Beth C.
About me
| Beth C. | |
| Language and Linguistic Science | |
| Linguistics | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Halifax | |
| 2003 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Head of social media & influencer | |
| VML | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Advertising, marketing and PR | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2023 |
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A day in the life of a Head of social media & influencer in the United Kingdom
It’s a hard world to get into but anyone can if they show they are up for the challenge and work hard.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
The biggest creative agency in the world
What do you do?
Lead the strategic and creative direction of our global clients’ social media strategies.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
During my time at York I spent all of my spare time and holidays working as an intern and then taking on part time work at agencies.
As I progressed in my career, social media became a way to engage brands and I landed the first head of social role in London. Now I work to set the standard for best practice in the industry, bringing together the best of the disciplines that our agency offer to help brands excell in social.
In our client list we support brands considered to be best in class in social, including Wendy’s and Coke.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
No, I am working in my dream job I wanted since I was 16.
Describe your most memorable day at work
Being given the role as head of social at the biggest creative agency in the world.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
It’s a competitive industry so a passion for the work is essential. Client demands are high but those who love the work have extremely rewarding roles.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
Exceptional and reassuringly best in class for our industry.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I had little time for extracurricular activities as money was tight but I learnt a lot from the jobs I did working for an after school club and for the Yorkshire Evening Post. Understanding how to relate to kids with a range of challenges and getting under the skin of the media landscape massively helped.
What would you like to do next with your career?
Cement VML as the only global solution for social media support.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Do as many internships as you can. When I was at uni no one else did that and my friends thought I was mad. Now the expectation is for most students to show they have experience. We have a lot of paid experience options at my agency but it does surprise me how few really put their all into that opportunity. It’s a hard world to get into but anyone can if they show they are up for the challenge and work hard.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Anything related to advertising or social media would obviously be my sweet spot but if anyone wants support on how to manage entering the industry you want to be a part of while at uni I can help with that too. Someone once asked me why I was bothering doing the internships because I would never make it with my east London accent. I sure did prove them wrong, and I’m happy to help anyone else who is worried about facing similar challenges.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
If you’ve got real passion, if you stay true to your personality, and you’re up for some persistence, you can do what you don’t think is possible.
Next steps...
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