Outdoors, hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, reading, scuba diving, sewing, painting, playing instruments (piano and guitar)
Jessica Fick
Journalist/Marketer
Grahamstown
Summary
Every space markets - from the person to the page and the room.
As a News Reporter, journalist and photographer, I spent 6 years following people and stories. As a ghost writer of two biographies, I learned to climb into other people's heads and talk like them - but not quite like them.
As PA to my husband (Director of IMPEC and, later, Khula Sizwe) for 3 years, I delved more deeply into record-keeping, client care and other PA duties.
As part of the Admissions and Marketing teams of St Andrew's College and Prep over 16 years, I learned the exhausting art of dealing with many parents as if they were the only ones.
I managed the social media, website, communication and public opinion of the Prep school for 11 years.
I enjoy a challenge, love variety in my job and work well under a reasonable amount of stress.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Front of House
St Andrew's College
Grahamstown/Makhanda
09.2023 - Current
- First point-of-call liaison for all visitors to Reception, prospective and current parents, Council members etc.
- Worked closely Admission/Marketing staff to facilitate marketing trips and assist with excellent customer service re. interviews, campus tours.
- Website enquiries & general email inbox
- Data capture and prospective parent liaison for all new applications and interviews, etc.
- In-house communication with staff and boys: design and disseminate Daily Notices, fortnightly Headmaster's Newsletters and termly Academic Newsletters.
- Study Permit letters, proof of address letters (students and staff)
- Parent liaison: Boarding house staff letters, Newsletters
- Andrean reports collation and liaison
- Creating new pupil files & general pupil filing
- Crisis Procedure lists to staff
- Detention procedures and lists/booking of venues
- Receiving exams from invigilators & getting them to the correct recipient
- Signing out of Matric certificates and result statements
- Receiving and sending parcels/lost property/confiscated devices
- Front of House (flowers/magazines/prospectus packs)
Marketing Manager
St Andrew's Preparatory School
Grahamstown
01.2013 - 08.2023
- Enquiries/walk in prospective families: Liaison and data capture
- Campus tours: prospective families and Old Preppies
- Class visits/assessments/sleepovers: Staff and parent liaison/gifts etc
- Memorabilia/School flag/signs and gifts: stock management
- Marketing trips: prospectus packs, gifts, powerpoint presentations
- New prospectus wording, design, print & pack/New Pupil booklet design, print & pack
- Pre-Primary Family Fun Days/Day in the Life/Open Days/Eastern Cape marketing trips: organise, advertise, travel, run, pack up
- Social media: Facebook, Instagram, Website page management and updating
- Visiting Speakers: advertising, RSVPs, set up, catering, gifts
- Sport festivals: prospectus packs, feather banners, gift packs
- Professional photo shoots of 3 campuses: plan, liaise with staff, parents and teachers. Set up, help out.
- Individual pupil school photo shoots: set up, take photos, design, mount, caption and send
- Staff and sport team photos: set up, take photos, edit & caption
- Events: New pupil day: catering/parent-teacher talks/tours/San appointments
- Steak evening: Advertising, RSVPs, catering
- Prep AGM: set up, catering, flowers, gifts, tour
- Art & Music evening: advertising/set up
- Old Prep Supper & Feast: Theme, invitations, RSVPs, catering, setting up, clearing up, photographs
- Staff farewells/End of Term functions: catering, invites, RSVPs, set up, gifts
- Council reports/budgets/strat planning
- Liaison with 3 schools marketing teams to plan events
Admissions Assistant
St Andrew's College
Grahamstown
02.2008 - 12.2012
- Monitored application progress closely, collating documents, liaising with parents
- Assisted with preparation for marketing trips, interviews, East Cape Experience, Open Days, New Pupil days etc.
- Established positive relationships with applicants to facilitate a smooth transition from enquiry to enrollment.
PA to Director
IMPEC and Khula Sizwe South Africa
Makhanda, Eastern Cape
2004.01 - 2008.01
- Developed relationships with key stakeholders, fostering trust and rapport within the network of contacts.
- Assisted in the preparation of presentations and reports, contributing to well-informed decision making.
- Produced advertising/marketing material and newsletters
- Served as first point of contact for incoming visitors or phone calls, ensuring prompt responses or directing inquiries appropriately.
- Responded to emails and other correspondence to facilitate communication and enhance business processes.
- Provided general administrative support including scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements and managing documentation.
Ghost Writer/Journalist
Self
Mvuma, Zimbabwe
1995.08 - 2000.01
- Edited manuscripts prior to publication, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and consistency throughout the text.
- Developed engaging articles for publications (Magnum, Country Life, Zimbabwe Hunter, The Farmer magazine)
- Collaborated with editors to refine drafts, ensuring consistent tone and style across various platforms.
- Co-authored 2 biographies
- Wrote and edited high-quality content and visually impactful programs under deadline pressure with exciting, captivating, and authentic approach.
News Reporter
Commercial Farmers' Union
Harare, Zimbabwe
1991.01 - 1995.02
- Collaborated with editors to refine story ideas for maximum impact on target audiences.
- Obtained facts and opinion in a politically charged environment (including interviewing Ministers at televised press conferences)
- Streamlined reporting processes with effective time management skills, meeting tight deadlines consistently without compromising quality.
- Enhanced live news coverage by providing real-time updates and photographs during significant events.
- Raised awareness about important issues by covering under-reported stories affecting local communities and public perspective as a whole.
- Enhanced news coverage by fact-checking to ensure accuracy.
- Developed storytelling skills that resonated with diverse audiences
- Demonstrated versatility as a reporter covering diverse topics such as crime, education, politics, sports, culture, and human interest stories.
Education
InDesign And Photoshop Course - Graphic Design
Stephen Walker - Adobe Instructor
Gqeberha, South Africa 04.2001 -
Advanced Open Water Diver - Scuba Diving
PADI
Australia 04.2001 -
Diploma in Photography - Photography - Manual And Digital
Shaw Academy
Online 04.2001 -
Diploma in Social Media Marketing - Social Media Marketing
Shaw Academy
Online 04.2001 -
First Aid Level 3 - First Aid, Turtle Life
Shaw Academy
Online 04.2001 -
Three-year Diploma in Journalism - Journalism
Christian Writers' Guild
USA 04.2001 -
High School Diploma -
Queen Elizabeth High
Harare, Zimbabwe 04.2001 -
High School Diploma -
Pitmans Shorthand
Zimbabwe 01.1985 - 11.1986
High School Diploma -
Pitmans Advanced Typing
ZimbabweSkills
Desktop publishing, writing, proof-reading, marketing, customer relations, budget management, database management, website management, social media marketing, photography, copy writing
undefinedInterests
Child Welfare, Island Hospice
Timeline
Front of House
St Andrew's College
09.2023 - Current
Marketing Manager
St Andrew's Preparatory School
01.2013 - 08.2023
Admissions Assistant
St Andrew's College
02.2008 - 12.2012
PA to Director
IMPEC and Khula Sizwe South Africa
2004.01 - 2008.01
InDesign And Photoshop Course - Graphic Design
Stephen Walker - Adobe Instructor
04.2001 -
Advanced Open Water Diver - Scuba Diving
PADI
04.2001 -
Diploma in Photography - Photography - Manual And Digital
Shaw Academy
04.2001 -
Diploma in Social Media Marketing - Social Media Marketing
Shaw Academy
04.2001 -
First Aid Level 3 - First Aid, Turtle Life
Shaw Academy
04.2001 -
Three-year Diploma in Journalism - Journalism
Christian Writers' Guild
04.2001 -
High School Diploma -
Queen Elizabeth High
04.2001 -
Ghost Writer/Journalist
Self
1995.08 - 2000.01
News Reporter
Commercial Farmers' Union
1991.01 - 1995.02
High School Diploma -
Pitmans Shorthand
01.1985 - 11.1986
High School Diploma -
Pitmans Advanced Typing
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