Collegiettes, it’s almost that time again! The horrible, dreaded final months of semester when every deadline and exam date is suddenly knocking at your door and you feel completely unprepared. But no panic! Journalism graduate Yarohey Secka is on hand to tell us a little bit about her time at City, the opportunities it brought her and some advice for the crucial weeks ahead.
Yarohey, what did you study at City and when did you graduate? BA Journalism. I graduated in July 2013
Describe your experience at City University. University was a great experience for me because I was given the much-needed independence. I was presented plenty of opportunities to try new things and visit new places. I also met so many people I wouldn’t have normally socialised with, got to learn more about different values and cultures and met some great friends.
What kind of opportunities did you get as a result of studying at City? I was lucky enough to acquire a position working as a Liaison Officer at the London 2012 Olympics. If it wasn’t for City I wouldn’t have been presented with the chance to get involved in something like that. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which I’m probably going to tell everybody about for the rest of my life. I also landed one of my previous work experience placements due to being a City student, because the editor was a former graduate. So, you never quite know where City can take you!
What advice would you give to students on how to handle the demanding workload and deadlines? My best advice would be to organise, organise, organise! You’ve got to organise ways to manage your time effectively. Write your deadlines down in a diary or a calendar. In this way you can make sure you’re using your time wisely.
What tips did you pick up that you could pass onto help those about to sit exams? A lot of people would give revision tips, or ways to cram in loads of information, and that isn’t always a good thing. I would say drink plenty of water to keep hydrated: it elevates the blood flow in your body and makes it easier for you to remember things. Also water is a great way to combat those pesky stress spots that flare up around exam time. So whilst preparing for exams don’t forget to look after yourself and make sure you get your sleep!
How did City prepare you for life after graduation? Could they improve on those services? City normally has workshops and talks with former graduates about ‘How to’ which are pretty useful. But I would say take advantage of the careers centre, make sure your CV is looking great. City could improve on services linking graduates to employers. The university has a great reputation, particularly the School of Arts, but having actual links to jobs with employees would help graduates get that one step ahead.
What have you been doing since graduating? Since graduating I’ve been interning for an auto styling company. It’s probably the last thing I thought I’d be doing, but it’s great. I thoroughly enjoy it, and there have been plenty of opportunities for me to use my own initiative and take the lead, thanks to my boss, who encourages my development.
What advice would give to those about to graduate? I would say get in as much work experience as you can. I know everybody says it but it is the most useful tool you can have on your CV. Someone that is willing to work for free, demonstrates to have passion for the industry. Also, there are job applications: apply for as many graduate schemes as you can. They’re the best entry-level jobs that you can get. You’re given plenty of opportunities to learn and progress rather than being thrown into the deep end.