"Knowledge really has a tremendous power that not everyone can talk about"

Meet Evelina Berkutova, a 3rd year student of the "Advertising and PR" programme with the "Event" specialization and a minor in "Organizational Behavior" minor, who also works with Instagram bloggers. Evelina shared with us how to find something to your liking and be in time for everything in our new interview.

We can say that you are already working in your academic specialization. How you started your job search?

At one point in my second year I realized that I wanted to start working in my specialization and get paid for it, and not just be an intern somewhere. First of all, it was important for me that my work was enjoyable, there was an opportunity for career growth, as well as a convenient schedule. I ended up looking for a job for several days.  

Now you are freelancing and working with bloggers. How did you meet? How did you get hired?

At that time, I knew very little about blogging, I was just interested. I took a blogger management course in my first year. I just found it, I think, in an Instagram ad. Afte completing the course you are added to a chat with vacancies in this field. Almost on the same day, I responded to Polina's vacancy, whose course I actually took. I still think it was pure luck.

Beginners think that bloggers communicate with them in a rather rude manner, but in reality this is not the case. They just try to minimize the amount of resources that they invest in communicating with another person.

Evelina Berkutova
a 3d-year student

What are your responsibilities? And where did you work before, before this place?

I work in several blogger teams at the same time. For one I am a curator, for another blogger I am a curator, a personal assistant and a creative specialist. In general, I have rather broad responsibilities: I am an advertising manager, a personal assistant, and a course curator. Previously, I worked in advertising agencies and for other bloggers, that is, I have different experiences. For example, I took an internship at the SETTERS advertising agency. If you do not take into account the projects in which I am now, then before that I worked in three other places, two of which were in my specialization. It is not difficult to find a job, it is rather difficult to find something that really suits you in all respects though.

Did you work as an intern or were you immediately hired as an employee with a salary?

The interview was not difficult, they liked my resume, my business writing skills, they gave me a small test task, after which I successfully got a job immediately. There is no division into trainees, so if you meet the criteria, you immediately become a member of the team.

Are there any funny stories or memorable moments related to your work?

Oh, yes! There are quite a few actually. You come across people who do something unbelievable almost every day. We even have a special folder with funny chat screenshots, where people completely forgot about ethics with bloggers or just absolute nonsense, thinking that they stand out that way :) 

Did the knowledge and skills gained during your studies somehow help you in finding a job?

Of course, it was definitely easier for me to get a job than it was for others, since I have a certain background of internships and studies at the university. HSE definitely gave me the base I needed at that time.

Tell us which bloggers you work with.

At the moment I work with two fairly big bloggers: one girl has almost a million subscribers, the other has 2.1 million. They blog about their lives and promoting Instagram accounts. I also work with one info-producer blogger, that is, a person who promotes the product of other bloggers. He does not have many subscribers, only twelve thousand, but here it is not a matter of subscribers, but in his skills, in his earnings.

How do you manage to combine work and study?

There were times, for example, during exams, when it was difficult. I am still in the process of learning time management, because sometimes we really spend too much time on unnecessary things and actions. With a competent distribution of resources, you can easily combine work and study, especially if your work is remote.

What challenges do you have in your work, how do you cope with them?

There is an opinion about working with bloggers that it is very stressful, because many bloggers (especially millionaires) are very capricious and intractable. Of course, I have challenges at work from time to time, since I work as a business assistant. Sometimes the work goes on 24/7, if, for example, there is a long-term projects or important tasks. It happens that I wake up at eight and do not get off my phone right until eleven in the evening, I charge it twice a day, and I eat and do some of my household chores on the go.

As for the capriciousness of bloggers, there is a moment. This is more likely due to the fact that a blogger has to constantly be in touch with thousands of people every day, so here you should not count on any long communication. Beginners think that bloggers communicate with them in a rather rude manner, but in reality this is not the case. They  just try to minimize the amount of resources that they invest in communicating with another person. So if a blogger doesn't reply to your message, it doesn't mean that they don't like you :)

In fact, as with any job, there are downsides, but if the job suits you, then it's worth doing. It brings me a lot of pleasure, in addition to the disadvantages that I have listed. This is a good opportunity to work remotely from anywhere in the world.

If you want to work now, then definitely do not wait for any sign or someone's approval, just go ahead and do it. The sooner you start, the sooner you will find exactly what will leave a mark on your heart for years to come!

Evelina Berkutova
a 3d-year student

What specialization did you choose? Why?

I chose the "Event" specialization, since we had not studied this area much before, and I have long wanted to get acquainted with the organization of events. It seems to me that this is one of the areas that I want to work in in the future.

What is your minor? Did you choose for the soul or to expand your professional skills and knowledge?

I'm doing the Organizational Behavior Minor. Simply put, we are taught HR processes from both a psychological and theoretical point of view. I chose the minor definitely based on my taste preferences and the course program itself. I have never regretted that I study it. These are very useful skills for any profession, and the lecturers themselves are interested in our training. Definitely recommend taking it!

What are your favorite academic disciplines?

My heart is devoted to the "Fundamentals of the communications theory", Logic, Philosophy, Psychology and, perhaps, "Project Management". I do not deny that it was the played who played a huge role in these subjects, because it is always important how interesting you present information to students.

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

If you want to work now, then definitely do not wait for any sign or someone's approval, just go ahead and do it. This is not at all something to be afraid of at this stage of your life, believe me. The sooner you start, the sooner you will find exactly what will leave a mark on your heart for years to come! And be sure to educate yourselves, friends! Read books, take courses, study articles.

There is indeed tremendous power hidden in knowledge, which is not known to everyone.

And of course, don't forget to dream! ❤

Anna Alekseeva, a 3rd-year student of Advertising and Public Relations, spoke with Evelina