Graduate Trainee, Business Administration and Marketing, Energywise UKI wanted to study in London given its status as one of the world's leading capital cities. I did a lot of research into various London universities and Middlesex University really stood out. I was really impressed by the Business School and what they could offer, in addition the broader university facilities available. The university really sold itself to me.
I really wanted a course that would give me general business experience but would also provide me with an opportunity to learn skills that would be directly applicable in a marketing role.
I was very interested in working with SMEs and when you are working for a small to medium sized enterprise it really helps to have experience and skills that can be applied in a number of areas. You are often working in small teams so the broader your skill set, the better.
I had some really inspiring lecturers – Steve Donohoe was amazing. He was very entrepreneurial and is my favourite lecturer of all time!
I also really liked the fact that my course encouraged me to use my initiative and the varied disciplines I learnt through completing course work, undertaking exams and interacting with people all helped me gain confidence. The fact no two elements of my course were ever the same, similar to any working day in my industry, helped prepare me for the business world.
Graduating! I also really enjoyed meeting many different characters from all over the world and have fond memories of the Quad. The Quad was a great place to have fun and unwind in between lectures.
What one piece of advice would you give to a prospective student interested in studying at Middlesex?
You get out what you put in. There is a big gap between those who really apply themselves and those that don't.
It really helped me to develop core skills: communication, organisational and time management skills. It also taught me the importance of quality over quantity. These are all skills that employers like their employees to have.
I didn't really choose the industry. I knew I wanted to be in marketing so I focussed more on the role than the industry when looking for a job.
The pros of working within the Energy sector are that it is an incredibly innovative and growing industry. The main con is that the direction of the industry as a whole is fairly unpredictable but the Government's backing of the Green Deal has helped to provide clarity of direction.
I made sure my CV was as good as it possibly could be, that I practiced my interview technique and I did a number of work internships which really helped me to stand out. It is hard in the current economic environment so you have to do everything you possibly can.
Getting my current job. I am so passionate about marketing and working for SMEs so I really held out for the right opportunity.
I'm hoping to really grow in my current role. I have already been given a lot of responsibility by the Directors which is fantastic.
I am also looking into a potential business idea and have the backing of one of my Directors. The entrepreneurial modules of my degree have stood me in good stead for starting a business."
Perfect your CV and make sure you do work experience as early as you can. I can't stress the importance of work experience enough. Don't leave it to your final year, try and start to get work experience from your first year onwards. It's really important. Also make sure you network. I got a number of my internships through networking.
Lastly, keep your course books! You never know when you might need to refer back to the information in these. They can come in really handy.
I know a lot of people who did degrees for the sake of doing a degree as opposed to doing a degree in an area that really interested them. I would say that if you decide you want to go to university, make sure you study something that really interests you and gives you the career breaks in the area that particularly interests you.
