Job Title: European Advisor
Employer: UK Research Office
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Please explain how your career has developed since graduating.
I was recruited straight from UEA to Brussels where I first experienced EU affairs and I have been working in this area ever since!
What is the most rewarding aspect of your current role?
Every day I learn something new and I use this new knowledge to help researchers submit applications and to receive funding to carry out important and fascinating work.
What steps did you take in finding employment (e.g. careers centre, job websites, networking events)?
I have used the Prospects, Eurobrussels and Euraxess websites.
What are the key skills you learnt at UEA?
Languages, organisation, drafting and editing, time management, independence.
How have they made a difference in your career?
I use these skills in every aspect of my work and throughout my career.
What piece of advice do you wish you'd received before you graduated?
Never be complacent and aim for getting a first each time.
Do you have any tips for current students or recent graduates?
Everything you do as part of your degree or as part of extra-curricular activities can be referred to in job applications and interviews. Always bear this in mind!
If you use languages in your job, how do you use them and what do you use them for?
I have used them to communicate with colleagues and staff at the European Commission.
What is the professional and personal value you place on being able to speak a language other than English?
At a professional level. I think you have more respect if you are able to converse in another language - you are making an effort. I love languages and it gives me a lot of personal respect to speak one other than English.
Can you provide a short description of an incident from your time at UEA, your year abroad or your professional life which stands out (language related or not)?
There were many and I loved and valued my time at UEA. Perhaps when I was writing my final year dissertation. I did so much research and I was awake until 3am nearly every day working on it. I learnt so much from that rewarding experience!