By Simon Sansome
A student at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has landed a placement working with one of the world’s largest media companies.
Brennan Cross, who studies International Marketing and Business, is spending a year as an account co-ordinator with AOL, which owns organisation like Huffington Post and TechCrunch.
He said: “AOL makes me feel relaxed and welcome in an intense work environment. The best thing about AOL is the people. It’s a young work force and so we have a lot in common, making things easier.”
AOL operates in 22 markets all over the world with more than 700 million customers. AOL has the third largest online service in the world only behind Facebook and Google.
Since joining AOL, Brennan is involved in company socials every Thursday, industry networking events, playing in a five-a-side football team and says he tries to meet as many new people as possible.
Brennan said: “Going out into the world in an industry unknown is daunting, it is important to ask lots of questions and is a steep learning curve as afterwards it will start to feel more manageable.”
He said his success at AOL was down to David Gordon, his second-year lecturer for International Marketing, who offered him great support.
Gordon talked Brennan through interview preparation, tricks of the trade and helped him prepare for company assessment days. Brennan said: “David’s guidance was invaluable and certainly a contributing factor to me receiving these offers.”
David Gordon has spent years working in the marketing industry, employing graduates in the private sector before coming to work at DMU. He said: “I know what the industry is looking for and was able to assist Brennan to apply. I have had great feedback from AOL relating to Brennan’s placement.”
