Khoo Di Sheng @ Dixon
Age: 26
Nationality: Malaysian
Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences), 2014
Tell us briefly about your work or role in your current organisation?
As a creative copywriter at FOREFRONT International Sdn Bhd, I participate in the creative ideation process and write copy for client advertising campaign materials, including social media posts, generated articles, website SEO-compliant copy, and advertisements. I also participate in work outside my job scope, such as amateur voice-over work and editing.
How has your study in Monash Malaysia helped to prepare you for the working world?
Having majored in communications and psychology, I learned how to stay calm under pressure. I have learned how to manage my time and effectively deal with deadlines, allowing me to complete tasks on time.
My communications course taught me fundamental theories on how people function in society and how they think. Even though I don’t remember the methods specifically, they have taught me to think deeply about how the media can affect people. This has allowed me to create copies with more empathy, resonating better with the audience.
I have also learned how to properly conduct research, giving me a critical mindset and investigative skill to determine the right course of action based on what data I find. This ability will be able to help me gain new knowledge and learn new techniques critical to my work, plus if I change vocation, this skill will still be applicable.
Whilst at Monash, what type of opportunities did you participate in, for example internship/industry placement, student exchange or clubs/societies? Describe how these opportunities/exposure enhance your employability skills.
I explored my creative capabilities, joining the music club and guitar club in years 2 and 3 respectively. While in those clubs, I experienced a wide array of artistic talent from fellow students, in turn teaching me that each person excels in different areas, and I desired to find mine.
In the second year of my degree, I went on an internship with renowned advertising agency Dentsu Utama. Despite joining in a different role, I eventually gained a respect for the creative minds behind the campaigns I worked on. This experience helped me acquire industry knowledge which gave me an advantage when I started applying as a copywriter for other advertising agencies.
What do you love most about your student life at Monash?
Monash is where I made friendships that I carried with me into my adult life – people who shared similar interests yet challenged my beliefs, tempering my personality into what it is today. During my studies, the university motto has always stuck with me: Ancora Imparo. It reminds me that I’ll never stop learning and that there are so many others who know things I don’t, keeping me humble and curious ever since.