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Jonathan Flynn who is originally from Waterford is a graduate from WIT after attending from 2002 to 2006 and completing the BA in Marketing. After graduating from his undergraduate degree Jonathan reached his lifelong goal of working aboard in Canada and Australia. Having a degree from WIT was a great advantage to Jonathan when looking for this work.
Jonathan returned to WIT in 2019 to complete his postgraduate diploma in digital marketing practice which for Johnathan was an amazing achievement and he has shared some of his experiences with us below.
What attracted you to study at Waterford Institute of Technology?
The reputation of WIT and the convenience of living at home. Studying at WIT saved me a considerable amount of money during my five years at the college.
Did you always know this was the course you wanted to do?
Yes. I always had a keen interest in marketing and human behaviour.
What words of advice do you have for new students?
Have fun in college and enjoy the life experience that this brings. Always take your education seriously at the end of the day because you will look back later in life and realise how lucky you are to have had the opportunity and determination to complete it.
What have been the highlights of your college experience?
The people I have met and the jubilation of graduating.
What did you like about Waterford as a city to live in/to study in?
Waterford was a very affordable city and very safe.
How did work placement add to your college experience?
The experience that I gained from studying in Denmark as an Erasmus student was invaluable in terms of learning more about different cultures from around the world. This also fuelled my ambition to travel and work abroad after graduating from college.
Getting the opportunity to gain work experience on a project for the Tall Ships in 2005 was an excellent learning curve when it came to working in a professional environment and memorable in terms of being part of a major event for the city. Achieving my academic achievement award was also a very proud moment for me personally.
What did you do after your course?
I worked in AIB as a teller for one year before moving on to work for International Living (part of the Agora Group) as a marketing and fulfilment manager. I worked for IL for two years then emigrated to Canada on a working holiday visa for a year. In Vancouver, I worked on direct mail marketing campaigns for a company called IAP (Industrial Alliance Pacific) which was a major insurance company in the Canadian market.
After returning home from Canada, I got a job as a Digital Account Manager for The Marketing Table which was based in ArcLabs. I spent a year in this position and then decided to emigrate to Australia. In Sydney, I worked as a Digital Marketing Manager for five years for an association called IIA-Australia. This was an excellent opportunity to work on major international conferences for internal auditors from around the world. I learned a considerable amount in these five years which helped take my career to the next level.
When I returned from Australia, I was hired as a Digital Marketing Manager for Marla Communications. This role has given me the opportunity to work with a vast array of local and national SMEs with their digital marketing requirements. It has been a very good learning experience.
How did your experience at WIT help get you to where you are now?
My experience with WIT gave me the confidence in my marketing abilities to seek challenging roles and to persevere with a career in marketing during difficult times throughout the Global Financial Crisis. A strong foundation and knowledge of marketing best practices with plenty of presentation experience is critical for a career in marketing,
SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford City, 
