Many of us would love to travel the world for a living, which is why we can’t help but feel really envious of Clarence Beh.
As the video content lead of The Travel Intern, the content and social media agency running the popular travel media platform of the same name, Clarence’s work requires him to jet off for foreign lands often. We caught up with him about his career, and how his undergraduate education at the Singapore campus of James Cook University (JCU) has helped him in his dream industry.
The perks (and challenges) of working as a travel videographer
As video content lead, Clarence guides a small team of videographers to conceptualise and execute video campaigns that meet client objectives and maximise results.
Clarence remains actively involved in video creation. He’s currently traversing the picturesque country of Croatia to create content for Airbnb, and has shared that Europe will be his home base in the forthcoming months.
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It hasn’t been just fun and games, however! Like many companies involved in Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality, The Travel Intern faced major setbacks due to COVID-19 and the measures enforced to contain the spread of the virus. Unable to offer their usual services, they had to pivot fast.
“Yes, it has been incredibly trying [to navigate my job scope],” Clarence shares very candidly.
“…Thankfully, our company was able to [weather] through that by focusing on local content. With the restrictions easing up, we’re finally able to travel … and our audience is starting to consider travelling again too.”
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Journeying the world through JCU Singapore’s business degree
Clarence also reveals another challenge he still faces in his line of work: how to come up with innovative content that sells.
“The media industry is very saturated, and one of the biggest challenges is being able to differentiate yourself, and your content, from your competitors and provide value for not only your clients but to your target audience as well.”
This was a major driving force that led him to pursue the Bachelor of Business (Majoring in International Business and Marketing) at JCU.
“I’ve always been interested in going into the advertising and content creation sector, and I felt that the majors I chose were the most applicable to the industry I wanted to enter.”
The degree also appealed to Clarence as it could be completed in a little over two years, giving him the opportunity to enter the workforce quicker.
“[JCU’s degree] allowed me to think from the shoes of my clients and audiences better. Even though my campaigns are very different from each other, I still go back to the marketing fundamentals that I learned back in school”, Clarence adds.
These fundamentals include differentiating oneself from competitors and understanding the wants and needs of a target demographic. Clarence recalls enjoying the Consumer Behaviour and International Marketing modules, as he found them quite interesting and applicable.
“As a creative,” he points out, “it is important to understand how your target audience thinks and how certain trends might [influence] how your consumer behaves.”
The diverse student body at JCU was also a huge bonus. Clarence was able to network with international peers and grow in cultural sensitivity and appreciation, something especially relevant in his current scope.
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Advice on those looking to enter the industry
When asked if he had advice for his JCU juniors, this is what Clarence had to say.
“Network as much as you can with fellow students, lecturers, guest speakers, school staff, and others. I’ve secured some campaigns through the connections I’ve made during my time in JCU.”
Clarence also suggests that students actively seek out internship opportunities; for him, JCU’s Bachelor of Business had an internship component which allowed him to gain some useful work experience during school hours.
“If possible, [complete] an internship. [Internships are] the only times you’re paid to make mistakes. So do an internship, beef up your resume, get some work experience and maybe your internship might even offer you a full-time job.”
What about those who want to be videographers, specifically?
Clarence suggests that you take time to work on these skills and attributes, aside from technical know-how:
- Problem-solving, as hiccups and brief changes in production can be common despite the best-laid plans. Knowing how to be adaptable and decisive will be important to help you ensure your deadlines are met
- Creativity, so that you can come up with impactful content that’ll add value to your target audience(s)
- The enthusiasm to learn, as technology is always advancing. Keeping up with the latest video trends and techniques, equipment available, and best practices will help you to stay relevant and in-demand
We enjoyed living vicariously through Clarence, and are excited to see his upcoming work as he continues his sojourn away from home. We wish him all the best in his career, and many more exciting travels ahead!
This article was written with the help of the Singapore campus of James Cook University. For more information on the university, or the Bachelor of Business, check out their 24/7 Accessible open house here.
The post Capturing the world on camera: an interview with senior Videographer Clarence Beh appeared first on Digital Senior.
