Career summary

Through her successful career in the media industry, Dory has forged her way to a role with SBS Australia. With her array of skills in creative content producing, and digital production, Dory is confident her Masters degree at Monash has given her the boost she needed to land her current position, and successfully establish herself in the media and communications industry.

Career pathway

2022 – Present Digital Producer, SBS Australia
2021 – 2022 Video Creator/Presenter, Envato Tuts+
2017 – 2020 Masters of Media and Communication, Monash University
2016 – 2017 Public Relations Assistant, Airwallex
2009 – 2015 Television Presenter, HuBei Satellite Television Station

Did you always know you wanted to work in the media industry?

I have always been very sure about wanting to work in the media industry. After I completed my undergraduate degree of bilingual broadcasting in China, I got a role straight away which I was very fortunate to get, as I was only 18 years old. I always knew that I had this connection with the media and a gift that was going to assist me in getting to where I wanted.

After arriving in Melbourne, people kept saying to just apply for the roles that you want, but I knew that I didn’t have enough of the skills or knowledge yet. I also needed the time to settle and learn about Australian culture and language. Therefore, I thought it would be good to go back to university.

I found that Monash provided more practical courses, with great units and internship programs to choose from. There was a 12 point subject that I really enjoyed called ‘Field Trip’ where we took excursions to different media outlets in Australia such as ABC and SBS. This was a great way to explore and learn about the Australian media landscape. That’s why I wanted to do my Masters at Monash; to settle, to learn and provide myself with a good foundation here in Australia.

How do you feel your Masters degree at Monash enhanced your skills and preparedness for getting work in the media industry?

My experience studying at Monash really paved the way for starting my career here in Australia. In terms of taking a Masters degree, many people have different opinions on it, but it really depends on how you position yourself and treat the journey of your studies. It was very clear to me as to why I wanted to undertake a Masters degree. I was very willing and eager to learn more, and I had clear goals. It’s not about the certificate, it's about how you want to position yourself when entering into the workforce. I had very specific goals in mind about the skills I wanted and the experiences I needed.

What does your current role as a Mandarin Content Producer at SBS involve?

At SBS, I work in the Audio and Language Content (ALC) department. Our core job mission is to provide surveys to local Chinese communities, and produce high quality audio and digital content to keep local Chinese communities connected and informed. Other components of my job also include translating news, so it is accessible to the Chinese audience. I’m also a part of creating audio based content such as podcasts.

At SBS, it’s a rapidly changing environment and there is a lot more creative freedom for producers. With the many different creative channels and social media platforms that we have access to, it enables increased flexibility in our line of work.

What were some of the most important lessons that you learned from your past experiences/jobs that prepared you for your current role?

Firstly, it is important to preface with the fact that I applied for a role at SBS three times before I landed the role in February 2022. So in that regard, I think you can see how Monash prepared and assisted me in getting a role at SBS. Every experience has a meaning, and sometimes we don’t always realise that at the time. Each rejection is teaching you something, and becomes little dots of your life, that pave the way for your future career.

All of my jobs have been experiences that have helped me understand how to communicate with people and how to communicate through the content we create. I also realise we all have a gift and it's often not something we realise while we’re students. It's about being open to every opportunity, especially when you’re a student. Then you’ll realise what your gift is, and understand that all the experiences you’ve had pave the way to that point.

What is some advice you would give students wanting to enter the communications and media industry?

The first thing I would say is to have some general knowledge, and hands on experience. These are equally important for getting a job in the media industry today. It's good to have a broad range of skills that you can bring to a role, as you are often having to perform tasks by yourself. Secondly, networking is a crucial part of this industry, and social media is an excellent way to do this. You need three to four social media profiles, which will assist in building your network portfolio. My third piece of advice is to set yourself a timeframe to create your career experience, and enable you to reach your ideal career goals. You also need to know what your unique selling point is as a media worker, and what makes you stand out from the rest.

Written by Arts intern, Lily McCure, 2022