Ad-PR Entrance: Keep Your Eyes & Ears Open

Abhishek Malhotra is topper of Ad-PR, 2012-13 Batch & got placed with HCL Technologies.

Content is king.

There is no “basically”.

Gadhe ho aap (sic).

These are a few in a long list of quotes that will be repeated in IIMC as a new academic session commences. With “Advertising and Public Relations” falling under the realm of integrated marketing communication, a plethora of subjects and learning is on offer for the 70 odd students who clear its written test, the group discussion and the personal interview.

If you have done any of the following over the past few months, there is no reason for you to worry.

A. Have you been watching television?
If you have attended the call for the “nation’s need to know”, seen Jaggu dada’s late night sermons for a vitality herb, heard tag lines as you switch been channels, viewed a couple of advertisements or observed that tony stark’s drive is an Audi R8, you will know enough about questions that require you to critique on media.

B. Are You TwitFace?
If you have been YouTube-ing, Tweet-ing, Facebook-ing, you would be aware of what’s happening in the online space and what people are talking/laughing/commenting/sharing/abusing about. Just follow Facebook pages like afaqs, Mad over Marketing, Ogilvy, social@ogilvy among others to know what advertisers and marketers are up to. If you can, then search for some episodes of “Brand Equity” on YouTube.

C. Have you read_________?
If you have been reading books or magazines or newspapers or articles on the internet or tried to read the newspaper on which hawkers keep pakodas, you would be able to sit through the length of the written test and apply yourself well. This would also help in the group discussion.

You don’t have to be a voracious reader to be aware of what’s happening around you.

I’m not sure if this has been of much help but keeping your eyes and ears open to all forms of communication and messaging around you will help you sail through the entrance examination.

All the best and look forward to the 9 month long party.