Getting The Job Done!

With so many different areas of the music industry to sink your teeth into, The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) wants to show you your options. So every week we’re highlighting a RTS crew member’s story and showing you how to hit YOUR BULLSEYE!

On the MUSIC BULLSEYE POSTER you’ll find a huge range of music related careers and your best path for reaching them. Each level on the poster is a guide to show you the most common education and/or entry requirement for each job. The higher the job level, the higher the qualification level you’ll need to work in that position…. Too easy!
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Leah’s path to become the Rock The Schools Project Manager is a whirlwind of inspiration! It just goes to show that hard work, sticking to what you love and putting yourself out there are the key ingredients to landing your dream role in the music biz.

“I was really confused by what subjects to pick to study for Yr 11 and 12 so my parents suggested that I pick subjects that I thought would get me good marks (3 unit English, 2 unit Religion etc) rather than what I was actually really interested in (Art and Food Tech!)

When it came to thinking about what I’d do after Year 12, I was equally confused by what my options were. I thought there was only uni, tafe or getting a full time job in a trade. I knew I wanted to work in an office environment, surrounded by lots of people, so I picked Uni.

But while doing a stint at Summer-school (to pass accounting after 2 failed attempts), I went into SumoSalad to buy lunch. I loved the idea of healthy-fast-food PLUS the vibe of the company was cool … modern interiors, cool bright logo, and fun staff all dancing to loud music. I called head office, threw myself at them over the phone – telling them about all of the experience I didn’t have but that I could quickly learn! They hired me as an intern, and a week later I had a full time job. I quit uni for the second time and ended up learning about how retail marketing worked, I took part in my first photo shoot, I traveled for work for the first time, and learnt about what goes into building a website.

From there I took a leap of faith and landed a role working for a great ‘marketing’ company (which at the time I didn’t realise was actually one of Australia’s most well known advertising agencies) – Singleton, Ogilvy and Mather – working on the digital marketing strategies for brands like Coke, MasterFoods, Huggies Nappies, Kleenex, Kotex, Esprit and Foxtel.

I got head hunted by Clemenger to manage the customer loyalty program for Visa – locking in partnerships between the brand and big entertainment type things like James Bond Quantum of Solace movie release, a Rhianna and Chris Brown tour, a Coldplay tour, a Kings of Leon tour, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Narnia movie releases. That’s when I met my now boss. The power of networking definitely helped me get my job at Rock The Schools because we stayed in contact – even though he’s almost 30 years older and with HEAPS more experience than me. I looked up to him as a great advice giver, and role model and I’d like to think he thought I was a bit of a bright spark.

After spending time making television commercials, print ads, digital banners, websites, social media strategies and cool experiential type campaigns for St.George Bank, Toyota, Westpac, a tomato sauce brand and RAMS Home Loans, I was offered the best role of my career – my DREAM ROLE – working as the Project Manager of Rock The Schools. Without years of trying to work on great brands, varying my experience, the type of people I talk to and have talked too day-to-day, understanding the roles of people around me (like Public Relations Managers, producers, creative licensing, photographers, security, lawyers and even receptionists) I wouldn’t be in the role I am today!”

- Leah, Project Manager

Wanna walk in Leah’s footsteps? Then check out SAE Institute’s website to find the course that’s right for you: www.saeaustralia.com/