Marketing Coordinator — Krystyna Zerger

Back to Careers in Geography

I loved Geography at school, and continued it at university when I started my Arts degree. I had no particular career in mind, so I chose to combine it with Management Studies, majoring in Marketing. This was an unusual combination but it suited my interests, and it has turned out well.

I wanted to travel, so in third year I arranged to go to America to complete my Geography course. (I had already finished the marketing component of my course.) I went to the University of California, Santa Barbara Campus. Here, they had a huge Geography department, with over 200 undergraduate subjects to choose from. I concentrated on Human Geography and Planning subjects.

My year at Santa Barbara was full of learning and fun, and a great way to complete my degree. While I was there, I did voluntary work at the local hospital. At the end of my exchange year, they offered me a job doing public relations for the hospital.

During two years based in America, I was able to complete my degree, travel to Europe during the summer holidays, gain valuable work experience, and make some great friends in Santa Barbara.

I arrived home in October 1997 and quickly set about finding a job. After forty applications in four weeks, and a few interviews, my current job was offered to me. It seemed to combine my interests and skills perfectly.

I am the Marketing Coordinator for Strategic Information at the Victorian Department of Infrastructure. When I started in late 1997, the Department generated a lot of information and statistical trend analysis. This was largely developed from census information. However, we felt we could advertise our findings and reports more effectively to a wider range of people.

We had to develop a website and improve our newsletter, which now has a distribution of 5000. I coordinated marketing plans, press releases, and seminars. In this job, I do a lot of writing, and I'm often on the phone or sending e-mails. My job suits me well, because I understand the geographical knowledge of the Research Department and I can communicate with them, as well as our customers, with ease. In addition, I am using my marketing skills. I use my imagination and I feel like I am making a difference.

This year I began a Graduate Diploma in Management part-time, but I don't know what the future holds. I will choose my jobs carefully and do what I love, because that is the most important thing.

When I was at university, people used to wonder at my doing Geography and Marketing—and here I am now, being paid for those two skills precisely. Things tend to work out … just do something you love!