EASYUNI Ultimate University Guide 2013 July Issue | Page 72

Interview Industry Arts & Creative Wayne Lim Creative Director Monster Interactive Singapore | Malaysia | China The traditional media is going through signi?cant changes and challenges from online/electronic media. How do you see the changes impacting the advertising/ creative industry as a whole? Creative people in the advertising industry are no longer limited to just art and concept, but can now explore technology and different advertising mediums to create engaging experiences for audiences. In fact, this change is a great turning point for the entire industry, which will bring more interesting and exciting ads created from various media from traditional to digital. What is the employment outlook for the advertising industry in Malaysia for the next ten years? There’s a tremendous change happening in advertising. We need to keep pace with our users. We must think about where their lifestyle trends are headed and how they are changing their behaviours. Imagine this woman in 2020, only seven years away. She’s going to wake up and read her news on a screen, listen to her music, watch TV on demand, and use a mobile assistant when she’s on the go. Her life is fully connected to the digital world. So, most advertising expenditures will move online. What are the career options and salary trends for the various jobs across the advertising/creative industry? Even traditional media will be integrated with digital in the future. There will always be a demand for young blood to ?ll executive, copywriter and designer positions in the industry. The typical starting salary would not be as high as one expects, but it will range from RM28,000 to RM38,000 per annum. Once you gain at least three to ?ve years of working experience, you will de?nitely see a big boost in salary. This will be true for both executive and creative positions. What are three most important pieces of advice you would like to give someone entering the advertising/ creative industry? What are the opportunities and challenges that candidates should look out for in advertising/creative industry? Working with different accounts and clients will give you a broader experience and you will learn something new every day. Some accounts may be more demanding than others but these are challenges that will help to improve your skills in ?nding solutions for different situations. Also, be prepared to put in long shifts to meet deadlines at work. Apart from skills and knowledge, what other aspects someone new to advertising/creative should have? Having a positive attitude and being passionate about your work is very important. Keep exploring the latest ad trends and learn how to apply new ideas into your creative concepts. 70 EASYUNI Guide 2013 Always keep a positive attitude and be willing to learn. Also, be passionate about the work you are doing. [Monster Interactive is among industry professionals that provides internship trainings and class projects for arts & creative (advertising) students from IACT college]