psychobabble

Today, I celebrated the next phase of my life by getting the mess on my head that has been masquerading as my hair, sorted out. Watching Reo snip off locks of my hair to pave the way for a rejuvenating perm was incredibly therapeutic and this brought on a sudden wave of reflection.

Though many might insist otherwise, contemplation is definitely not exclusive to visits to my mother’s favourite hairstylist. In fact, lately, it seems like I’m pensive most of the time. I suppose it’s a natural reaction to the fact that I’ve just left the comfort of recurring semesters, and friends. Instead, I’m thrust into the new (and highly competitive) world of job hunting. But it is not the competition that scares me. This time around, it’s more the lack of familiarity with my surroundings which makes it difficult to gauge my next actions.

In short, I’m like Christopher Columbus waiting to discover the New World. I’m not there yet, but I sure as hell know I’m headed that way (or at least I’m assuming that as what Columbus was thinking on his voyage).

I’m considering a future in advertising (accounts management to be exact) which is a consideration that is not completely new to me. Like Christopher Columbus, there are some things I know, and (very) many things I still don’t.

I know my strengths

Extremely absorbent (sounds like a sanitary pad / tampon ad but, I’m referring to knowledge, not the excretion of the endometrium)
Adaptable
Positive
Good at coordination (not PHYSICAL coordination, that is)
A good communicator

I know what I’m curious about

Youth. There’s a reason why my undergraduate thesis was centered on Malaysian adolescents. After all, we are a changing age.
Brands. I’m not the most brand conscious person out there, being brought up in a less materialistic environment (and less urban too if you want to compare Penang to KL). But one thing I’ve noticed, and has gotten me interested, is how big brands are not just capable of generating a steady stream of sales but how they inspire and somehow manage to induce action in people and other large organizations.
Marketing & Social Media. Even politicians like Obama and (closer to home) Pakatan Rakyat have benefitted from Facebook and blogs. When are brands going to notice the latest wave? Heck, I even got Amber Chia to volunteer for Rock Up! by pitching it via FB message so I refuse to be dissuaded from the fact that Facebook is a POWERFUL TOOL.

I know what I want out of a job

Something that relates to at least two of my three curiosities.
Challenges – Roles that call for constant predictability and extremely static will eventually frustrate me.
To work with effective and intelligent team members – No man is an island. And while I can be effective independently (all the freelance work I’ve completed should attest to that), several (effective) brains are better than just one.
Sufficient pay – Let’s face it. Recession is knocking on our door and the cost of living in KL is skyrocketing. This especially affects someone who does not live at home and has to maintain a 20-year-old car that enjoys spending monthly weekends at the mechanic’s place. Anything below RM2K would be a stretch for me to cover my living expenses.

I know who I can be

AMAZING. Haha. But that’s the truth. I will be amazing and none of you are allowed to call me perasan for that.

What I don’t know.

A LOT.

I’m a Psychology student, not a marketing or mass communications student. That being said, theories and strategies and all can be picked up in my own time and I definitely don’t need a class for it. After all, the Internet is a powerful tool and almost anything is Google-able today. But I think it’s most important to focus on what I already know. I know that social media is the way of the future, in any field. Everything else, I am wiki-ing and Googling (or soon will)… and reading Seth Godin.

I suppose I’m more blessed than many to be surrounded by people who are constantly encouraging and supportive. People who are confident of my strengths (more so than I) and my ability to land myself a good job that will allow me to build the foundations of a successful career.

Like I said earlier – I don’t know many things and I sure as hell can’t predict the future (social media aside, that is ). But I’ve always (at least intuitively) known what I want. People asked me why I chose Psychology – heck, even I didn’t know why I was so stubborn in majoring in Psychology which was, back then, a relatively unconventional choice. But I do now.

Today, people are wondering why I’m adamant on trying out Advertising (it doesn’t take a genius to realize that Psychology and Advertising are different fields). Truth is, aside from it being congruent with the person I am, want to be and what I desire in a job, I don’t really know. I’m just following my gut here. But my gut is usually right. But what everyone should know is, knowledge on the former actually does contribute to the latter. So we’ll see how it goes and keep me in your prayers. =]

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