What did you do when you left Brunel?
My plan was to get a job. I didn’t really care exactly what job, as long as it was a job. I was really struggling with applying to grad schemes and my maths was never strong enough to make it past the first assessment round so I gave up hope in getting a job in an industry I actually wanted.
What is your current role?
I currently work for Ipsos MORI (Market Research agency) doing Learning and Development – which I love! I’m really fortunate that I seem to have ‘fallen’ into a role and business which suits me and seems ‘perfect’. I know this doesn’t happen for everyone.
How have your career goals changed?
My career goals have changed in the sense that I now feel focused on progressing in the field in which I work. Before graduating, I had no idea where I would be in 1/2 years. Now I feel settled and comfortable. This had absolutely made me think about where I want to be in the next few years.
How have you developed professionally since graduating?
I am a whole lot more confident handling ‘work’ and ‘professional’ situations in every sense.
What is your advice to recent graduates/students graduating soon?
My advice to recent graduates would be… be open! Do lots of research, think outside the box but don’t pin your hopes on doing one thing and believing that to be the be all and end all. I never thought I would end up in the position I have now, working within the Market Research industry, but I love it. Things worked out for me but I also had to work hard to get here, and it all paid off eventually. It is stiff competition to gain a place on a grad scheme and these are absolutely worth applying for, but there are so many other ‘non-graduate’ amazing jobs that also suit graduates (its just not advertised!)