How to get a big girl job: Insights from two graduates making waves in the agency world

Yahna Fookes, senior copywriter at Communicado recently sat down with Communicado newbies – Pippa Russell, social media specialist and Mackenzie Maughan, PR account coordinator. Here, Russell and Maughan discuss tactics for broaching the job market.

 

When I think of grad students job hunting, the cult TV series, ‘Girls’ comes to mind. Let’s not forget Shoshanna Shapiro’s frantic job search throughout season one, where she uncomfortably pleads with potential employers out of sheer desperation. Or Marnie Michaels experiencing several career shifts during her journey, starting off as a gallery assistant, pursuing a career in music management – eventually finding herself as a hostess at a restaurant. These funny and iconic moments relate to so many fresh graduates looking for “big girl jobs” straight out of university.

The scramble to secure a position has become a daunting challenge for so many. After three-plus years of lectures, tutorials, essays, exams, and Seven Eleven coffee refills, you’d think it would be simple, right? But in the world of digital marketing securing a graduate job is no easy feat. Ever changing platforms, a flooded job market and “lack of experience” are just a few hurdles for a newbie.

I had the pleasure of interviewing some of CMC’s freshest faces Pippa Russell (24), social media specialist and MacKenzie Maughan (24), PR account coordinator. These roles are their first agency roles out of university. From how to prepare a folio, the 101 on utilising AI for interview prep, where to source jobs, picking yourself back up after interview rejection and what attire to wear – read on to find out how these young guns got to where they are today.

In a culture that praises doing over being, it’s so easy to get caught up in the rat race so let this piece serve as a gentle reminder that your job title doesn’t equal your worth. The journey is really as valid as the destination.

Hello Mackenzie. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born in London, lived in Tokyo for 6 years and then Singapore for 13 years where I completed my International Baccalaureate (IB), before moving to Melbourne to attend university. I completed an undergraduate degree with a double major in Psychology and Media Communications at The University of Melbourne. I then went on to do my Masters degree at Melbourne University in Applied Psychology which focuses on the intersection between psychology and marketing communications and how behavioural science and strategy can be implemented to different business settings.

Does University truly ready you for reality?

Personally, I don’t think universities do the best job at preparing their students for the ‘real world. Upon graduating I was ‘book smart’ but hadn’t had the opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills to real world scenarios, which made the transition from full time university to full-time work a hard adjustment. It feels like after you finish your exams and graduate, the university goes onto their next cohort and you’re left feeling a little lost and unsure of how to be successful in getting your first job. The saying – “who you know – not what you know” rings true also. I grew up overseas and didn’t have many connections in Melbourne and this made it more difficult getting your foot in the door for interviews.

How many jobs did you apply for after graduating before landing your role at CMC?

I started my full time position at CMC as an account coordinator in October last year after graduating from school in June. I applied for jobs for around 3-4 months whilst working part time as a receptionist. I was specifically looking for jobs where I could utilise my skills of consumer behaviour and shifting attitudes using social psychology. This of course is a niche area of and it was quite difficult to find a job. Even if I did get an interview they would usually tell me that I was “perfect for the role” but to “come back in 2 years” when I had some more “experience under my belt”. I found it very frustrating as I thought to myself – “how can I get that experience if every agency says the same thing!?”. Eventually, I changed my tactics and broadened my job search to PR and communications which is when a family friend of mine suggested that I apply for the account coordinator position at CMC. It’s been so supportive, I love the culture and so it was meant to be.

What is the most challenging part of doing a 9-5pm job?

The most challenging part of holding a 9-5 has been adjusting my schedule to ensure that I am still making time for my passions and hobbies. I play competitive netball, song write and perform gigs, act and take musical theatre classes which are all a part of who I am. I am innately creative, so I think at first I found it quite challenging to sit at a desk but now that I have a good routine in place – everything has started to slowly fall into place.

Pippa can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I graduated from Monash University with a double degree of business and design, majoring in marketing and communications. This took the better part of 4 years, but between my studies I worked as brand ambassador, freelance designer and later, as a marketing and communications manager for a local Melbourne artist.

You are originally from regional Victoria and attended school there. Can you tell us if you think this impacted your ability to network?

100%. Little did I know while studying how important networking was. It wasn’t a priority at the time, purely because I didn’t understand its value. Different networking events existed within Monash for business students, but the message of why attending was so important never reached me. Whilst not the case for everyone, being from regional Victoria meant that I didn’t have the friend/family connections in Melbourne that my peers did. Finding different networks is crucial. I mean I wasn’t blatantly asking people on LinkedIn for jobs, but rather reaching out to connections and asking for advice and knowledge. In hindsight, people were keen to help new starters – you just have to ask.

Can you tell us a little bit about Mentor Walks and how this opened opportunities for you?

The Mentor Walks is an organisation that was recommended to me as a place for women in the industry to find advice and support. Initially, the job-finding process was quite tricky. I was too experienced for junior grad roles but not experienced enough for anything higher. Attending the Mentor Walks event was both to find advice for finding roles and to network. The first Mentor Walks event I attended was held one chilly Friday at 7am at the Tan in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens. I was paired with a mentor and another mentee before we started to walk. In this session I had the pleasure of meeting Jen, a mentor in training, who approached me afterwards and offered her help and guidance to finding an agency role. The Mentor Walks, however, isn’t a place to find a job, but rather find a community of like-minded women in business to help and support one another via counsel of shared experiences.

Please finish this sentence. Rejection from a role means…

… you weren’t right for that job position right at this very moment. For those in the job hunting process, it’s crucial to remember this is a two-way street. While you are being interviewed, it’s also important for you to interview the company. It’s not personal when rejection rears its ugly head (because it inevitably will). The business is doing what is best by them, as are you. So, while it’s disappointing, it’s a great way of learning and building resilience.

Can you tell people how they use Chat GPT to help prepare them for interviews?

Use the tools you have at your disposal. I would copy and paste the job advertisement into Chat GPT and ask it to provide me with interview questions based on the job posting. It would spit out a variety of questions catered to the role criteria, and I’d practise verbal responses alternatively, if you have a friend, parent, or housemate to ask these questions to you—even better. After all, practice makes perfect (and helps immensely with self-confidence).

Top tips on what to wear. Do you think traditional presentation matters?

Absolutely – presentation is key. Whether a job interview is in person or virtual, the way you present yourself is as memorable as the interview itself. You’re demonstrating both effort and punctuality plus your personality. I’d do some sleuthing if you’re unsure whether the workplace has a yes/no policy on jeans. Check out the company’s Instagram/LinkedIn and look for group photos; you’ll likely be able to pick the corporate dress code and dress accordingly. It’s always better to be overdressed than under-dressed. Rocking up in nice pants, shirt and coat is such a simple way to show that you’re serious about the role and care about their company.