Case Study

I always had aspirations to go to university. I decided to study at the University of Sunderland for two reasons: it was close to home and I didn’t want to travel too far afield, and it offered the journalism course I’d wanted to study for as long as I can remember.

The practical aspects of the course were my favourite by far. I had the opportunity to learn about magazine design while studying and this has led to a keen interest in graphic design which I’ve been able to apply in my day-to-day work in recent years.

After a slow start and working in a local GameStation over Christmas, I found my first ‘proper’ job: being a content editor for an E-commerce firm in Stockton. At that time I was responsible for writing bespoke content (such as product descriptions, blogs etc.) for a new website, and over five years I built the website up into a multi-million pound turnover platform. After half a decade there I really wanted more variation in my day-to-day work, so I applied for a job at East Durham College, which is just down the road from my parent’s house, and got it! Three years later I’m loving being at EDC; every day is different, I’ve learned new skills such as photography and video editing, and I love my job.

What I really love about my job in the creative industries is the variation. Not being chained to a desk every day is a massive bonus. It’s a crazy world with lots going on every day, but it’s fantastic. Finding the right job in marketing makes a world of difference.

I would absolutely recommend the University of Sunderland to other students; professionally speaking, my degree has opened doors for me that wouldn’t have been otherwise – it could do the same for you too! Working in marketing, as I do now, is a massively rewarding job, mainly because I work for a place where I have a huge, varied workload and where I get to learn loads of new skills every single day.

Studying at Sunderland was the catalyst for where I am now; I don’t think I would be in the position I am without my degree and the skillset I honed through university. It made me more mature as a person, I discovered hidden talents I didn’t know I had and it also is the place I met my girlfriend, who I’m still with over 10 years later! So, in summary, I loved coming to the University of Sunderland, and I think others will too!”

Published 11 November 2020