| Part 1 of 2 | | | | Marketing Magazine, AdAsia and make sure you are |
| These 10 tips will help communications and marketing | | | | updated with news reports, journals and editorial |
| graduates make the right decisions during the early | | | | pieces in the magazine. As for PR folks, study the |
| stage of their marketing career. So you just graduated | | | | media industry in Singapore and analyze the intricacies |
| with a marketing or mass communications diploma or | | | | of the different reporting styles, format of each |
| degree and is clueless on where and how to find your | | | | journalist and media. The way Newspapers report their |
| dream job. The decision you make regarding your first | | | | stories will defer from business times. In terms of the |
| job is important as it will influence and shape the rest | | | | content, different papers have different focus and |
| of your career life. The good news is, there are many | | | | scope of coverage as well. |
| opportunities out there for a marketing & | | | | Get Recommended |
| communications graduate. The basket awaiting is one | | | | Talk to your lecturers and see if they can give you |
| full of life, zest, surprises and rewards to come if you | | | | some recommendations. Most lecturers are still in |
| work hard, follow your heart and persevere your way | | | | touch with the industry and will be able to link you up |
| in the corporate ladder pursuit. | | | | with their contacts. Of course, whether they help is a |
| Here are 10 tips to help you better prepare yourself | | | | reflection of how you have built your relationship with |
| for this challenging role. | | | | them over your course of study. A lecturer will go the |
| Know your strengths and weaknesses | | | | extra mile calling friends for opportunities and you'll be |
| Understand your strengths and weaknesses. List them | | | | surprised how these gestures will go the extra mile for |
| down and evaluate the types of job function that suits | | | | you. |
| you most. Are you a good writer? If you are, you can | | | | 'Mobile' your CV |
| consider positions which involve writing, editing or | | | | This is a given but the point here is to save your CV in |
| scripting. Some of these positions include copywriter, | | | | a thumb drive and carry it with you all the time. If you |
| internet journalist, editor, script writer, etc. If you think | | | | are the active & assertive sort, you can turn every |
| you have difficulty in time management, avoid jobs that | | | | encounter and meet up into a possible employment |
| demand you to watch timelines closely- by and large | | | | lead. Do not just make friends with people of your |
| positions like marketing executive, project manager, | | | | same age. Go and find avenues to meet older people |
| assistant producer require you to be extremely | | | | and chances are that one in 10 people might have a |
| meticulous, detailed and task oriented. | | | | job or at least a lead for you. You need to keep your |
| Your first job is the most critical | | | | CV current and have it emailed quickly when you hit |
| Remember your first job sets the pace for your entire | | | | on a possible lead. Remember in the Marketing & |
| career life. Do sit down and evaluate what you really | | | | Communications industry, it is all about speed, |
| want in life. The general rule of thumb is to get yourself | | | | networking and referrals. |
| a job in a reputable MNC. Once you are associated | | | | Start your own agency |
| with a good company for your first job, this will give | | | | If you have the entrepreneurial spirit with a good |
| you good mileage and leverage for your subsequent | | | | business foundation, perhaps you could consider |
| jobs to come. Another area which you need to | | | | starting your own company. You can provide services |
| consider is the job nature. Are you interested in | | | | like translation, copy-writing, designing, media relations, |
| venturing into advertising account servicing, client | | | | web design or project management, etc. This is |
| marketing, public relations, research or journalism, etc? | | | | especially so if you cannot find a job but have a little |
| All these issues need to be sorted out early in your | | | | more monetary resources and courage to step out. |
| career. Once you embarked into a client marketing | | | | Begin slowly and take on customers that come along. |
| position, the chances of you switching into an | | | | You cannot afford to be selective in your clients unless |
| advertising role, in the later part of your career, is very | | | | you have the holding power. Build your base and |
| small. | | | | slowly generate more awareness about your work. |
| Use Social media to network | | | | Go for enrichment courses |
| The social media has redefined how networking is | | | | Go and enrich yourself in the midst of your job hunting. |
| done in today's context. In traditional networking mode, | | | | Attend courses which will allow you to dive deeper |
| a person needs to take the extra effort to make small | | | | into the realm of your study. Some courses which you |
| talks, appear credible, strike and maintain relationships in | | | | might consider are media relations, negotiation skills, |
| the long run. With social media, making friends and | | | | adobe photoshop, effective business writing, crisis |
| building alliances is made much easier with lesser | | | | communications, etc. |
| barriers to entry. Use your Facebook to your | | | | Join trade events |
| advantage. Try to do a search and add people who | | | | Enrol yourself in some important trade events and |
| are marketers and/or practitioners currently in the | | | | seek to get your employment leads from there. |
| industry. Most people are very open to making friends | | | | Marketing Institute of Singapore organises monthly |
| on Facebook and once you establish the connection, | | | | gatherings and talks for marketers in Singapore. The |
| slowly weave in your recruitment interest to them. | | | | Marketers networking night by MIS happens every |
| Take on jobs in SMEs | | | | quarter of the year and is well attended by marketers |
| If you can't secure boutique jobs in big MNCs and | | | | from the various industries. The Advertising folks also |
| cannot afford to wait for the dream job to land, | | | | do have their monthly meet up but access is rather |
| consider taking an employment with smaller | | | | difficult. Join Alumni events and find all opportunities to |
| companies, design houses or event companies simply | | | | talk to seniors who are present at the event as |
| to get the experience first. We know that competition | | | | mentors or potential recruiters. |
| is steep and to land yourself in a reputable agency | | | | Remember to take charge your own marketing & |
| sometimes is all about luck. If a small company | | | | communications career. While landing your first dream |
| accepts you for a junior position, take it and treat it as | | | | job is important, do not overly emphasize it as there |
| a chance to learn more diverse skills. In smaller set up, | | | | will never be a dream job if you are not fully prepared |
| you'll learn to multi-task and pick up broad based skills | | | | for the job challenges ahead. We should constantly |
| like administration, logistics, secretariat and even human | | | | challenge ourselves, be practical about our |
| resource management. Smaller set ups are also more | | | | expectations and take on a potential job offer when it |
| willing to hire fresh grads. If you find a good employer | | | | arrives. Do not second guess yourself once you |
| who is willing to groom you, don't hesitate. Accept the | | | | signed on the dotted lines, especially when you have a |
| job first. | | | | second offer on hand. Move on and believe that your |
| Get Familiarise with the trade | | | | first employment will be rewarding and remind yourself |
| Do get familiarize with industry jargons, practices, key | | | | to draw as much experiences as possible from this |
| industry personnel by reading trade publications about | | | | journey. |
| your industry. If you are into marketing, get hold of the | | | | |