Sina Bahrami - BA Graphic Information Design
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What made you decide to apply for part time work?
I wanted part time work primarily
to earn extra income, but also to experience the working
environment.
How did you go about finding work?
I looked through your very helpful
database to find jobs. I then researched the job to see if I wanted
to work there and finally I applied. As the jobs were part time or
temporary, they finished after a while so I keep applying for
different jobs to fit in with my schedule and to keep working. I
also went to other online job sites and looked in newspapers, but
your list is specifically aimed at students, so I thought I
was much more likely to find a job there.
Why do you think you were successful in securing work?
Because I believe in myself. At the
end of the day, most students have the same type of qualifications,
but because I was more confident, it made an impression on the
employer. As a student you really need to present yourself well. I
was sure that for a recent marketing job I applied for that there
were people better qualified than me, so I wrote my covering letter
in the form of a press release, which, I thought would be like the
work I would have to do. It seemed to grab their attention and they
called me for an interview the next day. It's important to keep
trying.
What jobs have you done throughout your time at
university?
My first job was as a freelance
photographer taking pictures of buildings. Right now I am a
Marketing Manager for an IT company and the job I am applying for
on Monday is for a flash designer. The jobs are all related to the
design/marketing area, which I am interested in.
What skills did you learn while you were working?
I think something I have been
valuing more and more is people skills. So much comes down to how
you are with other people. If you are comfortable with people, it
will make your job easier. Another thing that is important,
especially for a student, is that nothing is impossible. Difficult
parts of the job give you an opportunity to learn. I value my part
time jobs as much as my education as the experience shows I have
put my education to use, which really gives me an advantage when I
come to apply for my graduate job.
Were there any other benefits of working part time?
You feel good about the experience
you are gaining and it is a better use of time than sitting at home
watching TV. It is a good way of testing out careers and finding
out what you want to do. Doing the marketing job has influenced the
perception of my career path. You are also bound to meet people
when you work and I value social acquaintances. You build up a
network of people who may be able to help make the transition into
the real world easier.
What advice would you give to other students about working
while studying?
Do it because you will gain two
things, money and experience. The latter is more important as it
will put you ahead of your fellow graduates, you can only watch so
many daytime TV programmes!
Updated: 5/6/2010 By:
John McMenamin