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.

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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7 Reasons To Complete A Post Grad

Many graduates find themselves questioning why they should continue their education beyond a university degree. From someone who went through a similar situation, this is my advice.

Post graduate studies have a ton of benefits:

JOB PROSPECTS

We all get that wide-eyed deer in the headlights look when considering our next move after university. We're told to apply for jobs ASAP. Well, in doing so how will you differentiate yourself from the graduates you are competing against?

Completing a post-grad program gives yourself a one-up on those classmates. You have specialized education for the jobs you are applying for. Some post grad programs like Sheridan's Advertising Account Management offer co-op that may lead to a job opportunity within the company.

PASSION

Immerse yourself into a subject you are passionate about. Some people enjoy learning, so keep going. There are skills and life lessons you learn through a post grad program that you will not receive in university. From smaller classes and dedication to student success, you will always feel the support of your classmates and faculty.
You are not just a number.

SUBJECT SWITCH

First beginning your journey, you may not have known what direction to take. Post grads offer an opportunity for a career change. For example, I went from a Media, Information and Technology program at Western University to the post grad Advertising Account Management program at Sheridan.

Post grad studies can open the doors you need to lead you to the job you want.

SPECIALIZE

You will increase your knowledge in a chosen area, making you an ideal candidate for your dream job. You will receive enhanced skills and a deeper level of knowledge.

Specializing in your area will not only benefit you, but the company you work for. It shows initiative. For a competitive industry, it shows how much you want to be there.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEEEEY

Yes, university costs a lot. You likely have debt up to your ears that you want to pay off before you consider more education. Maybe you don't want to consider further education at all.

I'll tell you right now - that's a mistake. Extra qualification can lead to an increased pay packet when you enter the working world. The investment can be well worth it.

Also, post grad programs can cost less than you think. Of course this depends on your chosen course, but there are always scholarships and bursaries available to help you out.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

A career switch can be difficult, but a post grad study can help in the way of experience. Some programs include placements or co-ops where those positions can be hard to come by. These opportunities can lead to a full-time position once you've completed your studies.

NETWORKING

The faculty will have connections and networking opportunities that you can benefit from. Your fellow classmates will end up in similar jobs. You may end up working alongside them one day! That happened in my co-op.

Meet people interested in the same industry because they will remain your contacts for years to come.


For more information on why you should consider post grad:
http://www.savethegraduate.org/post-grad-study/10-reasons-to-go-onto-post-graduate-study.html
http://elitedaily.com/life/lessons-learned-from-college/1582239/
http://odeccaordonez.blogspot.ca/2016/01/why-did-i-decide-to-join-advertising.html