No matter what business you’re in, that business needs to let people know it exists for it to succeed, which is where marketing comes in. Our Marketing Management postgraduate program is designed for a working professional who wants to learn how to market whatever they’re a professional in. Over a single year, we’ll turn you into a marketing professional, ready to put a brand’s message out to the people. One such new professional is Zainab Chunawala. Before she took the program, Zainab was already employed in the hospitality industry. She came back to school out of a desire to learn more about the marketing world and picked up more than just those skills. She learned about the social side of marketing and acquired people skills along the way.
Why she came to Centennial
“I graduated in Hospitality studies and worked in the Sales and Marketing department of various 5-star hotels before this education,” Zainab explains. “Being involved in the marketing activities, I developed an interest and wanted to pursue it further, so I chose to get some formal education in the subject and explore my opportunities.”
“I studied Marketing Management, a postgraduate certificate program,” she continues, “because it prepares you to become a marketing professional capable of carrying out a broad range of marketing functions with insight in brand management, marketing project management, digital marketing, marketing services, integrated marketing communications, marketing research and international marketing strategy. As a result, you develop a solid understanding of domestic and international marketing issues.”
But there’s an important extra angle to the skills she picked up: the opportunity to make use of them in practical, hands-on activities.
“There are so many extracurricular activities on-going all the time and a chance to get involved that helps with overall personality development,” she says, “which is why I chose Centennial College over any other institution.”
The social side of marketing
There’s more to marketing than managing a brand. There’s a social aspect to it that’s useful for many other industries. That’s the most valuable thing Zainab learned in the program.
“Volunteering has made me so much more confident,” Zainab says. “I used to be extremely nervous and reserved, which has changed because of being involved on campus. It has really affected my interpersonal skills that I feel I can take to the workplace and benefit from. I also understood the Canadian work ethics and environment better, gained valuable experience, made great friends and found mentors along the way.” She also says that this social mindset is the key to your entire school experience being better.
“Being open-minded and venturing out of your comfort zone,” she says, “I think is key to having a great experience, learning much more and become a better person. Amazing opportunities come up that you would never know existed if you just dive in, lose your inhibitions and make the most of everything.”
What comes next
Zainab graduated in April and considers herself ready to hit the job market, thanks to the career skills that were also taught in Marketing.
“I received a lot of tips on improving my resume, increasing my chances of landing an interview,” Zainab says. “They also offered me tips and guidance about the interview process, which helped reduce the anxiety and stress that comes with the job search.” In fact, she considers those skills important to anyone looking to get their career moving.
“Perseverance is important!” Zainab says. “It's easy to lose hope or get discouraged while looking for a job, but the process does take time. It's important to apply to many places and put effort into each application. Cater your resume and cover letter to each of the job descriptions and apply with serious intent. Follow up on your application. Always keep networking and talking to people. Find a mentor in your field and take their advice and criticism positively.”