Thoughts and Suggestions to Marketing Students

During the time i was a student of marketing at college(and time i was studying myself) i made a number of mistakes which i would not like others to make. Thus, i here share my thoughts and make suggestions on the wise things you may need to do.

1. Affiliate yourself with a professional institution. Here in Zambia, it is adviced that you join the Zambia Institute of Marketing.

The first reason for is because it is now by law that you join. There are inadeqacies in the ZIM Act but those are not the focus here.

Affiliation is a demonstration of ones willingness to interact with others of like mind and profession and thus a desire to interact, gain insight and add the value of knowledge to the organisation.

But warning, do not expect too much. In fact, it is most likely that you will get very little. The argument though is that you create the value. You think so?

2. Identify an area or more of marketing which interests you. In my case, one of them is communication. With this background i developed myself to be able to develop a number of communication interfaces such as websites, email and SMS application programs and interactive CD's. Having said that, add Product Development and management to my list of interests.

How about you? It is important for students to identify an area that interests you. You may then begin to work around themes of that area.

3. Be flexible.

If communication is what interests you the most, it does not mean that communication is all you need to invest time and energies in. As a marketer, you need to be flexible to be able to engage in other areas.

This point of flexibility implies open mindedness, willingness to sit and listen to a presentation even by individuals you know are nothing close to what they say.

4. Monitor the activities of organisations in the areas that interest you. If you are a fan of the Aviation industry, take time to learn more about organisations such as Zambezi Airways and Kenya Airways.

This will help you have a contextual understanding of the industry. You may even become so good that people may begin asking you for advice. Wow, you are a consultant!

5. Continously develop yourself, you never go wrong with this. You will become much more relevant and in a better position to take up opportunities and challenges.

Get to know more of what is called Continous Professional Development (CPD). Self development can be achieved in a number of ways. Some of these include doing both short and long courses, attending seminars, participating in projects, no matter how small.

6. Have confidence in yourself. It is sad to hear one say, "ah, i am just a student..." students, given the opportunity can do so much, even better than those practicing. Have confidence in the program you are doing, in yourself and in what you can do. As you do so, always leave from for improvement and never show that you are better than another, instead,
do what you have to do and always seek to work with others without any prejudices.

7. Never thow away important literature. Who knows, you may become a tutor one of these fine days. And whilst you may begin to gather more information, you probably will also need your old notes which you wrote up yourself and which you better understand. Believe me, i wish i had some of the material i threw away. Please do not make the same mistake.

8. Network. Make friends and ensure you keep them, you may just never know who will help you with what in future. And usually, it is the old friends that come through...

It is sad to note how many make teh mistake of abandoning friends when they leave college, or university, especially when they get a job. It is even sadder when they lose that job and begin to try to make amends with the old friends who would also have moved on. Network, and be genuine about it.

9. Always seek avenues for practice. Experience is what a number of organisations ask for, even when at times it is not necessary. I have a friend who finished ACCA when he was about 21,22. The company that recruited him had no vacancy but created a poistion for him. In less than 3 years, he was semi-seniour auditor.

But not all of us will come across objective and professional recruiting companies. And even if they are there, experience is still important.

So, volunteer to do some jobs in your community, and even at small organisations. It could even be just that of a clerk, taking down notes of what goes in and out of the organisation, it does not matter. It is experience. Write articles, develop a blog, etc. Ideas are limitless. Avenues to experience.

Thats it.

I hope that above 9 points are of value and insight. Please feel free to ask questions and make contributions, even deductions.

Yes?