By Imran Azmi - Malaysia, 10 September, 2025
Hi, I’m Imran from Malaysia. I graduated from QUT after completing a Bachelor of Communication and now I’m working as a Senior Planning and Trading Executive at Atomic 212º. Let me tell you a bit about my academic journey and how I secured my current position.
My journey from study to employment
My very first QUT internship opportunity came about quite unexpectedly. During a search in my final semester, a classmate and friend was completing her internship when I realised the founder of the agency was one of my former QUT tutors. I immediately applied, and to my pleasant surprise, she remembered me and even recalled how well I did in her class despite only meeting online. That internship lasted four months and led directly into my first full-time contracted role for another five months after graduation. I spent nine months with the Public Relations agency before my contract ended, and I started looking for new experiences in a different field.
How networking shapes your career
During my studies, I also worked part-time as an International Future Student Advisor in the QUT Marketing Team. In this role, I built connections that later became valuable in my career journey. After graduation, I discovered a vacancy at Atomic 212° on LinkedIn and realised that someone I had met at QUT was now working there. We reconnected, and through our conversation, I was able to learn more about the role. They encouraged me to apply, and I successfully secured the position of Planning & Trading Assistant. I had the opportunity to work alongside them for over a year before they moved on, and our friendship continues to this day.
From a tutor who became my first employer, to a colleague who turned into both a mentor and friend, these relationships I built along my student journey opened doors I never could have planned for. It reminded me that while hard work and resilience are always essential, it is often the people we meet and the genuine connections we nurture that can make a difference.
Working in the real world
Having a job is no longer just a handful of assignments per semester that I could smash out early to tick off the list, but each day now brings its own new and exciting “assignments” to tackle alongside my team. I always enjoy and eagerly anticipate these challenges across the different clients I work with as they always keep me on my toes.
Working is exactly what I thought it to be, equally challenging as it is rewarding. I’m grateful to have been part of a supportive team and agency that recognised my efforts, challenged me, and guided me toward the next big thing.
Securing a job successfully
First impressions significantly matter, you never know who you might be shaking hands with or connecting on LinkedIn. Step out of your comfort zone to leave a lasting and positive impression - genuinely and sincerely with everyone you meet. As tedious as LinkedIn may be, it is a great platform for making connections in the industry and opening career doors especially as an international student living abroad. I have been fortunate to find my internship, past and current job opportunities from LinkedIn.
Having a strong resume and cover letter will always be the first two steps of the process. I always do my due diligence and investigate the company and role I am keen on, understanding the basic expectations before heading to an interview. I also look out for any friends that might be working in the same or similar role to have a chat about personal experiences to better prepare myself.
How QUT prepared me for the real world
I was a member of QUT’s AMPed club (Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations, Communications, and International Business Society), which gave me opportunities to make early connections while I was still a student via industry hops along with social and corporate events. I also cannot stress enough how valuable securing an internship is in your last semester, as it puts you ahead of the rest of your peers of fresh graduates looking for full time jobs, particularly important as an international student.
Gaining important skills
I had to quickly learn and use a broad array of Australian media planning and trading tools, as well as grasp a deep understanding of the media landscape and geography of a new country. While technical and hard skills can always be taught, soft skills such as adaptability, attention to detail, strong communication and organisational skills, along with a proactive mindset, have been key to thriving in this role.
Self-management has been very beneficial and crucial in my professional roles, from time management, working under pressure and collectively with others while staying level-headed. These are all skills and traits that I learnt as a QUT student, which have transferred well into my career.
What it’s like to be a Senior Planning & Trade Executive
My current role is a Senior Planning & Trading Executive at Atomic 212°, Australia’s largest independent full-service media agency prior to being acquired by Publicis Groupe ANZ in early 2025. My overarching responsibility is end-to-end campaign management, planning media solutions and trading across all Above the Line (ATL) channels including TV, Radio, Print, Cinema & Outdoor. My day-to-day also heavily involves maintaining partner and stakeholder relationships as I work on various clients with the Atomic 212° Brisbane & Darwin teams. This role introduced me to a side of advertising I never knew existed, which I truly enjoy and hope to continue exploring and growing in for many years to come.
From reading print insertions in newspaper publications, watching an ad play on the big screen or TV, hearing commercials on air, and seeing all the billboards on the daily commute, it is always rewarding to see all the hard work present itself daily. Communication is also a vital part of my daily job, and it is never a dull moment working with my colleagues and media publishers, as each day presents a new task and topic.
My future dreams
I hope to be a director in the same line of work, as I genuinely enjoy the nature of this job. It would be amazing to be involved in the motorsport industry or to have a manufacturer as a client since I am highly passionate about that field. I also hope to have settled down comfortably in Brisbane, too, as it would be amazing to attend the 2032 Olympics.
