Shama, a trained actor and model, suddenly realised her passion for digital marketing through her Instagram content creation. Her intrigue led her to pursue a Diploma in Digital Marketing at NZIE, where she had a practical learning experience. In this blog post, we will explore Shama’s journey, key takeaways from her studies, and the importance of resilience in completing her Diploma.
Finding Her Passion in Digital Marketing
Shama’s fascination with digital marketing began when she started creating content for her modelling work. She became curious about the reasons behind the engagement levels of specific posts and began experimenting with new ideas. Soon, she realised that digital marketing was the perfect career path for her, offering a lot of creative freedom and job stability.
“I love the challenge of Social Media! I’m going to try this, or I’m going to experiment with this and see how it works. I got curious and quite passionate, and I realised; Ah, this is a form of digital marketing.”
Choosing NZIE for Practical Learning
Shama chose NZIE to pursue her studies because of her practical learning style. She did not want to go through the hassle of doing another bachelor’s degree and preferred a more hands-on approach with a faster return on investment than a 3-year degree. She found the Diploma in Digital Marketing program at NZIE to be the perfect fit for her needs.
“I don’t have the patience to sit through another bachelor’s degree again. I’m more of a practical learner.”
A ‘Beautiful Experience’
When asked to describe her experience studying at NZIE, Shama says, “It was beautiful. And I’m not just saying that!
The amount of support each staff member provides is different from any other institution. All the staff, from Jana to Matt, Lasma to Miriam, was consistently present and understanding.
Everyone was so patient, and the environment was very compassionate. You feel nurtured, and you receive the proper support. It was the ideal place to study.”
Favourite Aspects of Studying at NZIE
One of the best things about Shama’s journey was the social media aspect of the Digital Marketing Diploma. She enjoyed the creative freedom that came with understanding audiences through content creation. However, the most significant part of her experience was the supportive environment provided by the tutors at NZIE. Shama received extensions for assignments when needed, and the tutors were understanding and caring.
“I feel like NZIE is a caring environment. You can get an education in many places, but to be in an environment where people care about your well-being and your life, outside of education. That’s my favourite part of NZIE.”
Key Takeaway from Shama’s Experience
Shama believes that the key to success in digital marketing studies is not to try to do too many hours of study. She recommends breaking down assignments into specific tasks and doing them in short bursts rather than trying to power through.
She also emphasises the importance of resilience and pushing through when things get complicated.
“How can you understand the digital marketing language? That was a massive thing for me. Especially when you’re in that new study environment, your ego comes in between.
You don’t want to look bad, so you feel like you judge yourself. It’s a level 7 Diploma, all crunched into one year, so it’s very on the go from the beginning.”
Time management is crucial to juggling a large workload.
“Try to manage your time, especially if you don’t come from a business or marketing background – it’s a fresh start. So managing time and pressure is crucial.”
And, of course, don’t be afraid to ask for help;
“I sometimes struggled to understand the terminologies, and I overcame this by communicating. Just ask! Say, ‘Hey, I don’t want to sound dumb, but can you explain…’. The tutors are kind and compassionate; they will not judge you.”
New Job and Creative Pursuits
Shama has landed her “dream” job as a Marketing Communications Coordinator at Winstone Wallboards. So far, the role is going super well; everyone is very friendly and supportive.
They even offered to pay for her future upskilling in Digital Marketing, so she has reached out to tutor Matt in the hopes of studying more of his courses, such as TikTok and Meta ads. She continues to pursue creative projects on the side and her ongoing content creation work.
