Marketing Interview

LGMJ: Melinda. Thank you for granting us an interview.
What interests you in Marketing?

Melinda: Well, I studied marketing and it intrigued me to get more experience in this field. I wanted to tryout the possibilities that the marketing field has to offer and especially the marketing job environment here in London. I see with many companies that marketing is vital for them to sell products and that's what spurs my interest in marketing strategies and implementations.

LGMJ: You were also able to get a job opportunity in marketing which saw you work in China during the Beijing Olympics. How were you able to find that opportunity?

Melinda:I heard via a friend at first. and then I approached the company about the opportunity directly and applied in person with my CV and I got the job.

LGMJ: Do you feel it was a great start to your marketing career working at the Beijing Olympics?

Melinda: Yes I did think it was great. I had a fantastic experience with working. I was able to work in events marketing at the Beijing Olympic games, which involved alot of planning and organising. The challenges I faced the most were
problem solving tasks. But the great thing that I was able to learn was the different personalities, attitudes and situations that I had to face with international dealings, as well as learning alot about different cultures and
different countries.

LGMJ: So you would like to pursue a career in events marketing right?

Melinda: Yeah, I like organising, and I feel that it empowers you as a person, and I find it very interesting. There is alot of administration and multitasking that is involved, as well as client facing. It's hard work, but the outcome of the event is worthwhile. And the problem solving solutions that you learn you can apply to your own life as well.

LGMJ:So for anyone else who wants to go into this field, what would you recommend to them?

Melinda:I would say that you need to have a powerful, strong character. You need to be outgoing and self confident. Also ask questions and learn as much as you can. Even if you don't know something, someone will be able to help you so the
team can achieve their goals and it will improve your knowledge and understanding for future projects.

LGMJ: Thank you for interviewing with us Melinda and we wish you all the best with your marketing career.

Marketing Interview with Ghanaian graduate Benard Adabankah.

Recent marketing graduate from Ghana. I recently spoke to Benard about his marketing interests and his planning methods to help with developing his marketing skills.

Hi Benard. How are your marketing skills going at the moment?

they are going alright, but not actually in the traditional marketing field; the area i had most of my education.

Did you feel you learnt most of your marketing skills to date?

On the internet and on the streets of uk. On the internet through internet marketing ( though that wasn't my initial education area). i learnt a lot via so many avenues, one of which is a personal website i maintain: www.adabankah.tripod.com. On the streets through personal observations of bill boards, personal selling, and the many news papers on the tubes and buses in london..it sounds funny, isn't it? Yea, but believe you me, that's where i learnt most of my marketing skills after uni...

Do these skills continue to spur your interest in the marketing field?

Of course, and they keep me always challenged!

So how would you class your marketing skillset?

Well, at the moment, and with my goals in marketing i still see myself a beginner.
Because, i believe in marketing it is one thing knowing all the theories and concepts and another thing effectively and efficiently implementing those knowledge in the given marketing environment.

Are there reference books or materials that you use to aid in developing your marketing skills?

Marketing, to me, is generic. my main reference tool is observation of what organisations and even individuals do and do well to get their brands more and more popular. Newspaper-business articles and those from magazines also serve good recipe for me.

What advice would you give to others who are following your path?

I will say, the marketing environment is dynamic and full of fascinating challenges. One must seek to always improve themselves. I mean continual self-improvement.. Never ever relax!

Remember never ever to give up for you never ever no how close you are to success!