Case studies : Regional marketing coordinator: Gail

Gail graduated with a business studies degree from Edinburgh Napier University in 2006. After spending a summer with the BUNAC (British Universities North America Club) programme she became a student marketing coordinator for them. She now works for BUNAC as a regional marketing coordinator.

My role involves providing informative presentations to students at universities within the region, attending careers events and recruiting and motivating a team of student marketing coordinators.

My course in business studies involved a lot of practical experience which has helped me in my current role. Apart from the marketing and business knowledge that I developed, possibly the most helpful experience from my course were the many presentations that I carried out. This experience helped develop my public speaking skills, which I use regularly in my current role.

Marketing topics have always interested me, but it was when I returned from the United States after spending a summer with the BUNAC programme and became a student marketing coordinator for BUNAC, that I discovered what a role in the marketing field could be like.

In the May before I graduated, the role of regional marketing coordinator became available with BUNAC. I was really excited about the prospect of working full time for the organisation. As a business graduate, I was looking for my first step into marketing, and this vacancy was perfect for me. Although this role was originally temporary, I have been doing it for three years, taking a year out to do more travelling and partake in BUNAC’s Work Canada programme.

When exploring jobs, I definitely would recommend making use of all your experiences at university. It is important to think about all the things that you were involved in - volunteering, involvements in clubs, summer experiences, etc. These experiences could be a starting place for your future career.