Communication Avenue: Life in a Communication Area

Being a communications student is always tricky. There are a lot of strategies to be learned in order to reach successful careers, be it in Public Relations, Journalism, or Integrated Marketing Communication areas. “The key is, a communications student should be fond of reading newspaper. It is essential for people in a communications field to know what?s going on in the world,” said Astried Anggraeni, alumni of 2002, in the ?Meet and Greet with Communication Alumni? at MYC, Monday (8/3). Astried is now a PR consultant who handles several multinational company clients.

Bad news for those who do not like research, because in the working world, research division happens to be the most visited department in order to get various information. ?I visit that division every single day to get updates on sales,? said Jeanette Matilda, alumni of 2000, who works as a Public Relation at PT Mercedes-Benz. It?s not a surprise to see the amount of newspaper subscriptions in companies to be at least 6 million rupiah.

The second thing that we need to take care of is, networking. It is important for us to develop networking with anyone who might be able to help our future careers. “Even though you are a staff, don?t hesitate to develop contacts with CEOs. On the other hand, never hesitate as well to have conversations with office boys or drivers. In other words, be proactive,” said Wahyu Adhika Wiwoho, alumni of 2000, who is now a journalist. If communication graduates have strengths in these two things, surely upon graduation they won?t find difficulties in getting jobs.
?Do not waste the opportunities when you?re doing internships. For example, when you are a reporter intern, act like one. Make yourself busy with looking for news, just be active,? said Metta Sagita, alumni of 2004. She proved this to be true, since she was hired to be a Global TV reporter even before her graduation.
 
 
Competitions in the working world are very tight. Those who can not survive will soon be beaten by other rivals. “If you could do something differently, just do it. The must-have-characters are: creative, able to think fast, and having broad knowledge, “said Astried.

Then, is it true that communications students would only need to have good networking without having the necessity to maintain good GPA? Apparently not. “With the online recruitment systems, it?s very easy for companies to eliminate candidates who do not meet the minimum GPA criteria. Don?t let the lack of 0.23 GPA point hinders us from joining prestigious companies,” explained Astried. GPA standard has been increasing from year to year, and now we should have at least 3.00 GPA in order to be in the safe zone of recruitment. ?You are lucky if you could be interviewed directly, so you can try to win the companies? hearts without relying on your poor GPA. But, what if not? You have failed even before being interviewed. For those with poor GPA, besides trying your best to sharpen your abilities, you are also expected to attend various seminars to improve the portfolios.

The ?Meet and Greet? event is a part of the 6th Communication Avenue “Expand your Horizon”, held by Communication Sciences Department, FISIP, Universitas Pelita Harapan. Other events are such as: Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) seminar titled “Beyond the
Brand” (9/3),  Public Relations seminar titled ” Corporate PR and Branding” (10/3), a journalistic seminar “Pahlawan atau Preman? Press Indonesia di Persimpangan? (?A Hero or a Mob? Indonesian Press at the Crossroad? (11/3), and a Fashion Parade. There are also workshops and photography competitions, Radio Announcing Competition, and News Presenting Competition. (Sar)

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