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Katie Lovejoy

Regional Manager Hilti, London

BA Business and Marketing, 2013

What made you choose to study at Middlesex University?

The uni was close to my parents home so I could live there and save on living costs. I could also continue to work while I studied to make sure any loans were paid off and I got experience with working.

What course did you study and what attracted you to that course?

BA Business and Marketing. I knew I wanted to do something with business management, in particular supply chain management/lean but the marketing aspect was a nice touch so I could look at different angles of a business and how to effectively market it.

What was the most interesting/influential/important thing that you learned during your course?

You must be able to put the work in to get the work out. Being at university has got me to where I wanted to be. To be honest a lot of employers like to see some sort of degree on a CV so they know someone can keep their head down, focus, they know how to learn and they have a sense of achievement. I recruit people now in my current role and a really interesting thing to ask graduates is what they liked about uni and what drew them to that course. The content on my course was very broad so I was able to gain knowledge from several different factors of a business. It was nice to have that choice as it opens someone's mind to how much business and marketing can cover and what jobs are out there for the interest someone chooses.

What one piece of advice would you give to a prospective student interested in studying at Middlesex?

Go for a course you enjoy, not what you think someone wants you to do. Do something you are interested in even if you are not sure where it will take you. Uni coursework and uni life is difficult as it is a change to the life you had when young so there is another going on and a lot of money being spent so you must find something you enjoy. You will find your passion within in and make it your own which will make you successful.

How do you think your time at Middlesex has prepared you for your career?

It gave me the grounding of my work ethic and made me believe there are so many ways to get where you want to get and to push to where you want to get. Have drive and get yourself there.

How did you get your foot on the career ladder post university?

I carried on working at my part time job that I worked at throughout my university degree and then worked for a multibillionaire to learn how he got to where he got in life. I decided I wasn't getting as much money or challenge as I wanted so I found a new job as a regional account manager in a sales company selling high quality high cost tools for the construction industry and within 2 years I am now the manager of a team of 10 sales people.

What are the top three career tips you would give to current students and recent graduates?

Plan. Plan where you want to be in life, visualize it
Enjoy what you do, if you start to dislike what you do, refocus back to your plan and decide what you need to do to get you there, stay where you are for a bit longer and get on with it or change for a new challenge.
Find a company that is worth working for, not just a job. The company ethic/culture/values will really effect how much you enjoy your career path. You can get a work/life balance in life, it is not a myth.

What skills have been most valuable in your career so far and how have you developed these?

You need to be driven and have an understanding and tolerance for your path. Know where you need to go and if you get stuck, sometimes a step back or a slow down will help you propel yourself further forward than before. Enjoy the ride.

Are there any tips you can give international students looking to move abroad to study?

Live somewhere within your means and say yes to every opportunity to grow and learn and experience new things.

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