How to make people think you studied journalism?
1. Own a blog.
2. Write in it. Moderately. In sentences. With paragraphs. Avoid smiley faces and keep photos to a minimum :)
I wasn't even a degree hopper. One of those people who stopped and started different courses depending on whether or not they felt like pursuing happiness or money - whichever one it happened to be at the time.
It used to infuriate me that the very people closest to me could never remember
at least one of the two degrees I studied.
Oh yeah, journalism! Right?
After more than five years of correcting people, I've
finally learned to take it as a compliment. So I'm a blogger. They think of me as a writer. I'll take that.
But little do people realise that a writer's insight can actually be used for more things than, well, writing.
Advertising is one of them. I studied a communications degree and majored in advertising because I've always been interested in the ways society and people think, intrigued with how they're continually changing, and excited because it means there's always something new to discover. People underestimate the amount of research that goes into making campaigns as resonant and meaningful as they are (or aren't... in which case they probably didn't do enough research).
At the same time, I've always loved art. And I think you can appreciate advertising in a similar combination of aesthetics, strategy and politics.
For similar reasons I also took up International Studies, because I love learning about different cultures and immersing myself in them. With this degree I was able to learn a new language and spend what will undoubtedly have been the best year of my life on exchange in a foreign country where it was spoken. It was great because I hate being complacent and almost
need to live outside of my comfort zone - not just in terms of travel, but professionally.
In a position I thought would be better filled by a business or economics student - I recently got a new job in the finance sector. I know nothing of the stock market or share trading. Yet I was hired for my writing skills in the editing of material sent out to clients.
Same thing happened two years ago. Before working for a telco, I knew nothing about mobile technology. I couldn't tell you the difference between 3G and 4G, the value in a GB, or whether a higher or lower MHz frequency is better for your signal. But all my experience in clothing retail meant I could talk. I could sell, I was personable and knew how to build rapport.
All this reminds me of an opinion piece I came across on
AdNews. "By having a hunger for personal development, focusing on how skills
learnt in other industries are transferable, and an employer looking to
diversify their skill base, anything is possible."
Having a specialisation is great. But dynamism and adaptability are two extremely important, undervalued assets that I think more employers need to embrace - especially in the industries that pride themselves as supposed risk takers.
