Imogen G.
About me
| Imogen G. | |
| Language and Linguistic Science | |
| English Language and Linguistics | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Vanbrugh | |
| 2015 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Senior Content Executive | |
| Jet2.com and Jet2holidays | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Advertising, marketing and PR | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2016 |
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A day in the life of a Senior Content Executive in the United Kingdom
I've always wanted to be a writer. But as much as I know it is an art form, studying linguistics taught me that it's a science, too - there are rights, wrongs and descriptive behaviours in between.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
Life within the Jet2.com and Jet2holidays fold is busy. Every single department is thriving, with a multitude of projects on the go at once. The ever-expanding Marketing team is in charge of ensuring we inspire our customers to, essentially, become excited about booking their next flight or holiday.
What do you do?
The Content team is in charge of being the voice of the business. Communications come from us, which means we have to be incredibly precise and accurate when it comes to knowing our house style and tone of voice. Personally, I'm in charge of leading all publication content writing, managing a content tracking system, writing all things related to sports and owning the Indulgent Escapes brand tone. I also sub-edit the work of my team, get involved in all writing tasks (emails, blogs, landing pages, destination guides and so on), and previously looked after our YouTube account.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I've always wanted to be a writer. But as much as I know it is an art form, studying linguistics taught me that it's a science, too - there are rights, wrongs and descriptive behaviours in between. Dissecting the history of the language has helped me to understand where our words originated, which strengthened my command of English while writing.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Writing is my main passion, so I'm eager to have experience in all fields. I often thought I'd go straight into magazine publishing, rather than marketing, though I do specialise in the publications side of things in my job. So, it's a little different, but just another way to get to my desired destination.
Describe your most memorable day at work
Goodness, I have to say, I've had so many fantastic, memorable days over the past four years with the company. While some have been heavy on creative sessions for brochure planning, others have been spent doing nothing but uploading all our content for new destination guides on our website. I went along to a really fun group training session about making decisions about fictional scenarios in a rainforest, I've hand-modelled for one of our VIBE brochure features, I've listened to some truly inspiring and engaging talks from our department heads about future growth... all sorts. Every day is a chance to sit and write about gorgeous destinations, so that's often enough for me.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
My office is busy, and then some. The marketing floor is large, loud and lively, and we all like a good few biscuits with our tea (who doesn't?). We stick to smart clothing but dress down on Fridays for charity, which is great. A few times a year, given the nature of my role, I also get to travel to our destinations, which is amazing.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
To be honest, I didn't end up getting involved in societies. I thought about it, but I was really focused on my studies. I worked in retail on Saturdays though, which meant I had one less day to hit the books. It also gave me something else to look forward to. I kept up with writing on the side, which included voluntary music reviewing and also being the Senior World Football Editor for a North American sports company.
What would you like to do next with your career?
People like to say that print media is over, but I disagree. While a lot of people enjoy nothing more than leafing through a glossy magazine or reading the newspaper, e-brochures also provide a way to still get those cherished publications out there, in an environmentally-friendly fashion. So, I'll be trying to continue working in publications in some capacity.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Voluntary work experience. I can't stress that enough. I'd say the majority of my CV outlines what I've done unpaid for different websites, which has all been in my own time or over the summer after an academic year. It doesn't mean you don't want an employer to pay you; it actually demonstrates to them that you're a self-motivated, diligent and giving individual, who is so delighted to do work in this field that payment is merely a happy bonus. When it comes to a full-time career, you'll absolutely find a brilliant, paid job soon enough, so hang in there. But I'd say that work experience and training yourself up in your spare time, alongside your studies, would be hugely beneficial.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
I have a lot of experience in writing and sub-editing, which encompasses knowledge of the travel industry, music and sport. I am also pretty clued up about SEO, plus content management systems such as Sitecore and WordPress, so feel free to ask about those as well. Plus, if you're studying Language and Linguistics, I'm also here for questions around those topics.
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