Five tips to succeed in the marketing industry

Paige, a College of Vocational Education alumnus, returned to speak to students about working at advertising agency Spinach – and how she found success in a notoriously competitive industry.

When Paige decided to study the Diploma of Marketing and Communication, she was feeling stuck and uncertain, working jobs she felt didn’t allow her to grow. Now, post-graduation, Paige works at Spinach Advertising as an Account Executive, a role in which she is the key liaison between Spinach’s clients and the creative team.

Here are five tips we learnt from Paige about succeeding in any – but especially the advertising – industry:

Tip 1: Build your network

“If you’re enrolled at RMIT, congratulations! You’re already building your network – your teachers and peers are great first connections,” said Paige.

In fact, Paige secured her role at Spinach through an introduction by her teacher Joe Matthews.

Paige also encouraged students to create a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is a great platform to showcase your professional experience and follow recruiters and brands you’re passionate about. You never know where your next opportunity will come from!

Tip 2: Ask questions

“Lean on your tutors and peers! Your teachers want to see you succeed, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, no matter how trivial or ‘silly’ they seem,” she said.

Your questions don’t have to be related to course material – many of your teachers will have industry experience, so pick their brains about it!

RMIT alumnus Paige Sobczyk.

Tip 3: Present yourself well

Your resume, cover letter and portfolio are your potential employer’s first impression of you, so make sure they look neat, slick and professional.

Typos and grammatical errors will immediately put employers off your application – so make sure to double-check your documents!

Tip 4: Do your research

Paige’s number one tip for interviews? Research the company you applied for!

“You may get questions like ‘What do you know about us?’ from an interviewer. Doing your research will demonstrate your interest in the company and their work,” said Paige.

Tip 5: Reflect on your interests

“Unsure where to start your career? Most industries offer more diverse roles than you might expect; it’s likely you’ll find one that aligns with your interests,” said Paige.

Paige encouraged our students to research what roles are commonly available in their chosen industry. For instance, the advertising industry isn’t limited to jobs like copywriter and designer. Most agencies will offer roles in the following areas: creative, media, production, strategy and account service.

Story: Wen Yee

04 September 2023

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Five tips to succeed in the marketing industry