This week, Sarah Cairney our creative associate talent partner, spoke at LLC as part of our commitment to encourage our staff to share their knowledge within education and the wider community. Here’s what she had to say about the day:
I had the honour of speaking to students on the MA Media Communications students at London College of Communications, delivering a workshop on Marketing Yourself to the Professional World as part of their Professional Industry Practice module.
Within this, we covered a whole range of subjects, from the importance of a strong cover letter, CV, and Portfolio, to how to approach people at events and network. We discussed how to send the perfect LinkedIn introduction, how to use job boards, and how to use your curiosity to research the right people to connect with.
During the Q&A session, we had a great discussion about how to “stand out” and “be yourself” which can seem an almost impossible feat when all you have is an email to convey how amazing you are, and I thought it would be good to share some key points.
Honesty.
It goes without saying, but don’t ever lie on your CV or during a job application, you will be caught out sooner or later! Being honest about your capabilities and experience is so important, but it’s almost more important to be honest about your ambitions and long-term goals. What do you want to accomplish in life? What is ultimately going to make you happy? Most of us will work until we are well into our sixties, so make sure it’s something that you enjoy!
Discipline.
It’s not easy out there, especially in such a talent-rich city as London. Competition is fierce, stakes are high, and the possibilities are endless – if you play your cards right. If you know what you want, figure out what it is you need to do to get there in this current climate and do it. Remember, a successful career is a marathon, not a sprint. At the very same time, make sure you are looking after yourself. If you feel burnt out, like you’re losing the “oomph” you need, take a step back, recharge, and come back when you’re strong again. Keep active in your “you time” hobbies, whether it’s going to the gym, arts and crafts, reading, gaming, or whatever! Time for self-reflection and development is just as important as hard graft.
Resilience.
You are going to face a lot of rejection in life, and figuring out your best way to recover takes time but once you’ve nailed it, you have a wonderful gift in your hands. One of my favourite comedians, Sarah Millican, has what she calls the “11 o’clock rule” where if she has a bad gig, she can only be upset about it until 11 am the next day. Similarly, if she had a fantastic gig, she could only celebrate it till 11 am the next day. I’ve taken that and adapted my own “12-hour rule” and it has helped keep me grounded, and keep things in perspective, whilst also allowing me to healthily process my emotions. What I’m trying to say is, how to recover from knockbacks and successes, will help you move on to the next big thing!
Hopefully, this is helpful and resonates with most of you out there looking for work at the moment!
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