What did you study?
I studied Economics and graduated in the summer 2018 .
What part-time work did you do alongside your studies?
In my first year, I started off as a Catering Assistant as part of the Silver Service team. Here, I was part of a large team that was responsible for the serving and execution of many official dinners, graduations and other high-profile events, as well as weddings and the odd lunch delivery around campus.
In my second year, I secured the role as an Events Assistant at the Careers & Employability Service, I wanted to gain office-based work experience and this was the best opportunity I could have gotten whilst still at university.
My overall role was to support the Events team with the design, marketing and final delivery of the events that many students see around campus.
What did you enjoy most about your role?
Being part of the numerous events that the Careers & Employability Service has created has been the best!
I get to see the initial ‘design’ stages and then help with the execution of the event, where you see so many students, alumni and staff so happy with the final result.
My time at the service changed so drastically since I first started two years ago. We moved from our small office in the Horton Building to the brand new Davison Building, and saw an increase in demand for the service, all of which has helped the success of the service. And I’ve enjoyed every second of it, I never imagined walking through the office doors and getting so much out of my job, as well as making such good friends.
What skills did you learn in your role(s)?
I think one of the best skills I developed was confidence. I was not particularly shy, but being an Events Assistant, I needed to talk to a diverse range of people in different roles, so I had to push myself to get to know people and learn how to adapt my language to certain audiences.
My confidence also grew with respect to my ideas. It's quite a creative role and so you need to have confidence in your ideas, to see them through and also get them noticed. By doing this, I managed several student-facing social media and online campaigns that I'm really proud of. It’s one of the best things I’ve got out of my job.
I learned a lot within my role such as; all the hard work does pay off, it’s okay to ask for help and being yourself is the best thing you can do – you get so much back if you put the effort in!
Did you use the Careers & Employability Service to help you decide what you want to do after graduation? Did you find it useful?
When I came to university, I already knew that I wanted to work in a Supply Chain and Logistics role, so I didn’t necessarily need the service to steer me towards a career, but they were certainly helpful in so many other ways.
As I already worked in the Careers & Employability Service, my use of the service was in a more informal setting rather than booking an appointment or going to events, as I was part of the team that helped organise them. So, I would grab conversations with the Careers Consultants when they were free and ask questions, get the low-down on assessment centres and get their advice on what I could be asked in interviews.
Also, the Careers Consultants do get behind you and really root for you, which is such a confidence boost!
How did you balance working alongside your degree?
I think that organisational and time management skills are the way forward. I already had the basics of these skills when I came to university, but they are instilled into you in your first year and you carry them forward into your part-time job and graduate career.
The Careers team were very supportive of my studies and as I worked for the university, they always made sure that I put my course first. So, by being open and honest about my workload and contact hours of my course, I could meet the expectations of my course as well as do my 15 hours at the Careers Service.
Were you part of any clubs or societies on campus?
I was part of the social netball league for three years and the Orbital in my first year. But eventually my part-time work and university work became a priority.
What do you enjoy most about being a student at Royal Holloway?
The students and staff are so friendly at Royal Holloway and when you walk around campus it gives off that vibe. It’s a happy place and it’s nice to see so many smiley students!
What hae you been up to since graduation?
I have just started a graduate scheme with KBR as an Associate Procurement Specialist. I started there in September and am so excited because it is exactly the job I’ve always wanted to do.
You may have seen our latest recruitment campaign, ‘Find your why’. We are interested to find out what Royal Holloway has helped you to discover about yourself…
Coming to university, I already knew what I wanted to do, but Royal Holloway offered me opportunities to expand on that, whether that be through a part-time job, society or sport club and develop my career in my own way.