FEATURE
KINGSTON’S MOST WANTED…
Kingston University’s Careers Service is leading the way by offering internships to undergraduates. Kudus Suleman, who is studying for a degree in Marketing, Communications & Advertising, tells us about his experience there during the summer of 2012…
to use the skills I had learnt and prove what I could do. As I represent the target market I could provide the student perspective too.
This was just the beginning of a brilliant, career-building experience for me. Each day saw a new challenge, from leading the team through a rebranding exercise to attending corporate events at the HSBC headquarters and hosting employers on campus. I even met the legendary Sir Trevor McDonald OBE at the University’s first Media Summit.
>>
Each day saw a new challenge, from leading the team through a rebranding exercise to attending corporate events at the HSBC headquarters and hosting employers on campus. I even met the legendary Sir Trevor McDonald OBE…
20 GRADUATE RECRUITER M
arketing was the career I always wanted to get into but it is an extremely competitive jobs market out
there, so I knew I would need to get some hands-on work experience early on. I worried that I would never get a foot in the door until one day a friend took me to a careers event where I met people from the Kingston University careers team who were really supportive and offered to help. Together, we took apart my CV and put it back together again, highlighting my strengths and transferable skills. I started sending out applications and just a few weeks later I was invited to an assessment centre with a marketing firm. It was a daunting experience and although I didn’t land this particular internship, it was reassuring to know that there were possibilities out there. A few days later I received a call from Kingston University’s Careers and Employability team telling me about a summer marketing internship position in their department. I was delighted to accept straightaway. In no time at all, I was in the office meeting the team. It was a bit like reliving my first day at school. I didn’t really know what to expect but they made me feel very welcome which helped to ease the pressure. As we started to work together, I quickly began to realise how marketing fitted into the activity of this fast-paced team. My first project was to create a design concept for a new careers brochure. This was the perfect opportunity for me
I have been involved in numerous projects, but my biggest achievement is the ‘Kingston’s Most Wanted’ campaign, which has sparked excitement among students who want to be part of it and also with employers who are benefitting from it. Why? The answer is simple – ‘Kingston’s Most Wanted’ highlights those students who are diamonds in the rough. They have been selected because they have gone the extra mile to improve and enhance their employability skills – usually with support from the employability team. This personal development could include anything
from an internship to leading a Student Union society project. By showing young people in a positive light, the campaign aims to make people think twice and it shows that students are in demand for all the right reasons. The future scope of this campaign is huge and the awareness among students and employers is still growing. Students want to become the ‘Most Wanted’ and are striving to get there through sheer hard work. Working as part of the Careers and Employability team has been one of the best experiences of my studies so far. The projects I have been involved with, and the support offered to me, have been second to none. My confidence and knowledge have grown and I wouldn’t have received these opportunities anywhere else. I’m now back at University, but am still working one day each week with the team. It’s amazing to see my work being used in a professional environment and I am now working on projects across other departments too, which is broadening my knowledge every day.
To discuss collaborations and opportunities with Kingston University please contact Tonia Galati, Talent Development & Employability Manager
t.galati@
kingston.ac.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32