Nasia Papadopoulos, Talent Development Executive at Inspiring Interns (BA Philosophy 2020)
Nasia is a former Royal Holloway student and talks here about how she became a Talent Development Executive for a leading graduate and internship recruitment agency, Inspiring Interns.
What professional experiences have you had since graduating from Royal Holloway?
After graduating I studied for a Masters at King’s College London, also in Philosophy. I was originally intending to go into academia/teaching, but after lockdown I felt I needed a change from the continuous studying and to try something completely new. I started off working as a receptionist at Nuffield Health and also part-time at the Art of Banksy Exhibition. As soon as I finished my Masters, I took on the role of Talent Development Executive at Inspiring Interns.
How did you become a Talent Development Executive at Inspiring Interns?
During my shift at the Banksy Exhibition, I met the CEO of Inspiring Interns who was visiting. As we chatted, he asked me if I was a recent graduate - to which I said yes - and he then told me to email my CV to him.
The following day, I got an email from Naveena at Inspiring Interns who told me about the registration process and the opportunities the company had to offer. Soon after, I created my video CV. I then got a call from Naveena almost immediately, offering me an interview for the role of Talent Development Executive at Inspiring Interns. After a second interview, I was offered the job!
What are some of the key aspects of your job?
The role of a TDE is to help graduates with the registration process at Inspiring Interns, especially when it comes to the process of making a video CV, which is Inspiring Intern’s speciality. We work alongside Account Managers to help graduates find the very best opportunities. The role includes a mixture of administration such as using an internal CRM system, making calls, and sending emails. It requires a great deal of communication with both candidates and the in-house team.
What skills are required for succeeding in this career?
Being a confident communicator, building relationships, and wanting to help others to the best of your ability is essential. An important part of this role is also to be able to empathise with candidates and drive them to succeed. The administration part of the job requires a lot of attention to detail and organisation.
What is the best bit about working for Inspiring Interns?
So far, the team has been extremely welcoming, and I feel lucky to have found such a lovely group of colleagues. I also find jobs geared towards helping others very rewarding.
What tips would you give new graduates about job hunting?
Job hunting can be a difficult process and you can experience a lot of rejection along the way, but don’t let that discourage you - persistence is key. Also, be open to unexpected opportunities, as you never know when one small move could be a stepping stone to bigger things.
What tips would you give new graduates about interviews?
This goes without saying, but preparation is important. It’s better to feel like you’re over-prepared than to be blindsided by an unexpected question.
Although qualifications and experience are often a key requirement, the way you come across also plays a big part in your success – be confident but don’t act unnaturally. Finally, if you don’t get the job, don’t take it personally. Sometimes the company/role might just not be the right fit for you, but there are other opportunities out there that will be.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I never considered working in a corporate role before joining Inspiring Interns, but now I feel a lot of new opportunities have opened up for me because of it. If the last few years have taught me anything, it’s that I can’t predict exactly what the future holds, but I hope to bring some of my passions (literature/art/philosophy) into my work. Perhaps I’ll be working for a corporation in one of these sectors, or perhaps I’ll have advanced in my career with Inspiring interns. Whatever happens, I hope whatever I’m doing is bringing a positive contribution to the world.
Are there any other tips you would like to share with upcoming graduates at Royal Holloway?
Don’t feel overly stressed with trying to figure out everything at once when it comes to your future. Take one step at a time. Don’t worry if you don’t find your first graduate job immediately, it’s normal for the process to take time until you finally find a job you’re satisfied with. Just know that there are plenty of resources out there to help new graduates find their way, including registering at Inspiring Interns!