Learn how to thrive at a startup from this Hatch student at Afterpay
David Huang spent 4 months at Afterpay in 2017 in a Hatch placement as a Marketing Assistant during the company’s hyper-growth phase from a nimble Aussie startup into a global behemoth, now worth $3 billion. I sat down with him to discuss his experience, lessons learned and advice for students looking to break into professional roles in marketing and the startup space.
University life and interests
What are you studying at university? Do you love it, hate it, or something in between?
David: I’m studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) at the University of Sydney in my third year, with majors in Marketing, Business Information Systems and International Business.
Whether I love it or hate it… a bit of both. I think business is one of those things where at university, you just pull your hair out about how theoretical, how out of the textbook things are, and then when you actually get out in a work context, it’s completely different. So some of the course work just isn’t applicable in the real world. In that sense you could say, I hate it.
But, I love it in the sense that you’re exposed to a way of thinking, the foundation for where to begin to learn and just the confidence to go into the workplace. So there’s still a level of relevancy on that base level.
Is there anything that you’re working on outside of the classroom that you’re excited about?
David: I’ve been taking a lot of online self-learning courses, brushing up on things like Google Analytics and other digital marketing tools. I’ve also been learning design skills, like Photoshop and InDesign on my own. I’ve found them really useful at work, especially when you’re entering into junior marketing roles in a fast paced environment. Having those creative skills is quite handy. I’m also really into photography — that’s my hobby.
Previous work experience and Hatch application
Before your Hatch role at Afterpay, did you have work experience anywhere else? What was that like?
David: I previously worked as an E-Business Intern at Nestle, Nespresso, which is Nestle’s luxury brand. The first big difference from Hatch: the role was unpaid. But, I felt it was really good for my first role and even though it was unpaid, it was worth it just for the experience. Similar to Hatch, it was a program, not just a matching service, so there was a lot of support throughout the placement.
For your first Hatch application video, what was the one thing you were most proud of?
David: What I was most proud of… I talked about how I’ve lived in four countries and gone to five schools. So I used to live overseas, growing up in what’s called an expatriate family. That’s one of the things I’m most proud of. I had to get used to the ambiguity: being thrown into new environments and having to learn to adapt to it very quickly.
In your Hatch role-specific video, how did you go about explaining why you were a good fit for the role?
David: Afterpay asked for someone who had some digital marketing skills and could operate effectively in a fast-paced environment. From my previous role, I had some digital marketing skills, and because I was used to juggling work, university and student society roles, I knew how to stay organised. Having a lot of things thrown at me at once doesn’t really phase me.
I didn’t actually fit the job description 100% ‘to a T’, and in some way I think that helped me. You want to be seen as someone who will be able to grow in the role, particularly when you’re a student going for a Hatch role. There’s got to be that level of hunger for it — there’s something new you’d like to learn in the role.
I didn’t actually fit the job description 100% ‘to a T’, and in some way I think that helped me. You want to be seen as someone who will be able to grow in the role, particularly when you’re a student going for a Hatch role.
Tell me about the in-person interview with Afterpay. Were there any questions that stuck out to you or caught you off-guard?
David: Up until then I had never done an in-person interview with a company, and nothing with a start-up — you don’t know what to expect. You’re not wearing a suit. It felt like more of a conversation than an interview. It was more a chat to see if it was a good cultural fit for both of us.
Did you do a lot of research prior to the interview about Afterpay and about the team you were hoping to join?
David: I knew about Afterpay as a consumer, as I’d used the product before. The product worked like magic, really seamless, it was great! I think that’s the best way to go into it. For consumer facing companies, it’s better if you’re an actual user, and you’re passionate about the product, and that inspires you to go for a job there. Using the product was the bulk of my research. Obviously, research the company too and your interviewer, but you’ve got to try the product!
Experience on the job at Afterpay
Take me through your first day on the job. Was it anything like you expected?
David: When I started at Afterpay they were still in the start-up phase. It was a lot more ambiguous than in comparison to my role at Nestle. I come in, there’s not a set desk for me. I try to do some set work, and I didn’t have login credentials or something’s not working. I think in that way it was quite different from my corporate experience. At a corporate, you sit-down and this is your desk and your access login credentials are all set. The role at Afterpay required me to kind of hunt my way around, which is good in some ways — it forces you to get over your first day nerves of asking questions and saying “Hi” to people.
What was one of the most challenging situation you faced in the workplace?
David: I had a few tasks where I was asked to research successful and creative marketing ideas against a conceptual campaign brief and then pitch the ideas to the team. It sounds quite simple, but once a few of your ideas get knocked back, it can become really hard to keep thinking of fresh ideas and motivated.
How did you go about overcoming that challenge? Did you just sit at your desk until you came up with something good?
David: My solution was to keep coming back to it in between other bits of work to have a fresh approach and new ways of thinking. When you have a challenge sometimes it’s best to step away and then come back to it with new energy. From there I wasn’t afraid to keep coming back and saying “What do you think of this?”, and not being afraid to hear the “No”. Think of it as an opportunity to evolve the ideas and concepts in a collaborative environment.
Before you started your role, was there anything you thought you knew about work life that turned out to be wrong or misguided?
David: Don’t be attached to the brand of the business. If you have the options trial both multi-national business and small start-up — do it! Different types of businesses have contrasting benefits and challenges.
At Afterpay I really enjoyed the infectious enthusiasm. In a start-up the team has such by-in that when milestones are passed everyone is cheering and celebrating.
Don’t be attached to the brand of the business. If you have the options trial both multi-national business and small start-up — do it! Different types of businesses have contrasting benefits and challenges.
Give me your top three tips for acing the in-person interview process. Go!
David: If it’s a consumer product like Afterpay, try the product yourself prior to the interview.
Research your manager. Do a bit of a LinkedIn stalk, so you understand their frame of mind and their background.
Adjust your resume to fit the job description.
Did you have a close mentor at Afterpay? What was the most important single piece of advice they gave to you or something important you learned from them?
David: The best advice that I received while working at Afterpay was about the importance of having a diversity of marketing skills and positive agency relationships. What struct me was that agencies and marketing teams work hand-in-hand, so it’s best to deeply understand both sides of the relationship. So I’d say, it’s important to have a diverse set of experiences so you can more easily put yourself in the shoes of others when negotiating and making key decisions.
Reflections and advice for students
If you had to pick one skill that you think was critical to performing to a high level in your role, what would it be and why?
David: Flexibility. Things move so quickly at Afterpay, so being able to get things done and hit deadlines is critical. You’ve got to be able to take on feedback and quickly shift the way you think about a problem. You’ve also got to be able to think outside of the guidelines you’ve been given: sometimes there will be a mistake that your manager didn’t see, so don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. Be flexible.
Flexibility. Things move so quickly at Afterpay, so being able to get things done and hit deadlines is critical. You’ve got to be able to take on feedback and quickly shift the way you think about a problem.
Any last words of wisdom?
David: People say there’s limited time in your degree, but if you’ve got a gut feeling that you might like a particular industry or job, just give it a try. I didn’t think I’d enjoy working in a startup. I’m a person that likes logic and order. But I really enjoyed it, and it gave me a new perspective.
About Hatch
If you’re a student looking to gain paid professional experience alongside study like David, make sure to check out the opportunities available on Hatch. We’re building a future where all people find and do meaningful work, and we’re starting by creating more meaningful opportunities for students. Apply to become a Hatch student here.
