‘Interning with organisations on live projects helped me get ready for the industry’

After completing his post-graduation diploma course at Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC) in 2021, alumnus Priyansh Arora has bagged his first job as a media planner at Dentsu X. As the only student from his batch to have pursued a career in this field, Arora talks in an interview about how the AIMC faculty supported him through guest lectures and internships. Edited excerpts:

Tell us about your experience at AIMC.

Our classes were held online due to the pandemic, which limited our interaction with each other, although the college endeavoured to keep these virtual classes as interesting as possible. Besides, we visited the college campus from time to time, in a group of five to six students, for the practical training involved in audio and video production.

You secured first division at AIMC. Can you share some tips on how to get good marks?

The curriculum at AIMC is more practical than theoretical; it prepares you for the industry. I would recommend attending all the classes by each faculty member because they give you a practical understanding of concepts, which is very important. If one does that then it will not be difficult to get good marks.

You have also done a number of certificate courses. Is it only for gaining knowledge or do they help bag a job as well?

Given my specialisation in media planning, the certifications on Google AdWords, digital planning, social media marketing, and so on, helped me a lot in expanding my knowledge base. Once you have the required knowledge and skills, it will eventually help you crack the job you want. I would highly recommend certificate courses to other students.

You interned with Unicef and the government of Bihar. How did you land the internships and what were your learnings?

My college helped me intern with these organisations. We worked in teams on live projects—‘Say No to Drugs’ campaign by the Bihar government and a Public Service Announcement (PSA) film on ‘Save the girl child’. As part of my internship as a media representative, I learned how to work and deal with live clients, how to get a brief from a client, the structure of an advertising agency, copywriting skills, and so on. I think internships are very important as they help you gain some prior work experience before joining the industry.

How did your parents and teachers react to you getting your first job? How did they support you in your journey?

My father, who is in finance in the media planning sector, guided me. As someone who has just begun his journey, I am curious to learn more. I am the only student from my batch who chose this field. Right from the start, my teachers at AIMC supported me. Professor Sajal Mukherjee, director of AIMC, also taught us a lot about media planning. The college organised some sessions with the alumni and other industry experts as well. They also facilitated a one-on-one training opportunity in media planning with Havas Media Group’s Digital Head Rohan Chincholi.  

What are your future plans?

My only focus at the moment is to gain experience in the field of media planning. Following this, I would also like to upgrade my skills by learning about media buying, to secure a good position in a good company.