Now I’m nearing the end of my year at GSK it’s dawned on me that I now have to take that dreaded next step….final year. With little inkling as to what our dissertation topic is going to be, the thought of another hefty portfolio and countless assignments looming in front of us, it’s hardly surprising that some students are daunted. What DOES surprise me is that this fear, alongside the newly found security of a full time job (however temporary it really is…) has led some of my fellow students to make the decision of not returning to university. Now admittedly, some are transferring unis and not quitting, but either way this seems like an odd decision to me.
I can hardly sit here and preach about not quitting something once you’ve started (a certain media production course will remain unnamed) but I just can’t imagine taking up an offer to stay in the role I’m in rather than finish the course. This might just be personal opinion but surely it’s selfish of the employer to try and keep the student on? Sure, it’ll be harder to let the student go and train someone new, but if you’re so keen to have them in the team, then why not let them finish their degree and come back to you with more knowledge, and therefore more to offer?
I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work for GSK for the year, and it’s been an amazing experience, but I’m also grateful that my boss really understands the industry and what she can do to help me progress. Although I’ve had an exciting year, working in house and with agencies on numerous brands, I really feel like I want to be IN those agencies, working creatively on campaigns.
I’m not naïve (well not TOO naïve), I know that competition for agency jobs is pretty intense, which is why I’m looking into summer internships with the agencies that really catch my eye. Feel free to throw ideas my way…
