Advice from a Graduate
MAA Marketing Assistant and recent graduate, Chris Davies, talks about marketing yourself....
As marketing graduates it's at times like these that we need to apply what we learn at university to ourselves. We're our own brand, think about your own presence in the job market and point that analytical finger at the person who matters most- you!
When applying for jobs don't sacrifice quality for quantity. I noticed a distinct increase in employer response rate when I wrote a specific and detailed covering letter. It can be very demoralising receiving rejections and even more so when you spend half an hour on an on-line application and hear nothing back from it- but don't be tempted to start rushing through applications.
Consider Internships. The majority of people I know who have recently gone into agency work have started as interns. It may seem like an unpaid internship de-values the money you've spent on education, but that's the nature of the job market today. Working as an intern shows commitment to achieving your goals and will ultimately be appreciated and remember, once you are given the chance to impress- take it! make people notice you- go above and beyond and pro-actively work to improve the organisation. You won't get noticed by making coffee and scanning documents all day.
Finally, put yourself out there! In terms of getting a foot in the door, my advice would be to network, network and network some more! Don't be afraid to call lecturers, guest lecturers, past students and classmates to ask for advice or introductions. Register with marketing job boards and trade associations. If agencies are actively recruiting then make sure that your name appears on their searches. Create a LinkedIn account and network with industry people. Socialising (probably the single most important skill you'll learn at university!) is the best way of marketing yourself!'
