The opportunity to learn in a truly international and multicultural environment, as well as the quality of teaching, course offerings and facilities available at Middlesex University.
I always found management concepts very interesting. The MA Management course available at Middlesex covered most of my interests, especially Project Management. I therefore decided to apply and deepen my knowledge within the area.
Project Management was the most interesting part for me because it is one of the most widely applicable concepts at companies. It is very practical and can be applied in almost every industry.
I loved the Library, which is where I spent most of my time while studying at Middlesex's Business School. I also enjoyed the discussions we had during classes. It was a great opportunity to get to know other students and hear their point of view.
Before you choose a course, try to find out what the market offers in terms of job opportunities. Then during your studies, specialise in one or two areas and pursue your career in this direction. It goes without saying that your interests should be aligned with the course offerings.
The course at Middlesex gave me a strong foundation and awakened my curiosity. I specialised in Project Management and following graduation, I chose to pursue a career in this area. Since my first job, I have been able to apply the knowledge I learnt on my course.
I have spent time as a project manager and have now switched my focus to consultancy and work as an in-house consultant within the Lufthansa Group. Project Management is not my main focus now, but knowing the discipline well gives me a great advantage.
Consulting is a great way to work on a wide variety of projects. No day is the same as the next and the learning curve is very steep. You get to travel a lot, meet many new people and you get to understand the businesses you work with from various viewpoints. It is very demanding though as it is not a regular nine-to-five job, especially when the deadlines are very close.
After I finished writing my dissertation and just before my graduation, I started to look for a job. To be honest, I sent out only one application and after a few interview rounds the company I had applied to join (a Private Bank) offered me a position as a Junior Project Manager. I spent two years there and then switched to the IT Services industry, which I found more interesting. After that, I worked for an international consultancy firm which offers, among others, technology consulting services. Currently, I work for a premium airline, still having a strong focus on both, IT and Project Management. Here, most of the projects are related to machine learning, blockchain or data analytics.
I have had the opportunity to work on many interesting projects so far. I really enjoyed my visits to Silicon Valley, Moscow, Kiev or Rome, where I worked on a project assessing several technology vendors. Right now, I travel around the world for Lufthansa where I get to know the fascinating business of the airline industry.
Projects, lots of projects! A lot of travel also!
Firstly, seek out what magnifies your spirit. It makes a job a lot easier if you do what you love and where you can constantly grow. Try to find mentors who will guide you in the right direction, especially when you feel lost.
Secondly, expect anything worthwhile to take a long time. The myth of the overnight success is just that – a myth. Try, now and then, to step outside of your comfort zone, learn something completely new, even unrelated to your current field of interest. And don’t be afraid of failure.
Lastly but by no means least, make sure you network. Broaden your network whenever possible. Keep in touch with your colleagues, make new friends but do not just ask them for favours, offer them first also!
