Why did you choose to study a year in professional practise?
I chose to study a year in industry because I wanted an experience of working in a professional environment that is relevant to my degree programme, and my placement gave me opportunities to learn new practical skills that I wouldn’t have been able to learn just by studying. I also wanted to get a better idea of what it is like to work in the environmental sector.
Tell me about your year in industry – how did you get your placement?
I was struggling to secure a placement as we were still coming out of lockdown at the time, so I reached out to the HSS Placements Team who helped me find a placement opportunity with the University Sustainability Team. My role was Sustainability Projects Officer, and I worked in the Safety, Health, and Environment Unit.
Where was it and what did your work involve?
During my placement, I was working with the University of Kent Sustainability Team which is based on the Canterbury campus. My work included learning about the University’s Environmental Management System, writing a sustainability training module for staff, planning events for Climate Action Week, working with volunteers at the Kent Community Oasis Garden, managing social media accounts, and working towards the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Gold award.
Where did you live during your placement?
I was lucky to be able to live on campus for my year in placement as it made it very easy to get to work! Having a 7-minute walk across the beautiful Canterbury campus each morning was something I was very grateful for. It also meant that I was able to enjoy university life despite being on placement as I spent time with my flatmates and was still able to attend societies and events easily.
Were there any nerve-wracking moments?
One moment I was really nervous about was when we were promoting the events for Climate Action Week. I was asked to speak to camera to spread the word about the event I was planning, and I hadn’t done anything like that before, so I kept tripping over my words and forgetting what I had to say. I’m so glad that the team supported me and encouraged me to keep going though, because I now do lots of interviews for media and stand in front of a camera quite often! I guess practice really does help.
How do you think work-work compares to uni-work?
Work-work is hard because of the long hours, and I wasn’t so keen on having to stay put at a desk for long periods of time. However, it really does make a difference having set working hours and knowing that at the end of the day you can stop. At uni, I tend to just keep going with work, especially if there is a deadline close-by, and that’s quite exhausting over a long period of time. It was nice to have a clean break between work time and chill time.
How do you think your placement experiences have changed you?
I think I have a much better idea of what career path I’d like to go down now. Getting to try out lots of different aspects of the job within my role meant that I learnt a lot about what I did enjoy and what I didn’t like so much, as well as gaining a better understanding of where my skills lie. I also have a much better understanding of the University of Kent’s relationship with sustainability, and the dynamics of working within a large institution.
What was your favourite memory?
My favourite memory was seeing my planning and hard work come together when we held the ‘Co-create your campus of the future’ event. The event had taken months of organisation and it was incredibly rewarding to see everyone taking part and getting involved with conversations about sustainability on campus.
What about support from the University while you were there?
I really appreciated the support that I received from the University while I was on placement. I had termly meetings with my academic advisor, and I knew that the HSS Placements Team were there to support me if I needed it. I thought that writing the monthly blogs as part of our assessment was very useful as it allowed us to keep track of everything that we’d been doing whilst also checking in with the Uni.
You did really well in your assessment, what qualities do you think helped to achieve that?
I think the blogs really helped with this too. Without them, I would’ve forgotten everything I had done over the course of the year, and I would’ve struggled to write my final report. It was very helpful to read through those and remember the processes that I went through to achieve the final results of the projects I worked on. I also think I developed my confidence and public speaking skills throughout my placement year which helped me when giving the placement presentation.
How has the placement aligned with your career aspirations?
The placement has given me experience working in a role that has sustainability at its core. I aspire to have a career where I feel l am able to make a difference to my local community, and so working at my own University was a real privilege. I also really enjoyed my time working at the Kent Community Oasis Garden, a collaborative project with East Kent Mind, which focuses on sustainability, gardening, community, and wellbeing. Working on that project highlighted my interest in the relationship between nature and wellbeing, which I would like to pursue as a career path.
What do you think your Year In Industry time will add to your resume and your overall job prospects when you graduate?
The skills that I learnt during my year in industry have already helped me secure part time work in my final year, as I am now able to edit web pages, use Mailchimp, and manage social media pages. When I graduate, I am confident that the skills I learnt throughout my year in industry, including confidence with public speaking, report writing, graphic design, and events management, will add strength to my resume and increase my job prospects.
Finally, what advice will you give to the next cohort of YiI students?
I would recommend giving the year in industry your all. Consider what you want to get out of the placement before you go, and check up on those goals while you are there. Make sure you ask for additional opportunities if you are not working in the way you would like to be, and don’t be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone. It will definitely benefit you in the long-run!
Isabella Sabin-Dawson is studying for a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Social Sciences with a Year in Professional Practice