NGEN is a body set up by the Media Federation Australia to provide training and guidance to those new to the industry.
You’re down to the last 12 months of your degree, you have promised yourself that this year you won’t leave that assignment to the night before (we all know that’s a lie) and this time next year you’ll be out in the 'real world', have to get a 'real job' and be a 'real adult'!
Now first things first, it has been more than a year since I have graduated and I still struggle with being an adult, so don’t stress on that one.
The job thing though, I do get and that’s why a little advice could go a long way. I’m definitely no expert, but from my experience of traversing the whirlwind that is university, to graduating and getting a job in the industry I offer to you the advice I (and probably a lot of other people) would give to someone trying to get their foot in the door.
Make connections
You know those guest lecturers who have your dream job and come in and tell you how amazing it is? Well…. talk to them! Introduce yourself, ask questions about work experience and get your name out there. They were probably just like you one day, at uni and eager to learn and chances are that they will recognise this and want to help.
For those of you who aren’t great at walking up to somebody and sparking up a conversation, see if they leave a stack of their business cards, put their email up on a lecture slide or talk to your unit lecturer and see if they have their details. Just start up a dialogue and that could lead to an internship or even a job in the future.
Work experience
Getting an internship or work experience is exactly what got me my job in the industry. There are a number of sales, marketing, creative and media agencies that want interns – so find out which ones, and give it a shot.
Getting an internship, work experience or an entry level position lesson one; you don’t have to have the media or creative equivalent ability of turning water into wine, you just need to show enthusiasm, passion and drive. So don’t be nervous about asking for work experience, thinking that your GPA has to be a seven or else they will laugh in your academically average face.
When calling or emailing, introduce yourself, be polite, tell them what you know about them and tell them why you want to work there. If they don’t reply, get out of the fetal position and stop thinking “they hate me” because it is much more likely that they are busy.
Directors, managers and even coordinators spend their whole day dealing with dozens of calls and emails, so chances are they meant to reply but it got lost amongst the throng of booking requests, material instructions and post analysis report emails.
Email them again and remain polite, persistent and passionate (the other P’s of marketing).
Make friends and have fun
If you are successful at getting an internship or work experience make sure you express your enthusiasm in everything you do. Show that you are willing to learn everything you can and don’t be scared to ask questions. Try and build a good rapport with your mentor and the team, don’t be afraid to make friends and be yourself.
Managers look for someone who can integrate well with the team, be themselves and create good relationships - this is just as important as your skills and knowledge.
Have a go at every chance you are given
Make like Norman Bates in Psycho and take a stab at every opportunity in front of you! If you hear about jobs going in the industry or your lecturer emails the class about work opportunities, then give it a shot. It can’t hurt to try, and even if what you initially went for doesn’t work out, that often leads to something else.
I applied for a job going at a media agency that was emailed to the class by our lecturer, and when asking someone to be a referee they mentioned Network Ten were looking for a coordinator, and from there I got an interview and my current role here.
Don’t worry, be happy
Finally, it is okay if you don’t get a job straight out of uni. If you are going to take anything away from what you have potentially wasted 10 minutes of your life on reading, make it that. Sometimes you need that break before you take on a full- time career, or simply the timing in the industry just isn’t right.
In this blog, I just explained the steps I took that led me where I am.
It isn’t a place that is more superior to anyone else I graduated with, it was just my journey and what was right for me. These steps won’t guarantee you a job, but I can guarantee that it is what directors and managers in the industry are looking for; people that network well, that are willing to work their way up, that show passion and personality and are willing to take those leaps of faith for what they love to do.
By Mitch Broom, sales coordinator at Network Ten