‘After I interacted with faculty during admission, I knew I would learn so much here’

She has just completed six months of working with the youngest firm among its top peers – Adfactors PR. Being born and brought up in Jaipur Rajasthan, for Isha Juneja, the bug to work in the PR domain bit her while she was pursuing her graduation in Mass Communications back home. However, it was not until she came to Delhi and spoke to a few people in the city that she finally made her choice to pursue her PG Diploma from the Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC).

“When I decided that I wanted to make PR my profession, I looked at several campuses. But those places didn’t click and resonate with me. When I saw AIMC, I knew I had found the place that suited me perfectly. By the end of the day, my mind was made up and I was on my way home to finally prepare myself for the admission process,” Juneja recounted.

Excerpts from an interview.

How and why did you choose AIMC?

It may sound weird but I was looking for a college that would click with me. After all, I would have to study there for a year. Though I didn’t have anything specific in mind, I felt that when I saw the institute I would know where I had to study. This is precisely what happened. When I visited AIMC, I loved the vibe and the aura that the campus had.

I interacted with Jaya Shrivastav ma’am (teaching Corporate Communications) there whatever little doubts that I had vanished. And I have not regretted my decision of studying here.

What was the best part of studying here?

When I interacted with the faculty, there was so much conviction in them that knew that I would get to learn so much there. Of course, I didn’t go in blind, I did look at the infrastructure, campus placement, and other facilities as well. But I instinctively knew I would get to learn everything that is to know about PR.

What were some of the things that you learnt here that were different?

Each institute has its curriculum and method of teaching. But AIMC does things a bit differently. Most of our lessons were based on real-time. We were divided into groups and were asked to build a brand from scratch. For this, we had to undertake several activities like making a website, writing a Press release, calling journalists, making cold calls, making a presentation, and making the final product. I think that this specific part is not there in most institutes.

Each week, we had to make a presentation in class and each team competing to get the green cap was thrilling and something that we looked forward to. By the end of it, we were competing with ourselves to better our work. It also taught us so many things in the process – practical learning with daily feedback – helped us tremendously.

Each institute has its curriculum and method of teaching. But AIMC does things a bit differently. Most of our lessons were based on real-time

–Isha Juneja,  Associate Account Executive, Adfactors PR

Did the skillsets learnt at AIMC help you in your present job?

Definitely. I have always been outgoing but there were so many of my peers who were introverts. This exercise that we undertook, inculcated confidence in us that we can do anything that is asked of us. The presentations that we gave in a class full of people cured us of any inhibitions that some of us had. We were told about the elevator pitch.

We were also taught time management and how to present ourselves; the elevator pitch was something that we learnt by heart. Every time we introduce ourselves to any person, we end up in some part of this pitch.

What is the attraction of working in PR?

When I was pursuing Mass Communication, I was only aware of three aspects – print, TV, and radio. By the time I was in my third year, I was introduced to PR, the corporate side. So I did a lot of research and loved every aspect of it. At Adfactors PR working as an Associate Account Executive, I work with the social impact vertical and I like it.

What is your goal?

I don’t have a set goal but I would love to continue to work in the social impact vertical. I would continue to work in a corporate structure at a higher managerial position in Corporate Social Responsibility. I am confident that I could bring about a change. At present, I am doing this on a smaller platform, I would like to take this forward and serve people.

The best part is that the social impact vertical amalgamates CSR and Sustainable Development Goals.

Did the campus placement help you get the first job?

Yes, I was placed at Adfactors PR through campus placement. I sat down for interviews with three companies and got selected for all three which made me proud. But sitting for the interview at Adfactors PR was a bit of a fight. The rule is if you get selected you can’t sit for any other interview. But I fought for this and finally got to give the interview and the rest is history. For this interview, we were hand-held and the faculty took us through the ropes. We were told the questions we may be asked and how we had to answer them. We were trained in how to speak, behave and dress for the interview.