Depok-The practice-based learning experience implemented in the Vocational Education Program at the Universitas Indonesia (UI) provides students with essential skills in preparing for the workforce. This is evident in Akmal Zaidan, an alumnus of the Public Relations study program, class of 2022. Building on his experiences throughout his education, Akmal actively developed his competencies through organizations, participating in various internships, and undergoing practice-based learning on campus. This knowledge led him to pursue a career as a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Specialist at Nex Entertainment, a company specializing in influencer and creator marketing.
Akmal’s interest in communications began to develop while studying at the UI Vocational. During his time as a student, he focused not only on his studies but also actively participated in various student activities. One of the most significant experiences in his journey was being appointed Chair of the UI Vocational Public Relations Student Association (HM VOKHUM UI).
For Akmal, organizations have become a place to learn leadership, build communication, manage team dynamics, and face various challenges together. These experiences have also taught him to view a problem from multiple perspectives before making a decision. He honed his skills in building cross-team coordination, developing strategies, dividing responsibilities, and ensuring work programs run according to plan. These skills are now essential in his work as a KOL Specialist, a profession that demands communication, negotiation, time management, and problem-solving skills.
In addition to being active in organizations, Akmal also enriched his experience through several internship programs. He has served as a Community & KOL Intern at IDN, a Business Development Intern at Inspigo, and a Community & KOL Intern at Home Tester Club, a member of the Emtek Group. These experiences have helped him understand the dynamics of the fast-paced digital industry. He has also become more familiar with various career opportunities in the communications field, particularly those related to community management, digital marketing, influencer marketing, and collaboration between brands and content creators.
(Photo: Portrait of Akmal when he successfully graduated from the Public Relations study program, UI Vocational)
His organizational experience, college learning, and various internship programs then led Akmal to join Nex Entertainment as a KOL Specialist. In his job, Akmal is responsible for managing collaborative campaigns between brands and content creators. This process includes selecting creators who match the campaign character, preparing briefs, coordinating during the content production process, and ensuring the entire campaign series runs according to the established goals. Akmal said, “The success of a campaign is not only determined by the number of followers of a creator. The suitability of the creator’s character, audience profile, communication style, and the message the brand wants to convey are also important considerations.”
He believes that his education at UI Vocational has helped him prepare for the workforce. Various project-based courses provide hands-on experience, approaching professional situations, from developing communication strategies, working in teams, delivering presentations, and dealing with deadlines.
“I think Public Relations graduates have a great opportunity to enter the world of influencer or KOL management because we learn everything related to media and audiences, not just through theory but also through practice. Therefore, I highly recommend this field to anyone looking to pursue a career in the digital industry,” added Akmal.
Meanwhile, organizational experience developed leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, which are now essential to her work. The combination of classroom learning and extracurricular experiences better prepared her to face the challenges of a constantly evolving industry.
Akmal’s journey demonstrates that college experiences can be a crucial foundation for building a career. His courage to get involved in organizations, explore various internship opportunities, and continually develop his skills led him from the campus environment to the creative industry.
This story also demonstrates the broad career opportunities available to Public Relations graduates. Beyond conventional public relations jobs, Public Relations graduates can also work in the digital industry, influencer marketing, community management, and a variety of other ever-growing communications professions.
