One of the benefits of informational interviews is that they will help you get comfortable speaking to people who work in the industry you are aspiring to enter. Another benefit is that you'll better understand the role and responsibilities that come with it.
Good creative ideas are hard to come by, and people always say creativity is subjective. Sometimes, regardless of how strong you believe they are, the ideas you come up with don't resonate with your audience.
Saying yes led to my closest friendships, acquiring more business experience, and a sizeable professional network. Saying yes opens you up to possibilities you may have been afraid to explore which is valuable even if it is not directly related to marketing.
As the saying goes, “You only get one chance to make a first impression,” so relax, take a deep breath, and make sure it sticks. Sometimes it’s not only what you know but whom you know that matters.
While pursuing your education, you might be apprehensive, wondering if you have the skills to apply for a coveted position in a renowned marketing department.
Jillian Seronik, a marketing student at Okanagan College in Kelowna, BC, shares her views on studying marketing while simultaneously being employed as a marketing coordinator.
"From an early age, I would say I have always been a leader. When I was running for student council in middle school, thanks to my successful campaign I was elected Prime Minister of the Student Body. Also, being an effective public speaker, I was chosen to represent my school at the Halton Public Speaking Championship and selected as a finalist for my creative speech on hand signs. I now use these skills to motivate my co-workers and aid them in achieving their goals."
"When Fernanda Gentil, a Brazilian sports journalist, got her opportunity to be on television, she rocked it. She instantly became my inspirational success story. She revolutionized the way sports news is presented and has become a television icon. Not only do I admire her overall success but also the fact that she isn't afraid of anything. This is what I aspire to for my future self."
"I graduated from university with a medical degree, but I’ve always been a marketer at heart. While in school, I started exploring business and work opportunities that exposed me to the world of marketing and communications. I developed a passion for building brands and some years later, I decided to pursue a career in strategic brand management."
"That said, growing up in a Gujarati family, I have learned a lot about businesses and how to run them. Once I complete my education, I aspire to be a businessman and look forward to the day when I can set out on my own, with my marketing firm that will create advertising campaigns for brands in the luxury sector. ."
"During this two-to-three-month period of pandemic life, living without friends or family in a small apartment in London, Ontario, I came to terms with an important realization. This passion project taught me there is always something I can build and create from scratch regardless of my living situation changing or getting derailed."
"Whether I am driving a car and listening to ads on the radio, seeing ads on billboards, or entertaining myself with television or social media, I see ads. I am fascinated by how brands convey their message to their target audience to delight their customers and achieve measurable business objectives."
"I want to help create an organizational culture that is predicated on inclusion and celebrating the diversity of employees. A culture that includes passionate employees wanting to make a difference in racialized/marginalized communities by creating/offering programs to youth that will provide opportunities to excel in a bevy of different ways. "
"Coming from the music industry with 5 years in the business, my biggest realization was figuring out how to market music after it was created – it was and still is the most difficult part for most independent musicians. Life in the digital space changes so fast that sometimes we miss the signs and find ourselves behind the curve."
"However, coming to Canada has been my dream ever since I studied a semester abroad here thanks to an ELAP scholarship from the Canadian Government. I fell in love with this country and when I returned home, as the scholarship required, I made a promise to myself to do everything in my hands to come back someday. "
"Being a social person, I love networking and making connections that are more than just professional partnerships. A lot of my educational background comes from finance but being an avid social media user myself, I started my career as an entrepreneur and used the potential of social media to help generate revenue for my business."
If I were to describe myself in one word, it would be passionate. Whether it’s about the welfare of our environment, my favourite TV series, or a new project I’m working on, I always care a littletoomuch. But once I’m invested in something, I become extremely dedicated towards it and am constantly sharing it with other people. Working within marketing
My interests include traveling to experience different cultures, playing musical instruments, speech arts, analyzing legal issues, and of course, marketing! What drew me into marketing is its flexibility and the role it plays in different industries. I can think outside the box and be creative with the content and graphics I create. What I love about marketing is the freedom I get to express with my ideas in all creative and unique ways
"I’m very interested in seeing how content is going to continue to play a role in marketing and in business success. Content is everything nowadays, and it’s critical to stand out from all the clutter. It’s essential for engaging consumers, creating brand loyalty, and it will be interesting to see how it will be used to market to the next generation. With content, also comes influencers, which is another trend I’m excited to continue following and see how it impacts the industry. "
"My greatest achievement would have to be helping grow a small business through its marketing and communications. I was able to grow their following as well as learn so many new ways to target customers, create content, and learn more about a new industry, barbering. Taking general lessons learnt in class and online and then actually applying them, has been so beneficial and personally rewarding."
"My proudest achievement has been the work I've done as Vice President at the Digital Enterprise Management Association at the University of Toronto Mississauga. With my team we successfully organized and executed over 12 individual and collaborative events throughout the school year that contributed to the personal and professional development of UTM students."
"In addition to marketing, I am also very passionate about technology. I have personally invested in some technology companies and enjoy researching the latest technology developments in my spare time. I hope to be able to use some of the technologies of the future within marketing and hopefully trailblaze and innovate with some creative uses of our newest technologies in a marketing context."
"Canadian work experience is one of the biggest challenges that I face when I am applying for internships. I have international experience in corporate communications, but I still feel like it is not enough for the Canadian workplace."
“I want to come up with unique creative solutions to every problem. And I want to do it in a way that puts consumers first. This means breaking the stigma that marketing is shady. It means ensuring that there will be no more "false" advertising.”
