• Marketing Mag Website

  • Marketing Careers

headshot

by Zac Martin

on Feb 3

Graduate like a rock star #1: Get passionate

Advertise with us

I was a pretty good student at high school. But that quickly changed when I got to uni. After failing my first assignment in second semester, I decided my grades weren’t going to get me that dream graduate position that I'd always wanted. Which is lucky, because I’ve since failed a unit and my average is, well, below average. That’s when I found my passion – social media. A few months later I started a blog, and a year and a half on here I am writing for Marketingmag.com.au. I’ve just landed a kickass internship and am feeling pretty confident that when I graduate, my career will be looking mighty fine.

So how did I get here? Well the guys at this wonderful publication would like me to write about how university students shouldn’t have to rely so heavily on their crappy grades, but instead build a profile through means outside other than their degree.

So here it is, five steps that I’ll be covering over the next few weeks:

1. Get passionate

2. Ditch the resume

3. Network digitally

4. Be creative

5. Provide value

The first step, is 'Get passionate'. Discovering what you’re passionate about isn’t always easy, but once you do everything else becomes a walk in the park. Deciding what you’re interested in and turning that into a passion is the key to a successful start.

Passion motivates you, gives you direction and it makes the extra effort you put in outside of your course work all the more rewarding. More so, it makes it fun and at some point it will be the only topic you want to talk about.

Most importantly, the best and superlative thing about passion is that it’s easily noticeable. Wayne Dyer, some old guy, once said, "It’s never crowded along the extra mile". Hard workers stand out. Especially to employers.

One way to get passionate is to search for everything you can about your topic. Check the library database and get in touch with an author who writes about your area of interest. Read and subscribe to blogs. Search iTunes for podcasts. Talk to a lecturer at uni who covers your topic in a unit. Take in as much as you can, completely immerse yourself and be inspired.

So whether you’re interested in social media like me, or market research, personal branding, marketing to old people like Wayne Dyer, advertising in the 60s or TVCs you despise, it’s time to get passionate about it.

Get passionate is the first article in the 'Graduate like a rock star' series.

Related Articles

7 Comments

Stan Lee
  • Wrote on 3 Feb, at 02:23PM
If you're going to marry my daughter, you might want to keep a lid on that passion until after the wedding Zac. ;-)
Editor | Kate
  • Wrote on 3 Feb, at 05:43PM
Welcome aboard to the Marketingmag.com.au community Zac. Looking forward to seeing what other insights you can provide in this space. I saw that you tweeted a link to Craig Wilson's blog post about 'How to get a job in the advertising, design or media industry in 2009'. Thought I would pass it along - http://is.gd/ibDR as it ties in nicely with your post.

I would let our readers know when we can expect Zac's next post, but due to his 'creative requests', there are no deadlines set. :-P Just stay tuned!
Media Hunter
  • Wrote on 3 Feb, at 06:05PM
Zac

Great series coming up here I suspect. Amazing coincidence we posted similar stories similtaeneously. You were certainly one of the people I was thinking about when I posted and this series on MMag is just further proof of what can be achieved doing a bit of clever self-marketing and networking rather than emailing dull resumes.

When do you want to start at Sticky?
zacmartin
  • Wrote on 4 Feb, at 11:00AM
I think a more appropriate question is when does Sticky open their Melbourne office? ;]
Media Hunter
  • Wrote on 5 Feb, at 01:53PM
Zac, I never said anyone had to live in Newcastle to work with Sticky. That's just a bonus for the lucky ones ;)
DJ Myrah
  • Wrote on 12 Apr, at 07:31PM
My passion is far from reading, I only read when I have to. I jus happen to pass by because i am forced to complete an assignment on marketing. Your article is awesome and makes alot of sense for me. Im amazed at the fact that I registered. I better continue to serve my purpose of visiting this sight.
take care
Casey
  • Wrote on 24 Jul, at 04:33PM
You're so right Zac. I landed the most epic job a month after graduating and i promise you it had nothing to do with my grades.It was my passion and enthusiasm that got me noticed. I also got up off my a** and put myself out there. The piece of paper is not what gets you the job....

  • Both the above fields are required for unauthenticated comments. * indicates a required field.


    *

    * This email will not be available or visible to anyone.
    (optional)