1. Be self-aware
To understand my career direction, i need to understand myself first. This includes identifying my strengths, values, skills, interests, and areas for improvement. I’ve discovered that I thrive in environments that involve creative problem-solving, collaboration, and working toward shared goals. Whether through group projects at Griffith, leading volunteer initiatives, or serving a year in the Norwegian Armed Forces, these experiences have shown me how much I enjoy contributing to a team and finding solutions together. I value purpose driven work combined with creativity, which is what drew me to marketing. To become more self-aware, I plan to reflect more intentionally on what i enjoy in my studies and part time roles. I plan on journaling these experiences to give me an overview and the ability to look back and reflect on previous decisions. Revisiting the employability skills audit and doing personality tests will help me further develop and create an overview over how i operate in environments i thrive in.
2. Explore your options
Because marketing is such a broad field, i need to take time to explore the range of options available for me. I'm currently interested in branding, digital marketing, and content creation. To explore these options, I plan to follow marketing professionals and companies on LinkedIn and study their career paths and roles. I also plan on attending student events at school or in the area to broaden my options and hopefully gain insight on the different fields. Gaining insight within the different fields will help me choose what companies or industries I might want to work in. Reading job postings, even for roles I'm not qualified for, will help me understand what skills and experience are required. I want to use this stage to stay curious, ask questions, and reflect on how my personal might align within the marketing industry.
3. Gain experience and insight
When entering the marketing industry, experience is essential. I plan to take every opportunity to apply what i learn in class to real world settings. One goal i have is to volunteer or intern in roles related to marketing, even if its a small scale opportunity like managing the social media for the student organisation I'm event leader in or create promotional content. These experiences will help me build confidence, grow my portfolio, and understand what kind of work i enjoy most. I also plan on completing short courses or certifications in areas such as digital marketing, Google Ads, and content strategy through platforms like Coursera. This will improve my technical knowledge and show good initiative. Additionally, I'll reach out to professionals in the industry for informal interviews or advice. I've learned that speaking to people within the field is a better way of learning and understanding what the job is about, rather than reading job descriptions.
4. Evidence your skills (knowledge, skills and attributes)
Documenting my skills and experiences is key to standing out in a competitive job market. I've already started building my ePortifolio to showcase relevant experiences, such as my time as a a care assistant, my leadership in the Norwegian student organisation ANSA, and my national-level Taekwondo achievements. Each of these roles has helped me build important soft skills like empathy, leadership, adaptability, and resilience. In addition to showcasing this, I want to improve how i evidence technical and marketing specific skills. As i develop knowledge and experience, I plan on collecting samples of my work, such as assessments, campaign plans, or group projects. The goal with this is to demonstrate my knowledge and growth. I also plan to regularly update my LinkedIn profile with accomplishments and certifications so that I'm building a visible and professional online presence. The goal is to be able to confidently show not just what I've done, but also how its relevant and valuable to future employers in marketing.
5. Develop networks
Building a professional network is something I'm still learning, but i know its an important part of career development. First, I'll continue improving my LinkedIn profile and using it more actively, following companies I'm interested in, connecting with Griffith alumni, and sharing relevant articles or updates I find interesting. Secondly, I will attend networking events and work shops. Even small conversations at these events can lead to valuable insights or opportunities. Lastly, I plan on joining a local Taekwondo club as a way of connecting with people outside my academic circle. I have met tons of people in a variety of different industries and companies over the years from doing Taekwondo. I see this as a natural and enjoyable way to build relationships and to expand my network. As an international student I've learned that building connections takes effort but is incredibly valuable, not just for job searching, but for learning and growing as a professional. Networking is about relationships, not just opportunities, and I'm excited to continue building meaningful connections with people who inspire and challenge me.