Becky Amon

What was your UNE qualification/s?

Bachelor of Media & Communications (Media & Culture)

Online or on-campus study?

I studied on-campus for the first two years of my degree. When I was lucky enough to gain part-time employment at the university, I was able to do most of my study online, although I still lived on campus.

How was your experience with UNE lecturers?

One of the best things about studying with UNE was the one-on-one time I got with many of my lecturers. Small class sizes meant that lecturers always knew each student by name, and got to know about our career goals, strengths and areas for improvement. This was hugely beneficial - I was able to have two of my former lecturers not only be referees on my CV for my first internships and professional roles, but to also mentor me in the beginning stages of my career.

What was your reason for studying at UNE?

I chose to study at UNE partly because it wasn't too far away from my family in Coffs Harbour, but also because I'd always known I didn't want to move to a big, bustling city straight out of high school.

Armidale turned out to be the perfect place to gain independence, begin my career, and launch from there.

Any plans for future study with UNE?

At this stage of my life and career, further study isn't really on my radar. However I certainly wouldn't rule out postgraduate study in the future. I'm really interested in data and analytics, so perhaps something in that field... who knows!

The personal qualities needed to do your job?

Social media is fast-paced and constantly evolving, so to enjoy working in this space I think it's essential to be open-minded and willing to adapt. That doesn't mean just following all the new trends though; an analytical mind is essential to strategising, and keeping the bigger picture in mind.

If you weren’t in this line of work, what do you think you’d be doing instead?

As I mentioned above, I'm really interested in data and analytics, so perhaps business analytics or statistics of some description. Although, crocheting is my solace, so perhaps I'd be making and selling my creations, or even teaching crochet!

Your advice for anyone interested in pursuing this type of career?

Be authentic. This goes for any career. Aim to work for/with businesses or people that align to your values, whatever they may be - that's when you'll love going to work!

The biggest challenge and biggest achievement you’ve experienced in your work or life in general?

One of the biggest challenges myself and, I think, a lot of people face is the expectations put on us by society (and those that we put on ourselves). A negative side of social media is the frequent portrayal of 'perfection'; carefully curated presentations of what life 'should' look like. My biggest achievement is something I'm still, and probably will always be, working on - and that is not allowing expectations that don't service my needs or my happiness to control me.

How has your UNE qualification aided you in your career?

The option to do work integrated learning units as part of my course at UNE was by far my most rewarding experience, and one that allowed me to get my foot in the door of a career. Real-world experience was invaluable to draw from when I started my first professional role, and aided hugely in subsequent job interviews.

What inspires you inside work and outside work?

Authenticity, empathy and open-mindedness. Social media is often so curated, it doesn't reflect real life at all. What inspires me is seeing people show and share their authentic selves, making social media a better place for it.

Do you volunteer your time for a community project or organisation?

Not currently, but I'm working towards beginning to train with my dog Ace to become a therapy dog team, so that we can visit schools, aged care homes and hospitals around Newcastle to bring a bit of calm and happiness to those that need it.

Anything else you would like to share?

I'm always looking for good podcast recommendations, so I might share a few here, in the hope they'll be of interest to others!

Ologies with Allie Ward - From bryology to fearology and quantum ontology, this podcast will open you up to areas of interest you never knew you wanted to know about.

Oz-Movie Geek Podcast - My good friend and fellow UNE alum Chris ('Patto') Pattison hosts this movie review podcast. Patto is a wealth of knowledge on the film industry and provides thorough analysis of new and old films of all genres.

Criminal Broads - True crime podcasts are my guilty pleasure. This podcast focuses on 'wild women who've ended up on the wrong side of the law'. Buckle up, because this one's a ride!