In February 2023 we were joined by two graduates of the School for an event entitled 'Careers with a Social Science degree - the international experience'. During the event, our speakers Yasmin and Julie talked about their work and shared advice for job hunting. Both highlighted their experience as students and discussed how it influenced their career journeys.
Yasmin, who currently works as a Project Administrator for the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, mentioned the research skills she developed at university, specifically the process of learning not only how to find information but how to organise your thoughts and communicate written ideas in a coherent way. Julie, too, gained research skills from her Politics and IR degree, both from completing assignments and from writing publications outside the classroom. She said this extra-curricular experience taught her how to use her own words to articulate ideas, something she does regularly in her current role working for the European Parliamentary Research Services. She also discussed the use of SPSS and learning to read statistics during her undergraduate methods courses, highlighting the practical application of university education and how exposure to quantitative methods gave her the "edge" over other graduates.
Research and languages were the main skills Yasmin and Julie use in their jobs, but time management, communication, IT skills and teamwork are also important. Not just buzz words, these skills are vital when juggling different deadlines and competing priorities in a busy work environment. Being based in the epicentres of European politics, both speakers talked about the diversity of their workforces and the need to be able to engage with people from different cultural backgrounds. They both love the international element of their jobs and urged students to experience it for themselves through either an internship or exchange abroad. Yasmin and Julie are multilingual which they said is hugely beneficial in their day-to-day work, both for consulting on projects and for chatting with colleagues in the office.
Alongside transferrable skills, Yasmin and Julie talked more specifically about how to find work in their respective fields. Julie mentioned that understanding economics, law and cyber is advantageous for a career in policy, and both agreed that consistency of job applications is important owing to the highly competitive job market. Their top tips were to apply to lots of jobs and to know exactly where you want to work. Yasmin noted that there are many different agencies that fall under the UN umbrella and the organisation itself spans many sectors, so you must do your research and take time to understand what it is you're looking for. She explained that many people, including herself, had got their jobs at the UN through consultancy work secured by nature of being an expert in the field, highlighting the value in dedicating yourself to a particular area of work to build knowledge and skills that will open doors further down the line.
The theme of the event was 'the international experience' and there was talk of opportunities for work in Europe in the wake of Brexit. Both Julie and Yasmin shared links to internships but were transparent about the challenges surrounding non-EU citizens landing work in the sector. Rather than look for work experience abroad, they suggested students take time to understand where their home country fits into the international relations sphere. Julie recommended all students look for work experience on a national level, as availability of jobs can differ depending in which countries organisations are based. The most important thing, they both agreed, was to prioritise gaining work experience whilst still student.
