Is work experience worth it Anthropology student Marisa tells her story. University of Manchester Careers Blog

Is work experience worth it Anthropology student Marisa tells her story. By Marisa Bell Final year Anthropology student Nine months  slogging through one year of  your degree can feel more like nine years at times. One bad week slips past and before you know it youre  neck  deep in readings most of which  barely feel  as though they are written in your  native  language. As you  sift through the inaccessible  writings and abstract theories, scribbling notes, highlighting this, highlighting that constantly measuring yourself between this grade and that grade;  pulling your hair out over the difference between a 61 and a 69 graded essay (theyre both 2:1 people, get over it!) you start to wonder what the hell this is all for anyway? What really is  the point of all this?    The purpose in doing this  starts to get lost. In Defence of Social Sciences Id say I can at least speak for the social  scientists and humanities students out there. We are the people who are left defending our degrees all the time What are you going to do with a degree in Sociology? Psychology? Literature? History? Isnt Philosophy pointless? “Unless you want be an academic, I don’t see the point.” Most people I meet still think Anthropology is what Ross from Friends does (No guys, that’s dead dinosaurs, not living people!) Ugh. The list goes on. And each one pains me every time. Im now 32 its not particularly old I know, but its not particularly young either. And much like my peer group at university  Im astutely aware of competitiveness out there   you know, in the real-world. Which I why I took it upon myself to pursue the opportunity of work experience. Tip number one: perseverance and pursuit. Whats the Point? Have I worked a day in my life before now? Yes. Yes, I have. I have not however worked a day in the industry I am trying to move into. And when youre new to an industry its a challenge in itself to pinpoint exactly what it is you are looking for. You like the idea of something but you dont yet know the reality.  My industry of interest (Marketing and Advertising)  is a broad one indeed, and each segment of the field varies widely from another. Just because you’ve studied a non-business related degree it does not mean your skills can not be applied to business. And gaining that hands-on experience is truly valuable. Fact-finding Analysis I came to the placement with the  earnest eagerness  of any other student I just wanted to learn about stuff how does it all  work? So, when faced with the question What area of Advertising interests you most? I was all Um, I just wanna learn all of itsee what bits I like, then decide. Not ideal. My second tip is research, research, research! It took me a while to pinpoint my segments of interest. And some conversations with those in-the-know can go a really long way. A few coffees later (read: wine) and I had a much deeper  understanding of how things worked and which bits  made me more enthused than others. If you dont know people in the field you are looking to get into, you can still do online research LinkedIn is a great place to start, with lots of industry based networks and blogs offering any eager  business  novice invaluable insights. Get  creative! I messaged a few industry blog groups and asked for advice from veterans and moguls of the field. Youd be surprised, there are some really great folk out there, old Alumni etc, who are more than happy to help. Relinquish Excuses! I cant afford the time out! Yes, yes you can. Have you heard the saying Short-term pain for long-term gain?   Well, this is just that. Many companies nowadays offer payment for travel and lunch expenses. And if youre a self-supporting oldie like me, this can still feel off-putting. But don’t let it be. My advice is to start saving a little bit here and there to cover your costs. Or ask the business you have applied to if they’d consider subsidising your travel costs as a one-off, if its done in the right way its professional and perfectly okay.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.  When these options really arent possible (and trust me, I know this!)    Then sacrifices you must make! My placement was short and sweet for this exact reason. Can I work 3 months? No. Have I got two or three weeks spare? Yes. This kind of rationale is much more realistic and perfectly doable.    I framed it as though it were the annual  holiday I would normally make. Tip number 3: budget and be p repared  to  make sacrifices! I found out about things I never knew before. Interesting and inspiring nuggets of wisdom in a welcoming environment. Hard Work Pays Off During my placement I not only gained fantastic insight into industry practices but found inspiration through  seeing my university work and practices applied literally.  I found out about things I never knew before. Interesting and inspiring nuggets of wisdom in a welcoming environment.  The business I worked in applied lateral thinking to business, drawing on the critical and analytical skills I pick up sifting through all the endless readings night after night. Making a laborious practice which often feels meaningless  and nonsensical, seem perfectly logical! Eureka! Had I not completed the work experience I would not have realised how interesting I find Market Research as a day-to-day job. It appeals to my curious and analytical nature and is always evolving over time, from project to project â€" with the added bonus of working with brands I am interested in or a least familiar with. Previously, if Id  looked at Researcher as a job title Id likely think it was either too dull or not the kind of thing I could do. Now, I know otherwise. My final tip is BE PROACTIVE. From the start of your research to your time in the business. Dont just hang around waiting for things to come your way. Get stuck in! People have busy lives. If they dont reply send a follow-up email. In the job, ask people if they need help with anything. Be curious. Show off your talent and get to know theirs. This is your time and well as theirs so the most valuable thing you can do is to take away a whole heap of knew knowledge. Knowledge is king.  And if you’re really lucky, you may even gain a few more new friends from the experience! All Make The Most of Manchester Student blogs Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted careers Internships my story summer internships work experience