APRS 2019 Company Careers Handbook

2019

CAREERS HANDBOOK Advertising and Public Relations Society

ABOUT APRS AND THE CAREERS HANDBOOK The Advertising and Public Relations Society is a UNSW student based, student-run, and student focused organisation which seeks to connect creative young minds, facilitate relevant learning and skill gain for those looking to enter the media, communications and creative industries after graduation.

This Handbook is a brief introduction to various media agencies in Sydney. It offers plentiful insights, advice and lots of first-hand info from both agency-based and in-house professionals to help you get a grasp of what the post-graduation world may look like for you!

So read on to see what incredible spaces and opportunities await within the media industry.

Please enjoy!

WE'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU... ...to all the professionals and featured agencies that generously gave their perspectives and advice for this Handbook for the benefit of UNSW students, and to our students readers and all members of APRS! 01

Let's look at some

AGENCIES

PAPER MOOSE The Maker's Agency

Paper Moose

Paper Moose is a full service makers agency based in Surry Hills and established in 2009.

We take entertainment and behavioural science and fuse them together making a more meaningful dialogue with audiences.

Paper Moose’s diverse group of Makers are artists in their own rite, that span comedy, visual design, film-making, experiential art, AR & VR design, animation, gaming, music and product design - all supported by cultural & creative strategists, producers, communication & media planners and gallons of coffee.

There is no executive car park or long agency lunches here - we’d rather spend our time exploring new technologies and approaches to generate incredible work.

Paper moose has won: Multiple good design awards, A create design award And a multitude of international film awards.

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PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: NICK HUNTER Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Creative Director of Paper Moose

Paper Moose

Graduated: Charles Sturt University:

BA in Communications (Acting for Screen and Stage) What are the key values at the core of Paper Moose?

We believe in the power of entertainment and the arts to create meaningful conversations.

Paper Moose brings the creation of ideas and the making of them under one roof, making for a more coordinated and impactful creative solution.

We focus on ensuring that not only is the work remarkable, but also the experience of making it.

What are some highlights of running and working at Paper Moose?

Its been incredibly exciting to see the company grow from a team of five to now a team of over 30 people.

Highlight for me was seeing our behaviour change campaign Don’t be a Tosser for the EPA across NSW ... leading the team into new areas of tech like VR has also been incredibly exciting.

Mostly I’m incredibly proud of the team and the culture I have managed to grow and maintain at Paper Moose. 0 3

Paper Moose

What are the top challenges of working in advertising and creative media, and how have you dealt with them?

Q: What are some clients you 've had the chance to work with while at Paper Moose?

We need to be constantly questioning the brief and finding A: UNSW, Westpac, AMP, NSW better ways to connect with our gov, The Sydney Opera House, The audience, the landscape itself has City of Sydney, the MCA, Cochlear. changed enormously over the last seven years.

We have fortunately remained agile enough to change and evolve as a business.

Paper Moose is channel agnostic and has the unique ability to execute creative across digital, experiential and OOH, we look at where our audience is and make creative to reach them wherever they are.

Do you have any top interview tips for students hoping to join a media agency?

Be yourself, don’t worry too much about experience or certain skills sets, I hire people off their personality and cultural fit 95% of the time. If I can sense that you have the right attitude... then that’s interesting to me.

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Milk and Butter Media

MILK AND BUTTER MEDIA Milk and Butter Media is a boutique agency with a focus on boosting brand awareness and exposure for businesses around Sydney through Social Media Management and Public Relations.

Our clients are within the hospitality, beauty and lifestyle industry. We manage the full breadth of a brand’s traditional and digital marketing and publicity, from press launches and junkets to product placement, crisis management and comprehensive social media strategies.

Most importantly, we love what we do and that dedication and passion is what our clients receive.

Industry: Public Relations and Digital Marketing

Speciality: Hospitality, beauty and lifestyle industry

Taking Students from: Communications, Marketing, Media, Public Relations, Graphic Design/Photography Contacts: Milkandbuttermedia.com info@milkandbuttermedia.com

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PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: ELLY NOVOSEL

Milk and Butter Media

Director of Milk and Butter Media Graduated: University of Notre Dame Australia Bachelor of Commerce – Major in Marketing and Management What are the key values at the core of Milk and Butter Media?

We believe that having a positive impact is not only a good thing to do – The first step to creating an

but the best way to do business, too. So, we puteffective corporate social project plan is to set a responsibility at the heart of our business.

baseline. The baseline is the foundation on which the other

We strive to deliver respect to our clients and business partners, project elements will bethe built on. include scope environment, local communities and each other.This Wemust ensure weawork statement.

with integrity, honesty and openness, where our behaviour matches what we say.

We demonstrate commitment to our values in the way we work, from our clients’ success, to our team’s professional growth and development, and our own business practices. Above all, we’re passionate about our work and the people we work with, and for!

What are some highlights of running and working at Milk and Butter Media?

Meeting influential individuals and hardworking entrepreneurs who are passionate about their businesses and trust us to come along on their journey.

Seeing the results that we deliver and successfully achieve for our clients is always a highlight for me.

Another highlight would be going back stage of Studio 10 and seeing the behind the scenes in preparation for a giveaway we 06 organised for a client.

Milk and Butter Media

Do you have any words of wisdom for students hoping to join a media agency?

Ensure you have a resume that reflects the job description for the position you are applying for.

Employers receive many applications and sometimes skim through to find the key words they are looking for.

When you are in the interview, don’t be afraid to show the employer that you are passionate, enthusiastic and confident.

What clients have you had the chance to work with while at Milk and Butter?

Beauty clients such as Face by SM, Chic Body and hospitality clients such as The Lane Wine Bar, Manly Charcoal Chicken, Santorini on Oxford and Santos Pizza on Wheels to name a few.

WASAMEDIA

Wasamedia

Wasamedia was established in 2007 as a traditional PR agency. Fast forward to 2019, we are now a one-stop-shop agency, covering everything in-house from publicity to graphic design, social and digital media, talent management, marketing and local connection, all content creation and much more.

We believe that having a media profile that reflects the personality of the brand is one of the key factors in successful marketing. As a boutique agency, we work very closely with one another, including our office dogs, Ziggy and Zoe - who regularly attend our client meetings!

From Monday morning WIPs to Friday afternoon drinks, we believe that a successful outcome is driven from open communication, organisation, passion and good vibes!

This is what allowed us to become one of the proud finalists in the PRIA Golden Target ‘Digital and Social' Campaign of the Year 2018.

Our ideal candidates are those who take initiative to put their hands up, capable of working independently and as a team and those who can handle working in a fast-paced environment. Most of all, you need to love food (our job also involves eating - YES!) and be down for a cheeky glass of wine (Friday afternoon = slosh o’clock!).

PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: REGINA LEE Account Manager of Wasamedia Graduated: University of New South Wales Bachelor of Media (PR & Advertising)

Wasamedia

What are the key values at the core of Wasamedia?

Creativity - we LOVE thinking outside the box!

Our industry is constantly changing and is highly competitive so in order for us to be at the top, we need to be ORIGINAL!

Initiative - agency life can be chaotic and stressful. The Wasa-family believes that the best strategy/concept comes from bouncing off creative ideas with one another.

Honesty - we believe in being transparent with our clients. We don’t promise anything we can’t deliver!

What are some highlights of running and working at Wasamedia?

Working at Wasamedia, no two days are the same! I have many memories of working at Wasa but to give you an example - the PappaRich x Belles Hot Chicken collab campaign in 2018 was a HUGE success which we decided to roll out nationally this year.

Let’s face it - who doesn’t love fried chicken?!

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What clients have you had the chance to work with while at Wasamedia ?

Wasamedia

Wasamedia works with hospitality brands from small local cafe to international hotel/resort brands. Some of the brands I’ve had/have the pleasure of working with were/are: PappaRich Australia (national) Hello Auntie (Marrickville) Anantara Hotels & Resorts (International) Nudie Juice (product) Left of Field (Rhodes)

What are the top challenges of working in advertising and creative media, and how have you dealt with them?

Agency life can become hectic at times and working across multiple clients can be stressful. Organisation is key! Taking the time to write down your to-do list and referring back to the list throughout the day will ensure nothing gets missed out.

Work life balance is also very important. Spend your weekend doing the things you love and don’t be afraid to put your hand up when you need help at work. At Wasamedia, we understand how important it is to be mindful of our mental health. Every Wednesday morning our team come together for a group yoga session and we LOVE ending the working week with some wines at the bar downstairs.

Do you have any top interview tips or words of wisdom for students hoping to join a media agency?

Research about the company prior to the interview and never ever be afraid to ask questions!

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IF YOU WANNA JOIN WASAMEDIA...

Keen to kickstart your marketing/PR/design career?

Wasamedia is looking for social media/PR interns, as well as graphic design interns to join our tight-knit team and work on our growing portfolio of exciting restaurants, hospitality and

Wasamedia

travel clients!

Keen to learn more?

Contact Regina Lee regina@wasamedia.com or give us a call on: (02) 9360 7227 Website: www.wasamedia.com Instagram: @wasamedia Facebook: /wasamedia

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AMPED UP MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Amped Up Marketing & Communications is a boutique agency helping service-based small to medium enterprises (SMEs) better reach their target market(s), by creating marketing plans and devising communications strategies designed for business success.

We project manage marketing and communications plans

Amped Up

from start to finish using marketing tools we provide ourselves or via affiliated service providers. We are a one-stop marketing and communications shop specialising in: Marketing & Communications Strategy Internal Communications Influencer Marketing Publicity & PR Ad Planning & Buying Content Writing Copywriting Email Marketing/EDMs Social Media Management Video Presenting & Script Writing

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PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: NATALIE COULSON

Amped Up

Founder/Director of Amped Up Marketing & Communications Graduated: University of Canberra - & University of New South Wales Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) & Graduate Certificate in Commerce (Media Sales) What are the key values at the core of Amped Up Marketing & Communications?

Empathy and integrity.

Empathy because customers are the most important aspect of any business.

The customer is always right (even if you don't always feel that is the case). It's very important to listen to customers and take their needs and wants seriously. Work with where your customer is at, rather than from where you feel they should be at.

Integrity because I am 100% behind every solution I provide. The minute I don't believe a solution is in the customer's best interest, I switch gears. It is easy to keep repeating the same services and solutions, but it's important to keep questioning what you're doing and change course when required.

Do you have any top interview tips or words of wisdom ?

Always demonstrate how you can add value, while understanding you're at the bottom of the rung again. Don't expect to be running the agency when you join, but also be aware your skills are very much needed, even at entry-level. Agencies know you're starting out and will usually be prepared to train you and progress you quite quickly.

As for interviews - "What are your weaknesses?" is a trick question. Always find something that can be seen as a positive for the agency: eg. I can be a workaholic, I talk a lot, I'm a perfectionist .

Another trick is "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

Most interviewers won't expect you to still be at their agency in 5 years time. It's really common to move on after 2 years or so when you're young in the media world.

So, stick with something vague. The interviewer wants to know you have drive and vigour, so you don't need to pretend and say you will be a senior player at their1 3 agency.

What are some highlights of running and working at Amped Up Marketing & Communications ?

The highlight for me is seeing my clients succeed.

I love seeing my clients' 'name in lights' - whatever that means for them and seeing them grow.

What clients have you had the chance to work with while at Amped Up Marketing & Communications?

I worked on a 1 year contract with Sydney Trains

Amped Up

6 months with consulting firm Avanade (partnership between Accenture & Microsoft) on a contract with Ausgrid.

I also work with smaller businesses in various categories such as fashion, energy healing, leadership coaching, office management and events planning

What kind of uni student would best fit in at Amped Up Marketing & Communications?

A student with entrepreneurial spirit who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty - getting involved in projects from start to finish.

What are the top challenges of working in creative media?

In today's fast-paced digital climate, it can be challenging to stay on top of all of the social media algorithm changes.

Everyone seems to be calling themselves an expert or an Influencer these days, so it can be confusing for clients wanting to navigate the media world without getting ripped off.

I keep up to date by reading emails, listening to podcasts and viewing YouTube programs about media and marketing. I also consume content from the LinkedIn and Twitter network I've built and by attending networking events. Sometimes clients will want something I'm not sure is best for them, so I do my research and provide a solution that incorporates their request as well as additional recommendations for how to best achieve their goals.

Yes Agency

Yes Agency is a creative service, content and production agency.

We are made up of specialised teams working within hubs.

Whether the brief requires a videographer to film an event or a whole team to conceptualise and execute a big idea, we work with the clients to bring together the right hub members to bring the project to life. We are based on the Optus campus enabling an easy, efficient and flexible way of working with the clients.

While Yes Agency is technically an internal agency, it is not owned

by Optus and is part of the Re/M&C Saatchi Group. We can receive briefs from all areas of Optus business – not just marketing/brand but also internal Optus departments.

Yes Agency has been shortlisted for: B&T OOH Campaign of the Year (2018) for Empire's End B&T Content Marketing Strategy of the Year (2019) for Mundial

PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: KIM LE GRAS Group Business Director Graduated: University of New South Wales Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) and Bachelor of Science (Psychology)

Yes Agency

What are the key values at the core of Yes Agency?

Authenticity – we work together for the greater good Adaptability – we are quick to anticipate and respond to change Creativity – we push boundaries and challenge convention Collaboration – our success comes from working as one team

What are some highlights working at Yes Agency?

Being an on-campus agency means we have a closer-than-usual proximity to the clients. This means that sharing information and our ability to respond to briefs is faster than a traditional agency. As a result, our relationship with our clients is stronger - they regularly wander over to the agency to sit with us on briefs and reviews and we do the same with them.

There’s always something interesting and different happening – one week, I could be managing a new product launch, the next week, I might be sitting in a strategy briefing. The variation means it keeps things interesting and fresh and means I’m always learning something new.

Leading some of the campaigns and projects that have helped increase brand consideration and demonstrated a change in behaviours in effective communications with consumers is always a real highlight.

What are the top challenges of working in marketing, advertising and creative media, and how have you dealt with them?

Yes Agency

One of the biggest challenges is when clients that won’t take a risk or won’t / don’t trust their agency.

You can easily tell when a client / agency relationship is strong – the communications output is insightful, often brave and usually very effective. The best results come from a true partnership and this comes from mutual respect, understanding and a single minded shared goal. Being fearful of doing something different, or mistrust of each other or a confused agenda will never lead to anything good.

Impressions count.

Start small. Build that goodwill. Teach the clients to trust you for the small things and soon they’ll trust you for the bigger projects.

That way, clients also know that you as the agency are not just in it for the awards and accolades, but instead, doing something that will actually make people think differently about a product, a service or a brand.

Do you have any top interview tips or words of wisdom for students hoping to join a media agency?

Please, please, please research the company you are interviewing with. It’s the small things like knowing what the last campaign the company just developed, or a recent article about the company. If a candidate can’t be bothered to do a bit of research for an interview, that speaks volumes about the candidate themselves!Before I go to any interview, I pretend I am the interviewer and I write myself a

Yes Agency

whole bunch of questions that I would ask a potential candidate. Then I reverse the roles and answer them. I don’t hold back on asking myself any curly questions or left field ones – it means I am prepped if they do ask me something similar. You can then practice your answers and sometimes it’s a great way to see if you really want that new role.

Some example questions can be:

Why are you leaving your current role?

What makes you someone we’d like to hire?

Where do you see yourself in 1 year? 5 years?

If you were a brand, which brand would you be?

What’s your favourite ad at the moment? Why? What’s a tricky client situation you found yourself in and how did you handle it?

Green Door Co.

GREEN DOOR CO. Green Door Co is a communications consultancy that specialises in helping clients enter awards.

We take care of the complex and time-consuming award application process and amplify our clients' chances of success. More than eight out of 10 award applications completed by Green Door Co are shortlisted.

Green Door Co Director, Heather Marano, was awarded a B&T 30 Under 30 award in 2015 in the PR & Marketing category for her work at the helm of Heather Marano Freelance Consulting, now known as Green Door Co.

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PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: HEATHER JOYCE MARANO

Green Door Co.

Graduated: University of Sydney Bachelor of Economic and Social Sciences (Hons) Current position at Green Door Co. Founder & Director What are the key values at the core of Green Door Co.?

Our company values are to be: - Agile - Authentic - Curious - Smart

What are the best things about working at Green Door Co.?

We get to help clients be recognised for their hard work and join them in celebrating their success.

We also get to learn the ins and outs of what makes a business successful which is fascinating.

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Green Door Co.

What are the top challenges of working in marketing, advertising and creative media, and how have you dealt with them?

It's a fast paced industry, the work can be stressful and clients can be demanding. The key is to make sure you are taking time out and taking care of yourself. Working flexibly helps a lot.

Any interview tips for students?

Attitude is often more important than skill set. Skills can be learned on the job. I've found that people who are curious, open to trying new things and keen to learn will go a long way. So make sure you demonstrate this in the interview.

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DWA MEDIA,

A Merkle Company

DWA, A Merkle Company, is a media agency specialising in B2B marketing for technology companies.

DWA Media

With nine global offices, our campaigns aren't limited one country, allowing us to best leverage mar-tech and ad-tech solutions across all digital platforms.

Services include: strategy & insights, brand & integrated media, performance & intent, social & community management, demand & nuture, data & analytics, and content & experiences.

Awarded: AdWeek Fastest Growing Agency

#3 International B2B Marcomms Agency

PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: JENNIFER LY Graduated:Â University of New South Wales Bachelor of Media (PR & Advertising)/Bachelor of Design Current Position at DWA Media: Account CoordinatorÂ

DWA Media

What are the key values of DWA Media?

The clients you've worked with at DWA Media:

The key values in DWA Media include: Working with data and analytics so provide the best insights and marketing campaigns there can be.

We work as a team and tackle all challenges together.

Salesforce Cisco Intuit

Amazon Web Services

Solarwinds Other key values include being innovative, and working with a future-thinking mindset, Oracle NetSuite customisable to the rapidly changing media landscape.

LogMeIn

What are some highlights of working at DWA Media?

Some of the highlights of working with DWA Media is the team and culture.

We are like one big family and help each other through the toughest days. We have multiple work events each year and have plenty of drinks and

DWA Media

networking opportunities. Another highlight is that everyday is never the same.

You get to work with multiple different clients, who want multiple marketing tactics and you get to help and watch a company grow and succeed.

With that said, you are mentally challenged everyday and constantly learning- it's an environment you will never get bored in!

You also get to work with different partners and you meet new people everyday that take you to awesome media events such as VIP tickets to Cirque du Soleil, musicals, Holey Moley‌ and that's just to name a few...

DWA Media

What are the top challenges of working in advertising and media, and how have you dealt with them?

Trends are always changing so it is crucial to be on top of it and constantly monitor the media landscape for opportunities. You have to be able to adapt to rapid changes and come up with alternative solutions within a tight timeframe...

Also, as you are working with multiple different clients with multiple different campaigns, it is very important to always be on you’re A-game and be able to manage your time efficiently, be extremely organised, make sure all campaigns run smoothly and deliver the results the client wants.

Do you have any interview tips or words of wisdom for students?

Make sure you do research on the company for your interview and be yourself! Companies love to see someone who has taken the time out of their day to research into the company and show that they are dedicated.

It’s important to let your personality shine through as most recruiters are looking for someone who will fit in with the company culture.

My other advice would be to get as many internships/experiences as possible!

In most of my internship experiences I was actually offered a permanent position and that was how I landed this role. Interns are a great doorway into the industry and an easier way to gain a job (in particular with smaller companies) as most of the recruiting is done internally.

What about working

IN-HOUSE?

PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: IVY NG Graduated: University of New South Wales Bachelor of Media (PR & Advertising) Position at Schneider Electric: Graduate Operational Marcomms Specialist Schneider Electric is an energy management and automation systems leader on the Fortune 500 list.

Providing energy technologies, automation, software and services to build solutions that are efficient and sustainable. With a history of 180+ years, we are committed to global sustainability and tackling the energy gap.

What are some highlights of working in position?

The autonomy and responsibility of the role within my business department.

I am thankful that my first rotation was in a department that was a buckled under with a lot of work and competing deadlines. While I was thrown in the deep end from the get-go, my managers strategically drew upon my past experiences to allocate projects that would use my strengths. I had full ownership of a few key projects and presenting the results made me feel my work was impactful to the overall business.

Support from the graduate/intern cohort.

In my 2019 intake, there were 18 of us in the Sydney office and a few interstate grads scattered around. We had three days of induction before we started our first rotation which was a fantastic chance to acquaint ourselves and form new friendships. Combining with the support from the cohort of the year above and the summer interns that started two months earlier, you never felt alone. I always found comfort in knowing there were 50 others who were experiencing the same 9-5 stresses or 3pm energy slump.

Company culture.

Schneider Electric is an INCREDIBLY flexible workplace, meaning you could work from home when required or choose your own work hours. This benefit was fantastic when I would feel a little run-down to go to work but felt energised enough to work from home in the comfort of my pyjamas and kettle in arm’s reach. Additionally, my department had only recently implemented wellbeing initiatives like subsidised fitness personal training bootcamp during lunch, quarterly family days where staff could bring their child to work and monthly birthday celebrations. Most importantly, I had three days of paid volunteering leave to take in a year. Volunteering plays an important part in my life and I was so glad that Schneider Electric supported the community like that.

What parts of your degree/University life do you feel best translated to your current role?

My experience in the executive team at APRS. Throughout my entire university life, I was always involved in APRS. My third year culminated in my presidency which best served to develop my leadership skills and ability for project management. Understanding how to nurture external relationships during intersociety events translated greatly when I needed to work on cross-functional projects involving international teams. Playing an active part of growing a society and planning engagement activities teaches you how to manage deadlines, network and develop communication skills- all critical to being successful in the professional workplace.

MDIA3003 Media Portfolio. As strange as this may sound, this was the absolute most relevant course that I’m grateful existed in the curriculum for a media degree. I took every assessment seriously and saw the value in producing quality work because I knew it could be repeatable for professional circumstances. The cover letter, the resume, even the pitch video. I rejigged the cover letter for all my future applications and it was great to already have a starting point. The pitch video, as annoying as it was to film, helped me pull together a concrete understanding of my value proposition as a prospective employee for my dream company. By responding to the pitch brief and verbalising the, it was already half the work done for interview preparation.

What are the top challenges of working in marketing, advertising and creative media, and how have you dealt with them?

Never-ending deadlines.

Marketing is very campaign-based work, yet still encompasses the regularity of weekly tasks. A typical day could look like five ongoing campaigns engaged with three different agencies, coupled with meeting regular weekly deadlines like reporting and newsletter distribution. It’s very easy to get drowned in the work and feel overwhelmed in marketing. The first three months was a big learning curve in understanding that an 8-hour work day is no where enough to finish all the assigned work. Frankly, no one expects you to as well. But I felt as a graduate I had to perform and exceed my manager’s expectations, which led me to get burnt out quickly. Thankfully, my managers were very supportive by recognising my efforts and advised me to only focus on my key priorities. Work is going to be never-ending, but if you are prioritising projects correctly, then you’re doing your best.

Being the middle man between sales people and product people.

This is the inevitable case of human error. The more people you need to deal with to complete your projects, the more prone to error it will be.

Working in marketing in a large corporation means you need to peel through layers of people just to get the green light for certain stages in a project. Particularly in my role, marketing was like playing piggie in middle, with product and sales team throwing balls to one another and marketing trying to catch it. It can also feel like you’re in one big game of Chinese Whispers because by the time the word gets to you, it would have gone through so many people and been twisted around depending on how the person relayed the message. This draws me back to my experience in APRS- developing effective communication is key. It’s challenging but learning to read between the lines and extrapolate information from minimal data will be great skill in ensuring that your communication will facilitate success.

Do you have any top interview tips or words of wisdom for students hoping to join a media agency?

Define your personal story.

Can your work/volunteer/extra-curricular experience tell a story about your values, goals or interests? Weave together a compelling recount of what makes you, YOU. Anyone can say they did an internship at agency XYZ then did another internship at company ABC which helped them gain X amount of skills and experience. Add in your own flair of WHY you first decided on agency XYZ. What did you experience in XYZ that drove your decision to work at company ABC for your next role? How did you spend your university days? What kind of skills did you want to learn and did those experiences teach you what you want? Now that’s just the beginning. Talking about your past is great- it builds context for the best part that will get you hired.

Visualise to the employer how they fit in your career goals.

Employers are investing so much $$$ in you when you’re a fresh graduate with minimal experience. This is the part where you prove to them how you’re worthy of their investment.

Start by telling them your career goals, whether it’s by telling them where you want to be in three to five years time, the key skills you want to develop or the expected roadmap of your success. Of course, you would tie that all back with how that employer will be the perfect platform for you to accelerate your professional growth. This is where you draw back to your previous experiences by pulling out instances that are aligned to the position you’re applying for and always rounding it out with how you’re a great fit for the position.

PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: CAITLIN KWON Graduated: University of New South Wales Bachelor of Media (PR & Advertising)

Position at The Martec: Content and Community Specialist

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin. com/in/caitlinkwon/

Founded in 2015, The Martec was built focused on a better way for organisations to build their employer brand - specifically, from the inside out. Through their SaaS platform and services, they make it simple for employees to create powerful thought leadership pieces and stories - without them needing to become content writers.

What are some highlights of working at your start-up?

Something that’s really different working at a start-up compared to an agency is how much autonomy and flexibility you get to do your own thing. I feel like in a start-up, your role definitely doesn’t define your job responsibilities as I’ve found myself dabbling in all sorts of media and marketing tasks such as, content writing, community management, a mix of B2B and B2C communication, create email marketing and content campaign plans, and more. Although stressful at times, it’s a really great experience for anyone that’s a real self-starter and wants to accelerate their professional and personal development.

Highlights contd.

As I work with brand advocates to turn their insights into thought-leadership articles, I spend a fair amount of my time reading a lot of different responses on a wide variety of topics. I’ve always found it interesting to learn about things that I have absolutely no clue of and would never have to know as a Media student. It may sound boring to some, but I’ve always been a big believer of learning and sometimes it comes in handy or makes for excellent conversation knowing about the different types of software development or industry tech updates.

What clients have you had the chance to work with while at your agency?

- Philips (APAC) - Cognizant .

- EY

- A Cloud Guru, ELMO - Cloud HR & Payroll.

Do you have any top interview tips or words of wisdom for students hoping to join a media agency?

1. Be yourself It sounds cliché but the best thing you can do in an interview is to be yourself. A great way to create a good impression during your interview is to ask questions about the agency in relation to your personal goals.

By doing this, you’re showing the interviewer that you’re not just in it for the work experience, but also for your own personal development.

If you know who your interviewer is going to be, searching them on LinkedIn and seeing their role development within the agency is a great conversation starter!

Interview Tips Contd.

It's also important to avoid talking about topics that you have no knowledge on. You do more harm in interviews pretending that you know something. Most likely, your interviewers are experts in their field and are going to know when you don't know what you're talking about or overcompensating for your answers.

2. Keeping up to date with industry news and developments Having knowledge of the industry or at least a baseline understanding of current events will definitely help you in answering questions for interviews. iI usually do a quick scroll of both and read the “10 Things You Need to Know” series on Business Insider every morning as a fast way to keep track on what’s going on in the world.

Keeping up to date with industry news also makes for excellent conversation in the workplace and, more often than not, your colleagues will actually encourage you to share any cool campaigns or technological developments you’ve read up on.

3. Self-learning While on the hunt for internships or jobs, self-learning is a great way of staying on track of your professional and personal development. Attending networking events or workshops on marketing (e.g. General Assembly) are excellent ways to meet people in your field while also gaining skills that will help you stand out from other applicants.

If you’re in the marketing or advertising field, completing the Google Analytics courses in your spare time can help you gain a greater understanding of data analytics and is also a key skill that is used and needed in media agencies.

PROFESSIONAL FEATURE: HELEN LY Graduated: University of New South Wales Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Media (PR & Advertising) Position at Commonwealth Bank: Marketing Graduate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin. com/in/helenly9/

CommBank was founded under the Commonwealth Bank Act in 1911 and commenced operations in 1912, empowered to conduct both savings and general banking business.

It’s grown to a business that serves over 15 million customers, employs more than 48,000 people and has more than 800,000 shareholders. We offer a full range of financial services to improve the financial well-being of our customers and communities.

Diversity, flexibility and innovation are just some of the reason our people come to work every day.

About the Marketing Department We’re responsible for developing, driving and executing a range of strategies to promote our brand, products and services to our customers. We create innovative, best-in-market work that talks to our customers’ needs and objectives, and their financial wellbeing.

We constantly strive to find new ways to introduce marketleading innovations that will help our customers with their banking needs and leverage social media as a key communications channel.

Think about applying for a 2021 space in CommBank's Graduate Program!

Link: https://www.commbank.com.au/aboutus/careers/graduate-recruitment-program/marketing.html What are some highlights of working at CommBank and in the marketing department in particular?

What I love most about the graduate program at CommBank is that it offers a well-rounded experience as you’re given unique opportunities across different areas of the business.

A highlight of my experience so far would be jumping on the phone with our customer-facing teams and helping to answer live customer enquiries. As we move through the program, we’re able to help solve business challenges and are involved in projects that may impact the Bank’s products and processes.

From the get-go, I have been entrusted to deliver. My leaders really got me in and amongst the nitty gritty of the work that the Marketing team produces. You’re also working with arguably one of the most recognisable brands in Australia, so sometimes you’ll see work you helped produce while on the bus or walking down the street – which is a great feeling!

You really get to speak to the customers (literally!).

What parts of your degree/university life/ work experience do you feel best translated into your current role?

I majored in Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising, which has all complemented well to my current career path. The holistic understanding I have gained from my degrees and university life, has informed my understanding of the landscape and concepts in Marketing.

Additionally, having previous experience in Public Relations and Internal Communications has helped me really cultivate my copy-writing ability to best convey messages not only through campaigns but also in day-to-day emails. It may be hard to see the application of some things in university but they have all laddered up to a better understanding for when you join the workplace, and it may not even be exclusively applied to Marketing.

What further skills or abilities do you feel you’ve developed in this role/ in post-graduation work life?

CommBank focuses on building all spectrums of capabilities with master classes, talks, conferences and so much more. The opportunities to learn from leaders are endless. You’re equipped with a comprehensive skill set and are a part of teams that actively support your learning.

Throughout the program so far, I have been well and truly pushed out of my comfort zone. I have been able to work through the Design Thinking methodology and further built my capabilities in Risk. While these are not closely aligned to “Marketing” per se, they have given me a fresh perspective and new lens to approach my day-today work.

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What challenges have you had to face and overcome working in your position at a huge organization like CommBank?

The initial challenge I had coming into the bank was just wrapping my head around the functions of such a large organisation and understand all its moving parts. Coming into such a big company with lots of teams and departments, it took me some time to find my feet, however it didn’t take me long to realise there’s a lot of support within the bank and everyone is willing to help if you just ask the question.

Do you have any tips for students hoping to apply and work as a marketing intern or graduate at a CommBank?

My tip would be to become self-aware as to why you want to be working at the bank and what interests you. You are a unique individual and make sure you showcase what makes you distinct from the other candidates – what’s your differentiator?

Go in with an open mind and be ready to learn.

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Thank you for reading, we hope this Handbook has delivered some fresh and informative perspectives on the media industry that your inquisitive minds can put to good use!

Have a wonderful summer break!— APRS

Prepared By: Kristina Ilisevic Careers & Partnerships Director Sady Phan Careers & Partnerships Coordinator

Czarina Dominique Tan Careers & Partnerships Coordinator