As one starts a career in communications it is natural to wonder how the real life experience of working will match up to perceptions developed at university or college. We aim to empower you by providing relevant advice and sharing our own experiences of being an intern. Meet FH’s current and former interns, here to guide and support you all the way:
Name: Thabiso Moloi
Qualification: (BA) Degree Corporate Communications
Portfolio: Consumer
Favourite motto: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication
Twitter handle: @14_japs
Advice: It is very important to create and keep an updated version of your CV. Always include information such as personal details, educational background, milestones and career objectives. As this is your first job and because you don’t have much experience, make sure that you include an introductory paragraph about your strengths, tertiary achievements and your career goals.
Name: Bianca Vallun
Qualification: BCom Honours with specialisation in Communication Management
Portfolio: Technology
Favourite motto: Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love.
Twitter handle: @missvallun
Advice: When preparing for an interview, first impressions are always vital. Be well prepared and knowledgeable by researching all aspects of the company including their key clients, partners, competitors and if applicable, their global offering. Make sure you understand what the company specialises in especially when entering the working environment for the first time. Take the time to find any additional information about the company or their employees that could add value to your interview.
Name: Keagile Mabusela
Qualification: National Diploma in International Communication
Portfolio: Sustainability
Favourite motto: You never learn anything by doing it right; experience is the name so many people give to their mistakes.
Twitter handle: @kaykeagile
Advice: In the world we live in, first impressions count. To ensure that the interviewers take you seriously, you have to be presentable and dress like a professional. If you are successful and get the job, try and adapt to the culture and dress code of the organisation and the types of clients they have.
Name: Brittany Preece
Qualification: BCom Honours with specialisation in Communication Management
Portfolio: Consumer
Favourite motto: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Twitter handle: @BrittPreece
Advice: In such a fast-paced industry, it is crucial to stay up-to-date with changes in the PR, media and digital space. Online platforms have made it easy to access this information through industry websites, blogs and social media sites. I’d suggest setting up a Twitter account and following various media titles, agencies and thought leaders to gain more insight into the communications environment. In other words, research and know as much as you possibly can and that will give you an advantage.
Name: Alice Cardarelli
Qualification: Bachelor of Business Science with a double major in Marketing and Management
Portfolio: Financial Services
Favourite motto: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lao Tzu
Twitter handle: @AliceCardarelli
Advice: Whether we like it or not, our Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn profiles are likely to be checked by potential employers. If you’re not the ‘private’ type and your social media platform is accessible to anyone, make sure that it is free of any potentially offensive material or pictures and comments that might jeopardise your possibility of getting a job.
Name: Ntombi Mashaba
Qualification: Studying towards Btech International Communications specialising in International Relations
Portfolio: Corporate
Favourite motto: Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. -Judy Garland
Twitter handle: @MashabaNtombi
Advice: Once you are done doing in-depth research on the company that you are interested in, it is important to consult your peers, lecturers, mentors and even your family in order to establish their perceptions or knowledge of the organisation.
“Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail.” – Charles Kettering
