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Unconventional job application pays off
University of the Sunshine Coast public relations student Chris Raine knows that Generation Y takes notice of messages that are unexpected and “in your face”.
So Chris, 21, of Caloundra used an unconventional approach when he applied for a job with Fresh PR director, 24-year-old Adam Penberthy, earlier this year.
Chris said he was inspired by Mr Penberthy when the young executive made a guest lecture at USC about his marketing, advertising and PR agency which specialises in creative marketing campaigns aimed at Generation Y.
“During Adam’s presentation, I knew that I just had to work for an organisation like Fresh,” Chris said. “At the end of the lecture, I ran down to Adam on his way out and got up in his face and said ‘how can I come work for you?’.
“He was a little bit taken aback and I still remember the look on his face. But now that I work there, I can see that this is exactly the kind of thing a person who works at Fresh would do.”
Mr Penberthy, whose Brisbane-based company produced the confronting “One Punch Can Kill” advertising campaign for the Queensland Police earlier this year, was impressed by Chris’s boldness and initiative.
He immediately offered the final-year USC student a semester-long internship which led to full-time employment as a junior account manager and junior creative director.
On the Fresh website, Mr Penberthy describes Chris as a “fantastic ideas guy” who is “one of the most ‘out there’ and creative minds in the agency”.
Chris is now counting the days until he completes his combined Arts and Business degree at USC to focus fully on his exciting new career with Fresh.
He said he was grateful to the University for its strong links with industry and the great work experience opportunities that it provided.
— Terry Walsh