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Ambitious L.A. Students Strive For Top-Dollar Marketing Jobs

As organizations continue to devise ingenious methods to maintain and expand their share within the realm of business, trade and economics, astute marketing managers will always be in demand. With more than 25,000 new jobs projected to open nationwide in the coming years, ambitious students now learning how to plan and direct digital media campaigns are in prime positions to secure employment. Michael K. Chiem aspires to clinch one of those spots, a sought-after vocation that pays up to $128,000 annually in Los Angeles.

Twitter: @michaelchiem Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchiem
(Photo Courtesy of Michael K. Chiem)

"My career goal is to become a marketing strategist in a creative and collaborative culture," said Chiem, a student at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), who is currently completing his bachelor's degree in business administration with a marketing management option.

What have you done to meet your objectives?

"I have taken the initiative to participate in advertising and start-up competitions, like The One Club Creative Boot Camp, where I was able to apply what I have learned in class. I also help manage measurable and effective social media campaigns for CSULA, which has given me hands-on experience."

What have you learned in class?

"I've learned to picture how I want to be portrayed to potential employers. That means improving my digital presence by blogging to validate my expertise and show that I am up-to-par on industry trends."

How is CSULA helping students become employable?

"CSULA encourages us to think of ourselves as a brand, improve our social networking accounts by presenting a more professional presence, create a LinkedIn account, and apply more of what we learn in class to tangible research projects."

What is your message to fellow students?

"Marketing branches into advertising, social media, experiential innovation, or branding strategy. So they should look into what fields of marketing fit them and create their own campaigns, or look for internships at agencies."

How do you visualize yourself in 2015, after graduation?

"I hope to be managing a social media campaign for a marketing and advertising firm or a major corporation, or even launching my own start-up company, while enhancing my skill sets and learning new ones."

Sharon Raiford Bush is an award-winning journalist who covers topics of social interest in greater Los Angeles. Some news articles she has authored have been archived by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Sharon also contributes to Examiner.com.

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