Student Profile: Sharon Guan

Sharon Guan

Where did you complete your Undergrad Degree/Diploma and in what subject area?

Carleton University, Bachelor of Arts Economics                                                                          

When did you first discover an interest in Advertising?

I was an account manager for an automotive service company and realized I needed to do something I’m interested in. Advertising is one of the few industries that will live forever and the education provides hands-on knowledge that I see myself pursuing.

Why did you choose Sheridan’s Post Graduate Advertising Account Management Program?

Sheridan College is located in the GTA, which offers more opportunities for my future career here. Many famous advertising companies are located in Toronto and the surrounding area. Sheridan maintains long-lasting relationships with those agencies by helping students to step into their dream job and gain real working experience, not only textbook knowledge.

How are you finding your experience at Sheridan?

Our professors have plenty of experience in the advertising industry, so they teach us more than what’s in the textbook. They share their real experiences, which helps students quickly adapt to the working world after graduation.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering Sheridan’s Post Grad Advertising Account Management program?

Take a program you really like and enjoy your school experience. Classes offer useful knowledge that go beyond our textbooks. There are real class activities and discussions to better immerse yourself in the ways of the industry. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Sheridan and its professors can provide sincere advice and guidance to make your journey easier.

Student Profile: Alex Tran

     Where did you complete your Undergrad Degree/Diploma and in what subject area?

I completed my Bachelor Degree in International Business at Foreign Trade University in Vietnam. 

     When did you first discover an interest in Advertising?

I had some experience working with clients before entering the program at Sheridan. My experience with clients made me both curious, and excited about the agency world, so here I am.

     Why did you choose Sheridan’s Advertising Account Management Post Graduate Program?

Through online research, I discovered that Sheridan is a well-recognized institution for Advertising. I believed having “Sheridan Grad” on my resume would be a great advantage. And the school has a co-op program, which provides hands-on experience in an agency right after graduation. 

How are you finding your experience at Sheridan?

Above and beyond my expectations.

So far, I have gained a lot of knowledge and working skills in media, account management and creative. Professors are enthusiastic in getting us ready to work in the agency environment immediately following graduation. 

   

Sheridan HMC

The second semester involves the most exciting project. We developed a Christmas campaign for Canadian Tire. We received the actual brief from Canadian Tire, built the campaign with support from professors, and presented our campaign plan directly to TAXI, Canadian Tire’s agency partner. It was no longer just a classroom activity; we were already being involved in a real agency, directly through the program.

 I also had numerous opportunities to meet and network with professionals in the industry. Some days, we met with managers from TAXI in the morning and spoke with a guest speaker from Google in the evening. Be ready for that. 

The program also has Cooperative Education services where you meet with an experienced consultant to polish your resume. There are also classes to polish our professional image and interview skills. Internship opportunities are offered to Sheridan Advertising Account Management Grads from big agencies such as MediaCom, Mindshare, TAXI, Dentsu and more! I had my internship offer at the end of the first semester with a big client, Top 100 Employer in Canada, and my classmate got an offer from IPG a few weeks later. Kudos to Sheridan’s Post Grad Advertising Program!

What advice would you give to someone who is considering our post grad program?

You are on the right track to a career in Advertising and Marketing. I believe if you have the enthusiasm to learn and explore, are open minded and have a passion for advertising, this Program will take you to meet your horizons. Think big but be willing to start small. The professors, the school staff, and great classmates will be there to help you be ready for the advertising game.

Life of an Advertising Post Graduate Student in Sheridan College

LIFE OF AN ADVERTISING POSTGRADUATE STUDENT 

IN SHERIDAN COLLEGE

BY KASHMI JAYAWARDANA & ALEX TRAN

After many days of sleepless, tiresome nights, you finally receive your undergraduate degree and just like that you have graduated. You feel really happy that you have made it into professional life and are thinking about landing the dream job for which you made all of those sacrifices.

But then out of nowhere you feel like you wanted to take the next big step in your higher education… the postgraduate certificate. Many students enter postgraduate life with no clue for what awaits them. Here are a few tips about “what to expect when you become a postgraduate student in Sheridan College”.

Does your Post Graduate Certificate matter?

Of course, it depends on what type of subjects you are studying. A Postgraduate Certificate such as Advertising Account Management will involve the usual classroom activities, research, and real time projects with clients. Time management will be your best friend because it is important to manage the time properly. In-class learning will demand fixed hours every week as well as research and projects, which will require independent study hours. With proper time management skills, students will be able to manage student life, social life, and even a job while working towards your Postgraduate Certificate.

Why the library that you neglected so far will become your best mate?

Sheridan Library can be a treasure chest of knowledge, which can support you with many research tools that will save you time and provide you with lots of data from reliable resources. HMC campus Mississauga provides many services such as IT service desk, Tutoring services, Research help desk and also computer & study spaces. The online library resources contains data bases like Euromonitor, Vividata, CARDonline, WARC etc. and also "Summon" - the one stop search engine that allows you to access thousands of different library resources through a single search box.  These are important to Advertising Postgraduate students and helps them greatly with their research and projects.  

Why it is important to gain practical knowledge before the real deal?

If you want to gain a job in advertising world, I believe it is important to gain insights and practical knowledge before diving in. The Sheridan Advertising Account Management certificate is excellent preparation for a career in advertising strategy and management as the program gives you the skills you need to contribute to a professional advertising team. Through the program, you will learn the following; 

• Understand target markets
• Develop and communicate a product's brand identity.
• Create a complete advertising and integrated marketing communications plan
• Develop and defend media selection and placement
• Use specific advertising industry computer software such as Clear Decisions, ComScore, and more!

Considering all of this …

Although a Postgraduate Certificate means hard work, it doesn’t mean you should imagine the worst. It is very possible to have fun while successfully completing your studies. For us, postgraduate life at Sheridan is rewarding and also a brand new adventure. 

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Student Profile: Candace Correia

Candace Correia

Where did you complete your Undergrad Degree/Diploma and in what subject area?

I completed my Undergrad Degree at OCAD University in 2013. There I achieved a Bachelor of Design with a focus on Graphic Design.

When did you first discover an interest in Advertising?

Coming from a creative background, I’ve always been somewhat interested in Advertising. I’ve always had a strong appreciation for anything to do with visual communications and Advertising is the perfect combination of design and strategy. 

Why did you choose Sheridan’s Advertising Account Management Post Grad Program? 

I chose Sheridan’s Advertising Account Management Program because I wanted to gain a well-rounded understanding of the Advertising industry as a whole, and this program has courses that cover a variety of different industry topics. I was also drawn to the Summer Co-op work term option and wanted to add some real-world experience to my resume as well.

How are you finding your experience at Sheridan? 

I’m finding the experience fast-paced and engaging. Even when a subject is outside of my comfort zone, the content is interesting and extremely relevant to my future career. The program has given me valuable industry information and allowed me to expand my skillset far beyond the creative side of Advertising. By taking this program, I can now combine my creative skills with strategic planning knowledge and I feel more confident in what I can offer as a candidate for future employers.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering our post grad program?

I would tell them that investing in your future is never a mistake, and a year in the Post Grad program will give you a thorough understanding of the industry – in half the time! I know I was drawn to the Program’s timeline and you wouldn’t believe how much you can learn in one year.