Returning to De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) to share valuable tips on how to secure a job after graduating was a ‘validating’ experience for Georgia Shipley.
The Creative Writing and English Language alumna, who has been working as a creative copywriter for Great Rail Journeys since graduating last summer, was recently invited to share her experiences with current students.
“Public speaking isn’t my forte, but it felt validating sharing what expertise I have with students who are in the same position that I was once in,” said the 23-year-old from Leeds.
“My best advice is to make a colourful CV and give it a bit of character to make it stand out to employers. Making a portfolio is a must for any creative industry to show off your hard work.
“Also, it’s never too early to start looking for a graduate job. As silly as it sounds, I started looking in January 2019 to see what kind of jobs were out there, which was good practice in writing out applications and seeing what worked and what didn’t.”
Day to day, Georgia’s job includes writing a mixture of offline and online content that’s both ‘inspiring and accurate’.
She said: “Being a copywriter involves a lot of learning with plenty of research going into things like writing about a new holiday package or compiling an article about a new destination.
“Working in the travel and tourism industry is not something I had considered before, but I’m really enjoying it and York is a lovely place to commute to every day.”
Getting a pay rise just six months into the role has ‘hugely motivated’ Georgia.
“It boosted my confidence and made me realise that I’m good at my job. I’m looking forward to learning more and seeing what the future brings, as I’m only just getting started,” she said.
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Leaving DMU with experience of writing for a number of different audiences and with a self-published book in the bag helped to prepare Georgia for the workplace.
She said: “At interviews I was able to showcase a varied portfolio ranging from children’s writing and horror to scriptwriting and my very own title Girl, Drowning.
“Publishing my own book was definitely a highlight of my final year at DMU. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but getting a first-class mark for it was well worth the effort.”
Georgia praised the teaching staff at DMU, particularly for the editing support she received and for sharing their first-hand experience of different areas within the writing sector.
“Nothing was too much trouble and they would go above and beyond to ensure we had great experiences. I particularly enjoyed visits from guest speakers such as dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah,” she said.
“My personal tutor Anu Koskela was phenomenal and so supportive. She was fantastic with helping with job applications and gave me great feedback on my CVs, cover letters and more.”
Posted on Thursday 13 February 2020