Luke, a member of the Alumni Advisory Board and three-time Loughborough graduate (BA, MA, and PhD English 2016), is passionate about supporting the careers of young people. He was joined by alumni Clare Cooper (BSc Mathematics and Management), George Martindale (BA English 2014), and Meryl Singleton (BA Graphic Communications 2014).
Clare, who has recently launched her own health tech recruitment business, Storm 3, talked about relocating and working internationally during her career, encouraging graduates to take the leap at the right time. Giving specific advice for a career in recruitment, the alumna said being authentic in networking and showcasing high level achievements – whether in education or extra-curriculars – would be appealing within the sector.
Alumnus George, Communications Manager at Arsenal FC, discussed his journey through journalism and making the move into communications within sport. Reflecting on his experiences so far, George encouraged graduates interested in working in football to gain experience with local football clubs to show genuine interest, get involved in everything from writing match day programmes to cleaning the clubhouse, and ultimately to grow a network.
Meryl, who has recently founded her own creative business, talked about freelancing, outsourcing, and finding your niche in the creative industries. Now Creative Director and Founder at Small Fry, Meryl has previously worked with brands such as Hello Fresh and Vita Coco. Now focused on digital strategy, Meryl particularly talked about diversifying and broadening skillsets after university.
Rounding off the session, Luke talked about focusing on continual professional development and utilising local networking opportunities.
The event, organised by the Careers Network and Alumni Engagement teams, aimed to give 2020 graduates the chance to hear real-life career experiences from alumni working across a range of sectors.
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