A step in the right direction

Graduation is exciting and liberating, but can be daunting if you've yet to decide what's next. We follow three graduates' steps... 

Employment

Christine Danks, BA (Hons) Media and Communication Studies, 2009

When I finished University I decided to go straight into employment, carrying out general administration roles. A year later I then secured a graduate job as a Marketing Assistant for West Bromwich based transport company, Carlyle Bus & Coach Ltd. I am responsible for producing product specific marketing material such as flyers, brochures and catalogues, as well as maintaining the website.

I love the variation in my role as every day is different and unpredictable. I often have tight deadlines to meet but I thrive on being busy. I believe my degree was a major factor in getting my job as through it I developed the knowledge and practical skills I needed. My work experience also prepared me for the demands of the working world.

Christine’s top 3 skills for employment

• Real experience – gain as much work experience as possible, whether through University organised placements, voluntary work, or part-time jobs.
• Confidence - if you believe in yourself then someone else will too.
• Ambition – companies like employees to who want to succeed so let them see that you are determined and want to go far.

Christine’s top tips

• Work on your CV, covering letters and interview techniques – attend skills sessions if you need to.
• Get feedback – if you don’t get a job find out why so you can prepare for next time.
• Don’t give up – you may not get your dream job straight away but keep going, a career is something you have to work towards.

Postgraduate study

Gemma Normansell, MA Education (Learning and Teaching)

When I graduated I began my career in teaching but soon realised that if I was to achieve the career goals I had set myself I would need to go back into higher education and study a postgraduate degree.

I am studying a Masters in Education and it is a very different experience from my undergraduate degree. The study is very in-depth and the onus is on me to work independently, thoroughly researching the different subjects and unravelling the theories. Although it is hard work I know that the knowledge and experience that I am gaining will help me to reach my ultimate goal of becoming an Assistant Headteacher.

Gemma’s top three skills for postgraduate study

• Motivation – you need a ‘get-up-and-go’ attitude. If you don’t put the effort in, you don’t get the rewards.
• Time management – courses are demanding so think carefully about the time you will need to give and how this may impact other parts of your life.
• Passion – if you are not interested in what you’re studying it already creates a barrier in learning. Postgraduate is in-depth study, it’s important that what you are studying intrigues you.

Gemma’s top tips

• Research different courses – postgraduate study is very specialist so make sure you’ve picked the right course to suit your goals.
• Know your career plan – a postgraduate degree can set you apart from others so know how you are going to use it to advance your career.
• Talk to other postgraduate students – find out about their experiences to prepare yourself for what is ahead.

Setting up your own business

Peter Richards, BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, 2009

Ever since I watched my parents start up their own succession of businesses, I knew that I wanted to follow in their footsteps. Today, at 24 years-old, I am the Managing Director of Armstrong UEN, a manufacturer of computer controlled products for light industrial engineering applications based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Being my own boss offers great flexibility and I love the excitement of creating something new. I do work long days, often starting at 7.00am or earlier, and it can be a lonely job without a big team to bounce my ideas off, but when an idea turns into a product that has the potential to be truly successful it is definitely worth it. My ultimate goal is to own a business that is one day publicly listed on the stock market.

Peter's top 3 skills for setting up your own business

• Only take calculated risks - be comfortable with your decisions.
• Step out of your comfort zone - be prepared to do something different.
• Don’t give up - even if you fail at something, there is always another way of getting what you want to achieve.

Peter's top tips

• Create a vision – think about what you want from your business.
• Plan – you need to know every step you need to take and when to take them.
• Learn everything about your business – the more you can do this then running a business will become easier and the more your customers will notice.