.
Check out Netflix Party here.
Following in the footsteps of Monopoly (aka the ultimate friendship wrecker), Among Us is essentially a game based on deceit: the better you are at lying, the more likely you are to win. Set in a spaceship setting, the goal is to return back home to Earth with your space crew alive. The twist? There’s an alien imposter aboard your ship determined to kill off the crew—and it’s up to you and your friends to find out who among you is the traitor.
Check out Among Us here.
If Pictionary is your friend group’s go-to for game night, you might just enjoy an online game of Skribbl. Unleash your inner Picasso as you attempt to doodle a variety of words and concepts, and have your friends guess what you’re drawing. The person with the most correct guesses wins! Sounds like a piece of cake? Think again: have you ever wondered how to draw the word “forgiveness?”
Check out Skribbl here.
If you’ve been looking for a fun twist to your humdrum group trivia night, and/or have been wanting to channel your inner Alex Trebek, here’s your chance! JeopardyLabs gives you free access to a wide database of over two million Jeopardy games, with topics ranging from history, pop culture, to world capitals. The best part? You can even create your own personalized Jeopardy game—perfect for when you want to test your buddies on how well they remember your group’s inside jokes.
Check out JeopardyLabs here.
An ingenious twist to your typical drinking game: a drunk PowerPoint party. Created by four engineering students from the University of Waterloo, Drink Talk Learn’s rules are simple: Create and present a three-minute PowerPoint presentation about, well, anything. If you go over the time limit, you have to finish your drink and resume your lecture. The viral game is more than an excuse to break out the alcohol—it’s also a great way to learn new things and share your passions. And let’s face it, we might as well put those months of Zoom presentation skills to use, right?
Learn more about Drink Talk Learn here.
Despite the pandemic, your friendships can still stay strong. With these online games, enjoy quality time with your buds the fun-filled (and most importantly, socially-distant) way!
Who knew that the silver screen can sub in for your trusted career counselor? Long a favorite trope of Hollywood, office-based comedies are not only hilarious and entertaining—if you pay close enough attention, you’ll find that they’re filled with incredibly insightful lessons about surviving and thriving in the workplace.
Below, we list down a few of our favorite office movies and the career truths we’ve learned from them. Let us know your favorite picks in the comments!
Synopsis: Fresh out of university, the young and naive Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) enters the fast-paced world of fashion magazines as an assistant to the high-powered Runway editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). As she learns how to meet Miranda’s increasingly demanding standards, Andy is forced to confront just how far she’s willing to go and what she’s willing to sacrifice to climb the career ladder.
Takeaway: You are not your job.
Underneath the chic costumes and the hilariously bitchy quips, The Devil Wears Prada is at its core a film about work-life balance. In a world where we tend to get carried away in the hustle of the rat race, sometimes it’s good to remind yourself of your personal values and the things that truly matter. Remember: your job doesn’t define your worth.
Synopsis: Aspiring television producer Becky (Rachel McAdams) finally gets her big break as the head producer of DayBreak, a struggling morning talk show. Armed with guts and a fresh perspective, she soon breathes new life into the show with millennial-forward talking points and out-of-the-box viral segments.
Takeaway: Think outside the box.
Don’t be afraid to bring new ideas to the table! To achieve true success, sometimes you have to work beyond the limits of how things are done and explore how it can be done. Feeling stuck in a career slump? Try approaching your workload from a totally different point-of-view.
Synopsis: When ambitious secretary Tess (Melanie Griffith) finds out that her boss Katherine (Sigourney Weaver) has been stealing her ingenious business ideas, she decides to take matters into her own hands. With a new business-ready makeover, she sets out to impersonate the out-of-town Katherine and land a merger that could fast-track her career.
Takeaway: Take initiative.
You know what they say: a rolling stone gathers no moss. It won’t bode well for anyone to just sit back and wait for success to come to your feet—instead, actively find ways to achieve your career goals. Of course, breaking into your boss’ apartment and helping yourself to her closet of designer clothes is totally illegal, but you get our drift.
Synopsis: Fed up with the constant stream of abuse they’re forced to put up with, financial executive Nick (Jason Bateman), dental assistant Dale (Charlie Day), and account manager Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) hire a hitman to assassinate their bosses. Hilarious hijinks ensue.
Takeaway: Find a strong support system.
We’re obviously not suggesting you attempt to murder your misbehaving boss—felonies are always an absolute no-no. But when the going gets tough, it helps to have a few friends in the office to commiserate with. Surround yourself with positive-minded coworkers who support and uplift you. They’ll come in handy the next time you flunk a presentation or miss a deadline.
Synopsis: Feeling bored and restless during retirement, 70-year-old Ben (Robert de Niro) applies as a “senior” intern to Jules (Anne Hathaway), the 30-year-old CEO of a fast-growing e-commerce company. The two soon forge a strong friendship, bonding over how they both find themselves in unexpected positions of success career-wise.
Takeaway: Don’t limit yourself.
Think you’re too young to establish your own company, or too inexperienced to land your dream job? Think again. Remember: you’re only as good as you believe you are. Start taking more chances and open yourself to opportunities you never would have considered for yourself. Sometimes, the best career boost you can get is to start believing in yourself.
As we enter the fifth month of quarantine restrictions, it may seem like it gets harder and harder to work from home each day. Although the idea of it all may have been appealing back in the day (imagine filing reports and attending morning huddles in your pajamas!), the honeymoon has soured and the muddled distinction between work and home life may get particularly draining. After all, how do you focus on your work duties when your TV is right there begging you to go on a Netflix marathon?
Thankfully, we here at Brevo are learning to adjust to this newfangled setup. Along the way, we’ve picked up a few tips and tricks to best harness and maintain focus during work hours. Check out the productivity hacks our team members use to keep their work-from-home game on point!
“My morning routine is very important to me. If I fail to wake up at 6AM and I miss my morning run and meditation, I know my day will fall apart. I also make it a point to call my teammates at the start of the week so we can write out to-do lists together. Additionally, I’ll sometimes switch up my workstation for the day. It’s nice to have a change in scenery every now and then.”
- Imran, Director
“I make it a point to meditate first thing in the morning. In these uncertain times, taking ten minutes to stay still and breathe really makes a difference in managing my anxiety. I also start the day by writing an extensive to-do list, breaking down all my big tasks into bite-sized steps. Most importantly, I have a hard-and-fast rule about never working from my bed — I just know I’ll get way too comfortable and never get anything done.”
- Jeremiah, Copywriter
“It was pretty easy for me to adjust to working from home, since all I need to do my job is fast Internet and a computer. It was harder though to separate my work life from my home life. So, when I wake up I try to create some time just for myself. I often go to our garden before clocking in to breathe and mentally prepare for the day. I’ve also designated a specific workstation outside my bedroom. I think it has helped me set clear boundaries and maintain a healthy work-life balance.”
- Trisha, Community Manager
“The biggest challenge was tuning out all unnecessary distractions, especially when all my video game consoles are right there. I’ve started to wake up a few hours earlier than usual so I can mentally prepare for the day and list down all of my tasks. I also moved my workstation to our living room, where my brothers are also busy working. I found that being surrounded by busy people simulates an office environment, which helps me focus and keeps me from getting distracted throughout the day.”
- Rafa, Account Executive
“I found it hard to focus at first because my mind is wired to feel at my most comfortable at home. One thing that always helps is coffee, so I make sure that I have it in the morning. I also started working by the window, a place that was both comfortable and conducive to my productivity. I don’t like spending a long amount of time staring at my screen, so I like being able to look out the window and let my eyes rest for a bit. Taking short breaks also helps in avoiding burnouts and regaining my focus. I try to stand up, walk around the house, or play with my dog for a bit every now and then.”
- Carissa, Graphic Designer
Admittedly, the work-from-home isn’t perfect and can cause a lot of annoying inefficiencies. (Ever been on a Zoom call with a coworker with poor signal?) But by writing thorough to-do lists, delineating specific workstations around the house, and taking time for yourself before clocking in, you can keep a high level of productivity even from the comfort of your home.
How do you improve your focus and productivity while working from home? Sound off in the comments below!