Name: Vukile Mathabela
Age: 24
Occupation: Promotions, events
and marketing assistant
Describe a typical workday.
I communicate with the promotions co-ordinator on a daily basis with regard to departmental needs and tasks; Iiaise with sales people, presenters and producers concerning competitions; collect and file competition-winner information and check prizes received against contracts; and maintain and update the promotional and PR database. I also communicate relevant information to staff utilising different media; distribute information both internally and externally; and alert my line manager to any problems that haven’t been solved and which may affect promotions, competitions, or relationships with clients, listeners and/or staff.
Is there a dress code at work?
Not at all. Most of us wear jeans, but I make sure I look presentable most of the time.
Describe your workplace.
We have a very friendly environment, and the management has an open-door policy, which makes it easy to solve problems.
Whom do you report to?
My communication and marketing managers.
What do you like most about your job?
I communicate with different people, and in the process I am learning from them.
What do you like least most about your job?
When people don’t say “Well done!”
What did you have to study for your job?
A national diploma in public relations from Technikon Natal.
What personal skills are most important to do your job well?
Communication and writing skills. You need to be flexible because things change all the time. I also think you need to be streetwise, which means you must be able to know finer details about your surroundings. It is important to be yourself.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to go into this job?
They need to like to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Also, they have to be willing to read different materials that would empower them.
What is the average starting salary?
Between R 3 600 and R 4 600 a month.
Damelin offers a course in public relations. For details, call 0860 326-3456
– The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg, September 2001.