Ellen T.
About me
| Ellen T. | |
| History of Art | |
| History of Art | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Vanbrugh | |
| 2016 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| School and College Visits Coordinator | |
| University of Sussex | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Advertising, marketing and PR | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2020 |
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A day in the life of a School and College Visits Coordinator in the United Kingdom
Get some work experience - apply for internships in the field/s your interested in, working in retail or catering might earn you more over the summer, but unless you want a career in those industries, try and find something more relevant.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
Currently I'm working for the University of Sussex, a uni close to my hometown of Brighton.
What do you do?
I work as a 'School and College Visits Coordinator'. I work within the recrutiment department, organising events on campus for schools who want to introduce their students to the uni, or learn more about uni life in general.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
Straight out of uni I took a job in marketing, because my family worked in that industry and I had an interest in it. I worked at a small agency for three years, and while I enjoyed many aspects of it, in the end it wasn't the field for me. I wanted to move into a more practical, events based role - and I knew I wanted to work within the field of education - and so that's why I applied to Sussex.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
I really had no idea what I wanted to do when I left uni, in fact I had too many ideas of what I might like to do which left me feeling kind of stuck! I think it's worth trying out a few different career paths - if you can.
Describe your most memorable day at work
I've only worked at the uni for 2 months, so my most memorable day was probably leaving on the final Friday before we all had to work from home because of a major outbreak...however at my previous job my most memorable day was probably helping out at a client-led event where I was tasked with looking after the UK Corgi Club, that was so cute.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Working in a marketing role the most challenging aspect was probably the clients - sometimes they were wonderful and really enthusiastic, but sometimes they could definitely be difficult to handle! Most of the difficulties I've experienced in my new role have been specific to Covid-19 - but working in events I'm sure I'll experience lots of different challenges to do with alleviating risk, and presenting to and engaging with different audiences.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
In my current role, the atmosphere is friendly and collaborative. We can't turn up in anything too casual, but we don't have to wear suits either. My hours are less than when I worked in an agency (9 - 6), now I work 9am - 5.30pm. I find it easier to balance my work and home life working 'client-side' than 'agency side'.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
When I was at York I was a member of the Norman Rea Gallery and Unknown Magazine, which was an arts and culture magazine.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I'm really enjoying working within education and this is where I want to stay for the foreseeable future. I also love living in Brighton, so it was important for me to find a job I could commute to easily while still living here.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Two tips!
1. Get some work experience - apply for internships in the field/s your interested in, working in retail or catering might earn you more over the summer, but unless you want a career in those industries, try and find something more relevant
2. I hated presenting in class when I first started uni, but the experience I gained by being basically forced to present really helped me in my previous role and my current one! If you're scared of presenting, don't worry - totally normal - try and get more experience gradually until you feel more comfortable with it
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Working in marketing (3+ years experience), working in events/education (very limited experience, 2 months! but still happy to help where I can), uni life, preparing for uni, improving your CV, mental health & wellness at uni and beyond
Next steps...
If you like the look of Ellen’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Ellen a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Ellen to be your mentor.