Last week, a team of Octopedes arrived in the city of dreaming spires for the Oxford Advertising, PR and Marketing Fair. The quest was to chat to hundreds of students about communications, what Octopus does - and with any luck, meet some future employees.

For me, having only graduated from University in June, the situation was all too familiar; students wandering round with a look of eager anticipation on their faces, not knowing who to approach first, whilst gradually becoming weighed down with free USB pens, notepads and bags full of printed leaflets.

To buck the trend, we arrived armed with cupcakes, bean bags and even the prospect of a day's work experience with the Octopus Group. Our colourful stand soon attracted over one hundred students, who had studied a range of subjects from PPE to Chemistry, English Literature to Physics.  We were showered with questions including "what is PR?", "how much can you earn?" and promisingly "how can I apply to Octopus?".

Whilst we were chatting to students on the exhibition stand, the event also saw members of several different agencies taking to the stage to give talks on advertising, brand insight and PR. Inspired by the nuggets of wisdom imparted in these lectures, here is a summary of the key points which may help prospective PRs or marketeers land their first break after University…

1. Gain experience - gone are the days when your academic qualifications are enough. Whether you've written for the student newspaper, organised a University ball, or if you've completed a day, a week or a month's work experience (in house or in an agency), make sure you include it on your CV. It shows commitment, drive and focus.

2. Be social media savvy - although a lot of PR and marketing is still firmly grounded in traditional methods, the internet has transformed PR into a two way conversation, where social media sites play an important role in a brand's reputation. Use those hours spent on Facebook and Twitter (rather than starting that dreaded essay…) to your advantage, enhancing your knowledge of the social media space.

3. Find a voice - in communications, you may be asked to write an opinion article, confidently communicating a client's viewpoint. By reading the papers and blogging or writing (in a creative or journalistic capacity) you can hone your argumentative and written skills, equipping yourself for the workplace.

4. Be hungry, astute, true and brave - If you're passionate about the industry and possess these core Octopus values you should have no trouble persuading a potential employer that you can do the job.

From an Octopus perspective, the day was a great success, giving us the chance to meet students with a wide range of interests and a varied skill set. If you're passionate about PR, marketing or brand insight and you're hungry, astute, true and brave we look forward to seeing your CVs and applications rolling in!

Ellie