Case studies: Junior PR consultant: Becky

After finishing her geography degree, Becky pursued a career in public relations...

I really enjoyed my degree. It was so multidisciplinary, with such a broad range of subject areas. In the first year, we studied applied physical geography, alongside human geography.

Although I liked the physical geography, my preference was for the human side, which included modules on geographies of identity and difference and geographies of global change. My dissertation was based on the area of sexuality and space. We also had the opportunity to go on field courses, which were great fun (and hard work, of course).

Studying geography at Loughborough helped me to develop not just my technical skills, such as report-writing, problem-solving, synthesis and analysis, but also my interpersonal skills, as we did lots of work in teams, and had to present our work to the group.

My degree also helped me to become proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet research skills and I used statistical packages like SPSS throughout my course.

Alongside my degree, I co-produced and presented a weekly show on the university's campus radio station. This provided me with the opportunity to employ new technical knowledge in a time-pressured environment whilst stimulating creativity.

In the Easter vacation of my second year, I completed a certificated residential 'Insight into Management' course organised by our careers centre. This was run by graduate managers and representatives from industry, commerce and the public sector, including PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte.

This course gave me experience of teamworking in small and large groups, problem-solving and presentation skills. I also met a graduate who was working in PR, and this career area really interested me.

I attended the IPR Open Day in London and listened with interest to the speakers and graduates, and the day confirmed my desire to work in consultancy PR.

An important point that the speakers reiterated was the need for students to gain relevant and meaningful work experience. I therefore wrote to PR agencies and consultancies who could offer me the opportunity to gain some experience before I graduated.

An unpaid four-week placement I did went so well that I was offered a six-month (paid) contract for when I graduated. This has just been extended for another six months, so it's all good so far.

AGCAS

Sourced by Ivana Morton-Holmes, AGCAS

Date: 

January 2009

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