Hitting the 7 month mark

By Bryn Berry, BA Hons Advertising and Marketing Management , Leeds Business School 

If I am to be brutally honest, I do not think we, as students, are even the slightest bit prepared for post uni life once the “party lifestyle” of half day lectures, walking around Headingley in bedroom attire, £1 Jager bombs and the 3 days a year we look forward to more than Christmas (Loan day anyone!) cease to exist. Now don’t get me wrong, I have not yet retired my slouch beanie and grey jogging bottoms, I am merely making an educated observation, based on one factor I believe qualifies me; I have just hit the 7 month mark of my placement.

That’s right, I have swapped 2pm wake-ups and the fast food diet for the 9-to-5 lifestyle; constant consultation of a diary, deadlines and living for the weekend. I’m not going to lie; the transition is not for the faint hearted. Before acquiring my placement (Account Coordinator for a creative agency in Leeds) I had signed up through Leeds Met to volunteer with a Sea Turtle Protection Society Archelon in Greece for the summer and negotiated with the company to start on my return, 2 days after my arrival back to the UK. So leaving England a student, spending the summer saving the turtle population and returning to embark on a way of life pretty much alien to me was, at least, a shock to the system.

Alas, please don’t mistake this as a blog of mourning, reminiscing on my once easy student life. Once my body adapted to the initially inhuman task of waking at 7am, the seemingly constant stomach grumbling of hunger and a yawning pattern that can only be compared to a bear fresh out of hibernation, it became apparent how incredibly lucky I was to have attained my position. Within my first 6 months I have worked closely on numerous accounts with a number of highly reputable clients, planned the company Christmas party overcoming obstacles such as budget cuts, catering and venue issues and incorporating an awards event, taken part in “client entertainment”, worked with a team to send out the yearly “Client Christmas Gift” and organised a photo shoot within our in-house photography studio.

I cannot speak for everyone, a placement may not be the right fit for some, I can only speak for myself. But so far I have discovered first hand what it is like to work for an agency, the hard work involved, the roles that are out there and what trials and tribulations you can face. Fully equipped with fresh ambition, improved knowledge, and a greater sense of myself and my capabilities, I plan to charge back into student life with invaluable experience under my belt and a 1^st degree in my sights. Obviously after catching up on some well deserved 2pm lay-ins ;)