Abi Lucy

Employer: Breckon & Breckon
Title: Letting Negotiator
Degree: English

With a course like English, it’s difficult to apply the skills you’ve picked up because it’s not vocational. But there are a lot. You just need help seeing your skills in a careers context rather than an academic one.

For instance, communication is something I excelled at on my course. I’ve been able to take this strength forward into my career, as I’m constantly talking to and negotiating with landlords and tenants, as well as promoting the business to customers.

Teamwork is essential too, which is something I developed through sharing my ideas and listening to others in seminar groups.

The Careers and Employment Centre was immensely useful when it came to seeing my skills in a work context. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but the careers advisors were an unbiased sounding board that I could talk to about my aspirations. Because they didn’t know me, they listened to me on an impartial basis and then picked out my strengths and turned it into careers advice. They really opened my mind to the different and varied opportunities out there.

They also helped me see that the experiences I gained in part-time jobs were massively important. At the time I didn’t realise it, but I was picking up invaluable skills and insights into what it takes to make it in the world of work in general. If I could have done anything differently, I would have gained more relevant work experience at an earlier age. I would also like to have done some more creative writing.

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