Prue Sturgeon
Graduate, Advanced Diploma Business (Marketing) major in Event Management

Prue’s thoughts on her time at APM are below:

1. What made you choose to study at APM?
   
   My understanding was that the industry I was interested in (events) was equally qualification and experience based (if not more experience based) and therefore APM’s internship program was a big plus. The other factors were location, length of study and scholarship program – which I applied for and gained for 2006.
   
   
2. What were you doing previously to studying at APM?
   
   I completed my HSC in 2004 and had a year off to work a few jobs and travel overseas – backpacked throughout southeast Asia, and then headed to the city to live at the beginning of 2006.
   
   
3. What did you enjoy about the course you studied?
   
   I enjoyed the range of the subjects that are covered - they are so diverse and taught me everything from the expected marketing and event subjects to resume writing and consumer behaviour to goal setting and media training. Meeting new people and being taught by industry professionals was also a major bonus.
   
   
4. What was your goal when you enrolled at APM?
   
   My goal was to learn a lot about what I liked doing and what I didn’t in terms of industry jobs, expose myself as much as possible by volunteering and taking all opportunities presented to me, and to gain employment by my graduation the following year.
   
   
5. What is your current job title, company name and job description?
   
   I am currently working for SugarLove Picures www.sugarlovepictures.com as an assistant to the Director/Producer Leigh Taylor. It is a small company that manages photographers in very different spheres of the industry - Corporate, Advertising and Weddings.
   
   
6. Describe what your current role involves?
   
   My job is different from day-to-day. I assist shoots as well as manage the photographers and generally manage the office and wedding clients as well. My role covers anything from answering the phone and emailing to assisting in producing a photo shoot to styling a shoot etc.
   
   
7. How did you find your current job?
   
   I found the company I work for through the internship program, however, they ended up not needing anyone after I had been for an interview in May, so I kept in contact and after doing an internship at two other companies they offered me a position to finish the internship with them and ended up offering me a position.
   
   
8. What were the most successful aspects of the APM course?
   
   I found that the internship proved to be successful in terms of challenging students and opening our eyes to the ‘real’ industry. I also found that the course covered such a wide variety of subjects that really touched on almost all aspects of preparation for working in the industry.
   
   
9. What advice do you have for other APM students hoping to break into your field?
   
   I would advise to take every opportunity presented to you - especially volunteer work and if the company you are interested in does not have any positions available, keep in constant contact – this was how I got my job.
   
   
10. Did you find it easy or hard to get a job after you graduated?
    
    I kept in contact with the company I really wanted to work for – even after they informed me they would not be able to take me on for the internship program, it was just an email here and there to ask if I could do any volunteer work for them – and I was lucky enough to be offered a position with them for the following year. It’s very much about building good relationships, being reliable and interested in and open to all aspects of the job/industry.
    
    
11. What other career goals or aspirations do you have?
    
    I am currently looking at enrolling in a photography course – as this is a great interest of mine – and would love to do this on the side in the future. As for other career goals or aspirations, I would eventually like to produce photo shoots (which is what I assist at now) – I am open to any positions with in this industry that are hands-on and involve travel creativity and organisation.
    
    
12. What other initiatives have you taken to help your career?
    
    As I mentioned earlier, I am looking at taking a course in photography which would develop my knowledge of the ‘service’ that I currently work with and further my career in doing so.