Four years ago I finally decided to take the plunge. I smashed open my piggy jar and bought a ticket to Australia. How could I go wrong? After all, the pig is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. And so on a Qantas wing and a prayer I was off, listening to A Land Down Under on my iPod and dreaming about the Aussie, sun-drenched life that was waiting for me on the other end of the long-haul.
I had left my career in outdoor advertising with Clear Channel Ireland because I wanted to gain international experience and broaden my horizons. To torture a cliché, I wanted to find myself personally and professionally.
On arriving in Sydney however, it quickly became apparent that I wouldn’t simply just walk into any job I wished. As beautiful as this city is, it can be really lonely and a damn hard place for the naïve. I knew right away, that if I was going to make it here, I was going to have to work hard. After toiling away at many casual jobs to make ends meet, I finally achieved the original goal I had set for myself – landing a marketing job for one of Australia’s outdoor advertising leaders, APN Outdoor.
So what do I love about working in this industry? Easy!
Firstly, I work in a world filled with lots of creativity, big ideas and a few challenges along the way. It’s motivational, fun and rewarding. It gives me a reason to want to get up in the morning – and we all know it’s important to feel enthusiastic about what you do.
Another reason I love this industry is that we sell a physical space. This requires imagination and inventiveness, which couldn’t be achieved without teamwork. It’s the people that make us an industry leader. It’s the shared passion for what we do; we motivate and fuel each other in an ever-evolving industry.
The transition for me from outdoor in Ireland to outdoor in Australia wasn’t too difficult once I eventually got my foot in the door. We are all trying to achieve the same goal in a hugely competitive industry – be the leader, be the go-to, be the first.
Looking back to 2009 when my poor mother was begging me to stay, I was apprehensive, nervous and excited for what the future had in store, constantly asking myself, ‘Am I doing the right thing?’. In 2013 I can safely say that coming to Australia was one of the best decisions I have made and working for APN Outdoor is the icing on the cake.
Sarah Hughes
National Marketing Executive
APN Outdoor