Victoria L.
About me
| Victoria L. | |
| Archaeology | |
| Archaeology | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Halifax | |
| 2015 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Assistant Editor | |
| BMJ Open | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Journalism and publishing |
More about Victoria
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A day in the life of a Assistant Editor in the United Kingdom
I honestly credit the skills I learned at York with each leap of my career - the value of knowing how your skills and experience transfer to different roles has really helped me make some pivots as my interests and life have developed.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
I work for the publishing group of the British Medical Journal. I started as Content Editor for the Evidence-Based journal titles and after taking maternity leave to have my daughter, returned in a different role, as Assistant Editor on BMJ Open, the Open Access journal umbrellaed under the BMJ.
What do you do?
I assess medical research manuscripts that authors submit for peer review. I check that they are in scope for the journal and that the research question, rationale, and study design are all relevant and scientifically sound. Once the manuscript has gone through peer review (if it makes it to that stage), I make the decision as to whether it needs revisions, should be rejected, or can be accepted. I also answer questions from authors and engage with the editorial board for BMJ Open.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I have had quite the journey and it is by no means over. I was in the BSc Archaeology program at York and graduated with a 1st in 2015. I went on to follow my interest in genetics and human disease by completing an MSc in the aptly-named Genetics of Human Disease at UCL. I spent 7 months at the Sanger Institute working in a haematopoeitics research lab with zebrafish as the model organism, but the commute (and in all honesty an untenable working situation with the lead researcher) meant I set my sights back to London. I have always been a writer and natural editor, and an entry-level opportunity to join the BMC Series (part of Springer Nature) as an assistant editor came up that I jumped at. I quickly got up-to-speed with the role and interviewed at BMJ for a Content Editor role, where I joined the team in 2018. I have worked at the BMJ Publishing Group since, though after maternity leave decided to take a side-step into the familiar role of assistant editor to be able to manage a workload that allows me to spend time with my daughter. I honestly credit the skills I learned at York with each leap of my career - the value of knowing how your skills and experience transfer to different roles has really helped me make some pivots as my interests and life have developed.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Yes, I thought I'd work in archaeology. I still might go into a lectureship if I manage to get funding to do a PhD, but I don't think working in academic publishing had ever been in my sights at all. I think the work I am doing now, should I decide to return to academia, would make me a better researcher. As it is, it's interesting work and I get to see the latest in research (well-done and not-so-well-done), so it has been a nice way to keep one eye on the research horizon.
Describe your most memorable day at work
I think at the BMJ specifically, it would be difficult to pick a particular day that stands out. When I first started working on one of the evidence-based journal titles, it wasn't in the best shape because the role hadn't been filled for half a year. The editor was very stressed. I'm very motivated by helping people and solving problems. When I left to go on maternity leave, the journal was in the best shape it had ever been; it went from a journal struggling for content to one that had enough to fill a year and a half of editions. The editor was happy to renew their contract and I was proud and confident to leave the journal in the hands of my maternity cover knowing that it would be smooth-sailing.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
It can be very difficult to get started in publishing. I was lucky to have found the BMC Series role (where a lot of people in academic/medical/scientific publishing get started out). It can at times be challenging to manage a heavier workload and the work can sometimes be a little monotonous if you're not as engaged with the subject you're working on.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
I can very honestly say that the BMJ is one of the best places I've ever worked. They genuinely care about the health and happiness of employees, there are areas for growth and development, and even career coaching (which doesn't expect you to stay in your role if it turns out that it doesn't suit your goals). They handled the pandemic amazingly and were incredibly supportive. A lot of companies list values that don't turn out to resonate, but the BMJ really do live by theirs as a company, and that's pretty great.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I don't think I did a lot of extracurricular activities at university, though I should have done. I volunteered at the York Archaeological Trust and in the BioArCh labs. I think I joined a load of societies and barely went to any of them. I took advantage of summer programs like the European Archaeological Exchange program (GRAMPUS I think it was called) and an osteology course in Italy. At postgrad, I took on some extracurricular lab and stats courses, which were more to combat my imposter syndrome, though I did find the lab courses very interesting (mammalian cell culture was a great one). I think if I'd had it to do again, I might have had a little more fun and done a few more activities, especially in first year, I took it a bit too seriously.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I'm hoping to do a PhD and potentially become a lecturer. I applied and was accepted but funding was an issue, so another attempt is on the horizon. I like to write and may do more of that, and otherwise, would like to lean more into mentorship, guidance, education and speaking. These are things that I have been thinking of for years but have only recently found the clarity and confidence to pursue seriously.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
- Do some extra-curriculars for you, not just for your CV. It'll help, but have a little fun.
- Transferable skills are the key - be creative. You might think you don't have exactly what you need for a role, but take a look - what is in your experience that requires similar skills? Use examples and match your keywords - it'll be enough to get an interview most of the time.
- Ask questions. If you have a question about a job and there's a contact email listed, go ahead and ask. You might as well know what you want to know, and it gets your name in the head of the recruiters when it comes to CV sifting if you do apply.
- Don't worry about pivoting, and don't worry too much about the 'perfect' career (either figuring it out or having it). You may end up with lots of different roles in life, you may end up figuring out exactly what you want to do straight away. Either way, it's ok. You will get to where you need to be in the end.
- The pandemic has been so weird and it's such a strange thing to be coming into the world of work, perhaps for the first time, perhaps returning to it, at this time. Be brave in asking for what you want and negotiating terms. Yes, be reasonable, but if you want to work from home and not be mandated to come into the office, seek jobs that offer that or ask for it; ask for it to be put into your contract. Negotiate your salary. Just try, the worst they can say is no.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Archaeology
Science jobs
Research roles
Pivoting careers
Postgraduate degree(s)
Genetics - postgrad, how I got into such a different MSc vs my undergrad degree, applying to lab positions
Careers, progression, considering your direction
Transferrable skills
CVs and cover letters
Next steps...
If you like the look of Victoria’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Victoria a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Victoria to be your mentor.