What Now? – New Alumni Newsletter, 2018
Justine Cooper graduated from York St John University in 2018 with a degree in English Literature and after graduating she stayed at YSJ to study a Masters in Contemporary Literature. First in her family to attend university and to move away from her hometown she didn’t know what to expect from university, but she loved living in York and the staff and fellow students made her undergraduate experience ‘amazing both academically and personally’. Justine looked at other universities for her MA course, but she decided to stay at York St John because she preferred the modules and research focus that the postgraduate courses offer here. She also wasn’t ready to leave York just yet, so she decided to continue to live and study here. Justine would advise recent graduates who are considering postgraduate study to go for it. She says: ‘if you are passionate about your subject and aren’t ready to leave education because you want more from it then do it; there is so much support and funding and you will love it!’
If you want to engage in further study, York St John University offers postgraduate scholarship for continuing students and 10% off tuition fees to York St John alumni. You can also browse postgraduate opportunities and funding within the UK and worldwide on FindAMasters and FindAPhD.
James Thorn graduated from York St John University in 2013 with a degree in Business Management. He spent several years working in the property industry and then he returned to York St John to study a Masters in International Business Management. Whilst working, James quickly identified that communication was a significant issue in the property sector. ‘Many complaints in the property sector arise and escalate thanks to a lack of communication. Tenants often feel they are left in the dark when not continuously updated about a situation regarding their property,’ James told us. “When a tenant raises an issue with their agent, that issue is usually separately communicated across a number of stakeholders, using a range of different methods, before the issue is finally resolved.’ Thanks to the progress he has made thorough our Grad2Director programme, along with his knowledge of the property sector and his extensive research, James developed his own property management tool, Tenancy Stream, and became director of his own company. The Grad2Director programme has been developed in partnership between York St John University and Dr John Park, an international expert in product and service innovation. It aims to help recent York St John graduates to launch private limited companies and becoming directors of their own companies.
If you are interested in starting and developing your own business, find out more information about Grad2Director on our website or email us at alumni@yorksj.ac.uk.
Becky Lowe graduated from York St John University in 2018 with a degree in English Literature. She loves York St John’s community spirit and she told us: ‘at the beginning of my degree, I was convinced that as soon as my degree was over I’d move straight back to Sheffield; by the spring of third year, I was trying to find any opportunity to stay in York, but more importantly, at YSJ”.’ After graduating, she applied for the Graduate Internship programme through York St John’s careers service, and she is currently undertaking a 12-month graduate internship in the Events Office.
Becky decided to sign up for the Graduate Internship programme because she thought there was no ‘better way to have my first taste of full time work than in a place which had already given me so much confidence in my abilities both academically and socially’. Even though she has only been in her position since the end of September, she feels that she has already grown so much in her confidence and in her professionality in the work environment. Becky would advise recent graduates to keep an eye on the opportunities available: ‘if there is an internship that sounds interesting to you, even if it’s in an area you hadn’t considered before, look into it; ask questions because the graduate internship scheme is perfect stepping stone from undergraduate to full-time employment.’ Also, she stresses the importance of taking your time completing the application form and making it professional . ‘All the applicants are in the same situation, so it needs to be concise and accurate to make you stand out.’
Internships are the perfect way of making your first steps into the jobs market. If you are interested in gaining experience within the University or with an external employer, sign up for the Graduate Internship programme or, if you would like more information, email internships@yorksj.ac.uk. If you have left York after graduating, and you’d like to gain relevant work experience in your field, you can browse graduate internships opportunities nationwide and worldwide on Prospects or on the Government Graduate Talent Pool.
Whether you’re already certain of what you want do after graduation or you’re still deciding, there are plenty of opportunities out there. And don’t forget that, as part of the York St John Alumni community, you are entitled to career services for life; so, if you feel you’re in need of some career advice, don’t hesitate to contact the Careers Office.
