Lucy Martin-Davis graduated back in 2008 with a BA (Hons) Public Relations she now works at BD Diagnostics in Oxford Lets’s see what she has to say …
Lucy in action!
“Well it has been a busy few years since graduating in 2008. When you look back you can astound yourself at what can be achieved in such a short space of time. This is particularly the case for me. After graduating I knew exactly where I was heading and quickly set about hunting down my first step on the ladder. Continue reading
Writes Emma Wright
Connie Brodribb, one of our successful 2013 alumni, recently landed a graduate job working in retail marketing for high street giant Marks and Spencer.
Connie worked for M&S before she left for a work experience trip to Uganda (see blog Feb 2014) but that was only a temporary position to help raise funds for her trip. However, she made some really good contacts within her team and they asked her to give them a call when she got back – proof that making important contacts can be the difference between landing your ideal job and not!
The role that she currently has is, she says, a step up from her previous one.
Connie’s work tasks can be completely different one day to the next. However, this is something that Connie enjoys. Some days she will be glued to her desk trying to whip up a presentation that will be presented to senior members of the company. In complete contrast for example, Connie was recently sent running around Oxford Circus picking up last minute items from Marks and Spencer’s flagship store for their Vogue shoot. Other days, Connie will be back in meetings.
One of her current projects involves leading the Christmas 2014 campaign (the biggest campaign M&S do every year) with her manager which she is finding very exciting.
Connie gave some very helpful advice for others who are hoping to work in a similar industry:
‘Be confident, but not arrogant. Have your end goal in sight at all times (although be prepared to deviate away from your plan at times, as life has this wonderful habit of getting in the way!) Don’t be afraid to make a mistake, that’s how most people learn, and always be yourself.
‘Qualifications and experience are important but they are not the pinnacle of everything. I always believe that if you want a job, you’ll get one. If you want to go somewhere, you’ll go there. Perseverance and commitment is key’.
Working for M&S and in retail marketing was always in Connie’s plans and she believes it will really help her to build up experience for her career portfolio.
Kay Peters, who graduated this summer, is building a career with one of the UK’s leading property developers and is already looking back at her last few months at University with different perspective.
With endless essays, presentations and the daunting dissertation to complete the last few months at the University of Lincoln flew by. Suddenly the worries turn into packing up that room you’ve become a little sentimental toward, moving home, results day and getting on that first rung of the career ladder. Continue reading
Monday 26th November saw a gathering of Lincoln Alumni from the Lincoln School of Journalism talking about life in the real world, post Lincoln Uni. For the first time they were joined by a Public Relations Alumni. Amy Hackett sat in the middle of an all male journalism panel, next to the evening’s compere Sam Pidoux – female but a journalist nonetheless!
Amy was able to shed light on life on the ‘dark side’ and gave a great insight into her work on PR formerly in the NHS and Local Government and now at Bishop Grosseteste University College her in Lincoln.
Afterwards we retreated to Nandos for some well earned sustenance and banter. During the evening an idea germinated for a networking group around communications in Lincoln – particularly for the growing number of alumni working locally and also to introduce other communications professional into the mix…watch this space!
The next panel will be in February and hopefully more of you will be there to hold the banner for PR!
Dan Derricott graduated this year but as he tells us here, time spent watching other people graduate never fully prepares you!
I had spent months thinking about and planning my Graduation. I could do this with relative ease because I knew what to expect. I have been to probably close to 10 graduation ceremonies all in all before my own.
As a students’ union officer you get invited and it was always great to go and help celebrate (and the free food & wine made it even better). Sitting on the stage is fun too, though with the fear of a camera being pointed in your direction you have no choice but to be sat upright, smiling and clapping most enthusiastically even after 230th time.
From that side you also get chance to mill about in the VIP reception too which is particularly good when there’s a well-known person receiving an honorary doctorate that day and you get a few minutes to chat.
Dan and his Mum, shame we can’t see the new shoes!