This Summer I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to work as a Student Communications Assistant (Editor) in the University’s Communications and Marketing department. Whilst a change from my previous work experience, the job has fitted me and the time has, sadly, flown by.
I would always have said that my ‘trade’ was on the hospitality side of things, having spent the past six years working either in the kitchens, or bars, or pubs. Aside from work experience in Year 10, this is my first real experience at a sit-down office job. I’ll admit it took some getting used to. Being accustomed to standing behind a bar, chatting with customers, and cleaning for ten hours at a time, to being able to work a structured amount of time – whilst sitting down – was a bit of a shock to the system. A good shock, though; perhaps more of a change or adjustment, really.
Beginning in mid-July, although confident I was right for the job and could do everything set for me, it took a couple of weeks for me to settle in and stop feeling a little bit nervous before heading to work in the morning. Not that everyone wasn’t friendly and welcoming; it’s just a downfall of mine to be a bit of a worrier when it comes to wanting to prove myself. I soon got into the swing of things, and the difference between my working at the beginning of my internship and now is amazing. On my first day, I was set the task of writing a post about the Annual Student Enterprise Awards. I remember writing an extensive list of all of the relevant information, stumbling over my sentences and then getting the end result- with the particular formatting for the platform having to be taken into careful consideration, checked, and re-checked. Now it seems like writing for the University’s portal is second nature. At least the site works from WordPress, which in conjunction with my writing for The Edge, I feel like I have spent most of my summer on.
My time as a Student Communications Assistant hasn’t been limited to writing student news pieces, though. I’ve had the chance to work on an Open Day and hand out free cupcakes (which I have realised is the best job possible), have some involvement with the Student Communications Facebook page, meet with people from different places across the University, as well as chat with colleagues in the office about what they do. One of my highlights was getting to take part in a student Twitter takeover on the University channel to give advice to prospective students.
Alongside writing and my other involvements, I’ve been helping put together a ‘Content Schedule’ for next year’s online content, with the aim being that we know exactly what students need to know, and when they need to know it. It’s pretty great knowing that I’ve helped continue something that will have a lasting importance, and good progress has been made on the schedule recently.
As strange a transition as bar to office has been, I think it’s been a necessary one- and it’s come at a good time. Working less hours has meant I’ve had some time to relax, too, and will hopefully be fully ready to tackle my oncoming final year of English. Daunting as that is, I’m looking forward to what the year will bring. Then I will start thinking about the even more daunting topic of my future.
By Amy Wootten
