Marin H.
About me
| Marin H. | |
| English and Related Literature | |
| English/Writing and Performance | |
| Research Postgraduate | |
| Alcuin | |
| 2004 | |
| Germany |
My employment
| Communications Manager | |
| CABI | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Charity and voluntary sector | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2015 |
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A day in the life of a Communications Manager in the United Kingdom
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
I work for an international not for profit organisation which focuses on agriculture and environmental issues in the developing world
What do you do?
I'm part of the marketing team, which both communicates our research and development impact as well as supporting fundraising
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I knew that I always wanted to do a PhD, so I did my Bachelors, Masters and doctorate back-to-back. After the PhD, I couldn't find a permanent academic position, so I signed up with a temping agency. They placed me as a communications assistant with an organisation in the international development sector and I really enjoyed the variety of tasks and that the organisation was fundamentally value-driven. As a result, I stayed in the sector ever since, working in progressively more senior marketing and communications positions.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Completely different, I thought I would stay in academia!
Describe your most memorable day at work
I was on a trip to Nepal to visit one of our projects in the field. I was picked up at my hotel by a driver who didn't speak English and driven 3 hours outside of Kathmandu along mountain roads that were still half missing from the 2015 earthquake - it was both terrifying and exciting!
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Everyone thinks they're a graphic designer or that they can write well - the challenge is diplomatically convincing internal or external clients that their ideas are maybe not so good...
What’s your work environment and culture like?
I'm lucky to work for a very generous, relaxed and friendly organisation. We're just about to get a new office, which is exciting, although unfortunately I can only commute by car
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I directed plays with DramaSoc and also produced some videos. Both of these turned out to be great ways of developing project management skills, managing people and communicating effectively (both to the people involved, as well as the audience)
What would you like to do next with your career?
I'm looking to become more senior, with a greater emphasis on strategy and leading teams.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Regardless of what you want to do: 1) do internships or volunteer if you can, 2) get advice on writing good CVs and cover letters, 3) maintain your LinkedIn profile. If you want to get into marketing and communications: create content! Start a blog or podcast, write thought pieces (e.g. on LinkedIn), make videos.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Academic careers vs the open job market; how to transfer humanities subjects to the workplace; marketing/communications careers
Next steps...
If you like the look of Marin’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Marin a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Marin to be your mentor.