Tell us about your career journey since you graduated…
After completing a couple of internships following my graduation, my first full-time role was as a Content and Communications Coordinator for a company operating in the construction industry. I stayed there for just under a year and a half, earning a promotion along the way. I then moved on to my current role as a Content Developer for Compass Group UK&I, which has seen a shift in focus from marketing to a more sales and retention focused environment.
What does an average day at work involve for you?
No two days are the same; my day could involve anything from assisting with various tenders to proofreading tenders, to meeting with subject matter experts. A huge part of my role is playing a pivotal part in managing and maintaining an extensive content library, a task which takes up a significant portion of my day.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
As it is fairly early on in my career there have been only a few highlights to date. But if I had to pick I would say my company being nominated for a couple of awards at the Merton Best Business Award, off the back of my written submission. We got to visit the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club - otherwise known as the home of Wimbledon.
How would you say Brunel helped you to get where you are today?
Brunel opened my eyes to the wider world. I have taken part in projects and experienced things that have shaped me to be the person I am today. Brunel’s emphasis on placement years allowed me to gain the knowledge to get me to where I am today. That is not forgetting the degree that I studied and the skills and knowledge I managed to accumulate over four years.
Why did you choose to study at Brunel and why would you recommend Brunel to others?
I would say that Brunel stood out to me above other institutions mainly because of their emphasis on undergraduate students - especially on my course - undertaking a placement year alongside their degree, which is something I felt would help compliment my studies and ultimately differentiate me in what is an extremely competitive job market.
What is your best memory of studying here?
It would be hard to pick a memory as I have so many - perhaps final year and doing my dissertation, something I extremely enjoyed doing. I was unique in that instead of going down the usual dissertation route, I partnered with a company and helped to solve a business need, the findings of which I was able to present after my degree had ended. In addition to that, extracurricular activities such as playing football provided me with many happy memories.
If you could give one piece of advice to new students, what would that be?
Make sure that you combine theory (studying for your degree, attending lectures/seminars, etc.) with practice (work experience). It is all well and good just doing your degree and getting a 1st or 2:1 at the end, but employers want to see what you’re like at work, even beyond how capable you are. Can they work well as a team? What about their ability to lead a team?
What would be your top tip or advice for new graduates as they begin their career journey?
Believe in yourself. Confucius said: “Those who think they can and those who think they can’t are both usually right.” If you believe, you can, and indeed will, achieve. Why hold yourself back? Go out there and do the best you can. There is no shame in failing; the only shame is in not trying.