Earlwood local Jennifer Tsiknas has secured a job at Digital Agency AFK after studying with TAFE NSW. Now, she wants to use her story to encourage others to consider the myriad ways to enter their preferred industry after school. 

Jennifer is well placed in her new role as an Account Manager for AFK to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19. With more businesses shifting their attention to their digital strategy in response to the pandemic1, Jennifer is helping drive business growth online. She credits TAFE NSW for equipping her with the hands-on, practical skills she needed to enter this in-demand industry. 

“After school I studied a Bachelor of Arts and Design at university, and whilst I learnt many valuable lessons about design principles, I struggled to find a job once I had graduated,” Jennifer said.  

“When I heard about the incredible training at TAFE NSW and the opportunity for internships and to attend industry events where I could liaise directly with employers, I decided to pursue a Diploma of Marketing and Communications to hone my skills and enter the workforce.” 

TAFE NSW arranged for Jennifer to participate in the Media Federation of Australia Internship program at Maxus Media Agency. She then landed a second industry internship through TAFE NSW at AFK, a full service digital  agency, where she was later offered a full-time position as an Account Manager. 
 
TAFE NSW Marketing and Communications teacher Anne Lawler said it is important that TAFE NSW students are job-ready when they graduate.  

“The work placement component is essential to their training. To learn and practice digital marketing skills in the real-world environment makes it a much less daunting prospect,” said Ms Lawler.     

“At TAFE NSW we pride ourselves on our strong industry connections, often inviting marketing experts into the classroom to present current campaigns and trends. The internship we secured for Jennifer was a fantastic opportunity for her to show off her skills and an important chance for her to get real-life, hands-on learning experience from industry experts. Ultimately, because of this Jennifer has secured a full-time role with cutting edge digital agency AFK.” 

Jennifer says the learning environment, internship opportunities and real-world knowledge of her teachers were all pivotal to ensuring she was ready to enter the workforce. 

“I loved the people at TAFE NSW, everyone was there to learn and support one another. The teachers all had worked within their fields, so they were able to provide us with accurate information to help prepare us for our future careers,” Jennifer said. 

“The Diploma gave me the skills to be able to work well within a team and provided me with the necessary knowledge to thrive in the industry.” 

Now, Jennifer is excelling in her current role, and even looking to upskill with additional training in coding and user experience (UX) through the Statement of Attainment in Introduction to UX UI Design at TAFE NSW.  

“I find my Job as an Account Manager really enjoyable, I am heavily involved across all projects and get to witness new and emerging tech trends come to life."

“I hope more students consider TAFE NSW when they finish school so that workplaces can begin to view university and vocational training equally.” 

To learn more about the Diploma of Marketing and Communications at TAFE NSW visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601. 

Media contact:  Alice Dalley, TAFE NSW Media and Communications Business Partner, alice.dalley1@tafensw.edu.au, mobile 0402 528 210.