Dentsu had a stand at the inaugural IAB Careers Fair manned by the dentsu media basecamp graduates. Over two daya this gave them the opportunity to speak to likeminded people, such as university graduates, and share their feelings on what it’s really like to be a part of this industry. We asked four of the basecampers for their thoughts:
Beatrice Huet – Client Associate, Carat
Working in media and advertising allows me to be a work in progress. I was a fresh University graduate when I started my role as Client Associate at Carat and a participant in dentsu’s inaugural basecamp program, so you can just imagine this enthusiastic 20-something year old ready to change the world.
It’s true when they say there’s no experience like on-the-job training and boy is the industry synonymous to that! Yes, I already had a degree in Marketing and Media, but working in such a dynamic industry requires me to constantly learn – from the effects of Google’s end of third-party cookies on our clients to the battle between TikTok and Instagram Reels, to even business etiquette.
As someone who is a strong extrovert but also needs to be an introvert some days, working in media has been a happy medium for my ESTJ personality traits. Every day, I get to work with industry experts across advertising and build relationships with them. Through 20-minute coffee catch ups on their priorities for the year, NGEN workshops with other young media professionals, and 5pm (sometimes 12pm) drinks at the local pub, I get to know them as people and not just work colleagues. The expectations set by my supervisors have also helped me maintain positive mental health and wellbeing, as the industry enables flexible work arrangements that prioritise a work-life balance.
As a Gen Z digital native, I noticed the prevalence of online disinformation, which is an issue I want to help resolve and is my impetus to work in the industry. Client Partners, Media Strategists, and Managing Directors on all sides of media have given me advice on how I can reach my goal, but the struggle lies on where I should actually start to make this change. At the rate we’re going, I know my goal is a far reach, but the support I’ve received to date has inspired me to become an expert on my clients and staying proactive as I progress in my career – which are already baby steps to achieving my goal.
Above all my experience in the industry has taught me to learn for the love of learning. The lessons don’t stop after University and they sure don’t stop when working in media – no matter the role. I can easily say that my role and this industry encourages me to be a work in progress.
Adam McMeeking – Client Associate, Carat
The attraction of the media industry that resonates with me is its innate power to sway both hearts and minds. Funnily enough, it is not just those outside the industry that are swayed by its marketing efforts, but people within drawn by its culture. There is no other industry I have been exposed to which places such an emphasis on fostering relationships, and I come from a Psychology background saying that. Whether it be relationships with your team, publishers, or clients, you go to work every day looking forward to those interactions. It is in those interactions I have seen such pure fun that has bred the best performance across media, strategy and creative in what we do.
While the media industry has great appeal, I also hold it in regard as one of the most important. The reason for that is during my short time in the industry I have worked with clients that champion us for ways to enhance messages in the best ways. An example I immediately think of is clients placing an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. We are then custodians of a client’s message in delivering that diversity and inclusion, their creative and other elements in one well executed media response. It is on seeing the end-result you feel a sense of pride knowing you played a part uplifting great initiatives like diversity and inclusion efforts.
The challenges and highlights of my job can be very interesting as they can go hand in hand. For instance, it is no secret the media industry is quite fast moving and at times my challenge can be keeping up with that frenetic pace. However, that is where the biggest highlight comes in as I am always supported by my team in overcoming that fast-paced environment. With mentoring and support from my peers at dentsu, you reflect on what seems like a short time anywhere else and realize your development has been quite substantial.
Jacquelyn Ness-Wilson – Client Associate, iProspect
This is a letter to my 18-year-old self.
You will be a client associate! That would not make much sense to you at 18, still at university and just trying to finish your degree - but do not worry, you will get that job in media you always wanted!
You will move to Sydney at the end of 2021 and in 2022 you will start working at iProspect, a media agency, as a client associate. You will even be working on some cool clients such as Accor, Tefal and Rabobank!
Although you will start when everyone is working from home, it will not be long until you get to go to the office and meet all your fantastic colleagues. Grabbing those morning coffees and enjoying having three screens (trust me you need them), which you only get at the office.
Every day you will get to talk with your clients and publishers, helping bring their campaigns and ads to life! You get to report and analyse the campaigns you set-up, coming up with recommendations and improvements for future campaigns, helping to enhance your clients’ marketing. Search and social will be your specialties, setting up ads in Facebook or Tik Tok and setting up ads and keywords on Google. It really is more fun than it might sound!
Sometimes you will even get to go to media lunches, breakfasts, events, and drinks! Now that is a very fun part. But do not worry, you will also get to work alongside an amazing and supportive team that will help you grow your skills and confidence in the media industry.
In your second month you will get to join a dentsu program known as basecamp, which will accelerate your learning in everything (literally!) about media. From strategy, setting up social ads and tv buying, you will learn it all. And have so much fun along the way!
After 8 months in the role, you will feel like you’ve learnt so much (and you definitely will have), but there is always so much more to learn, and I know you’re going to love it!
Anthony Mirzoian – Client Executive WW@dentsu
I’ve been in the media industry for about 10 months now, beginning as an Associate in October 2021 and becoming an Executive at the start of July 2022. I am absolutely loving being in this industry.
To be able to physically see the result of your work being displayed on TV screens or billboards across the country is in some ways a bit of a surreal feeling; you can actually look and say “Hey, I did that, I helped put that there for everyone to see”. I think that’s one of the best parts about working on an Investment team within a media agency, and probably the simplest way of describing what my role is.
The world of media can seem almost work hard/play hard but there’s been such a shift in thinking in terms of mental wellbeing and health, that you still get to experience the fun side of media while knowing you’ve put in a solid amount of work that doesn’t take a toll on yourself. It’s so much fun heading out to lunches or drinks with your media reps and laying down the foundations for solidifying a relationship with those you communicate with on almost a daily basis. Even being able to attend events and chatting to people who are looking to get into media, or even going to launch events and all different kinds of experiences just makes all the hard work worth it.
For me, that might just be the best part of working in media and on a large-scale client. I’ve always been told that the connections you make and the people you meet are so important because people sometimes need help or a favour done and if you have a good relationship with your reps, they’ll be more than happy to help you out. Media is a small world, so it’s really important to value networking and the relationships we build.
On a personal level, I went from finishing my Marketing degree in June 2020, peak COVID, had no idea what kind of role I would be getting into and certainly didn’t know what the role I’m currently in even was! However, over a year later I have had the opportunity to work in a global media agency, had the chance to kick-start my career, and in a short time I’ve been able to progress and set up a career path for myself.
“Just as our industry is evolving, so too are our emerging leaders of tomorrow. It’s truly wonderful to read about our basecampers’ journey so far and to be involved with them as they move forward in their careers and fulfil their dreams in an industry they are happy to be a part of,” said Danny Bass, CEO dentsu Media ANZ.
(Dentsu media Basecamp launched earlier this year and is a fast-tracked learning and development program in an interactive and immersive environment, through a series of four learning sprints in Strategy, Digital, Tech and Data. Basecamp graduates are not defined by the qualification they hold, or education level they attain, but rather by their curiosity and a growth mindset. Expressions of interest for basecamp 2023 are now open.
https://www.dentsu.com/au/en/careers/dentsu-media-basecamp
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