Careers with a Sociology,

Communications and Media degree

Kate Croucher

Deputy Director Careers

Placement and Careers Centre

What we’ll cover

• What can you do with your degree?

• How can you make the most of the time

you’ve got at Brunel?

• Postgraduate study – what, why, how?• Postgraduate study – what, why, how?

• Help from the Placement and Careers Centre

Myth busting

Teaching or social work are my only options

2010 Brunel Sociology/Comms graduates working as:

- Sales and Marketing Executive

- HR Graduate Trainee- HR Graduate Trainee

- Research and Development Assistant

- PR Account Executive

- Recruitment Consultant

- Production Assistant

- Assistant Editor

- Marketing Personal Assistant

What can you do with your degree?

Comms/Media grads are often drawn to careers such as:

• Media Production – TV, film, radio

• Press, PR and Journalism

• Marketing, advertising

Sociology grads are often drawn to careers such as:

• Research, public sector policy, advice, welfare, housing, youth

work and social work

• Teaching – primary, secondary, special needs, FE and HE

Your options are much broader - 60% of graduate

employers have no preference for subject studied

Myth busting

Media careers are only possible if you have

connections

• Brunel graduates are currently working for:

o Endemol – Big Brother Production Manager o Endemol – Big Brother Production Manager

o Sky TV - Head of Graduate Talent

o Avalon Television – TV Producer

o Channel 4 – PA to Head of 4 Talent

o BBC Radio – Producer

o Aegis Media – Digital Planning Director

• But they didn’t get there without networking,

persistence, talent and a perfect CV

Myth busting

The job market is still difficult – best option is

to do a Masters/go travelling/keep my part-

time job and wait for things to get better

• Be sure of your reasons for postgraduate study• Be sure of your reasons for postgraduate study

• ‘More time to decide what to do’ may be a risky strategy

• It can be very costly

• Independent travel is a fantastic opportunity but you’ll still

have to face the music when you return (and you might miss

out on some opportunities while you’re away)

• Be careful not to get stuck in the retail rut

Beware the following assumptions

• Teaching’s an easy/safe option

• I’ll start volunteering in the new year

• I’ll start job applications in the summer

• I’ll start thinking what I want to do after my degree• I’ll start thinking what I want to do after my degree

• Best to focus my energy on getting the best possible

degree grade

• Hobbies and interests aren’t very important

• Employers won’t be interested in retail/customer

service experience – best to leave it off my CV

Reasons for postgraduate study

• Improve my job prospects

• Wait for the economic climate to improve

• May be an essential qualification for chosen career

• Allows for a change in direction

• Specialisation in a particular aspect of undergrad study• Specialisation in a particular aspect of undergrad study

• Personal challenge

• A lecturer has suggested it

• If I don’t do it now I’ll lose the ability/motivation to study

• I don’t know what else to do – more time to decide

Make sure you consider

• Why do you want to do it?

• What advantages might the qualification give you in the job market?

• Course content - what will it add to your academic profile?• Course content - what will it add to your academic profile?

• What challenges might you face during it?

• How does it relate to your longer term career plans?

• Are you certain that this is the best time to do it?

• Can you afford to do it?

• No central application system or deadline

What’s on offer?

• Masters (MA/MSc/MRes)

– 12 month academic study allowing specialisation or a new direction

– MA Sociology & Media Studies, MRes

• Professional/Postgrad diplomas

– 12 months – 2 years. More vocational and geared towards professions– 12 months – 2 years. More vocational and geared towards professions

– PGCE, Dip Social Work, LPC

• Research – PhD

– Develop expert knowledge of your chosen field

– Subjects available often determined by the current research activities of the university

– First steps to an academic career

Some suggestionsSome suggestions

How can you make the most of the

time you have at Brunel?

• Research your sector – graduate schemes v foot in the door

• Know your job titles – Eg what are the key roles in a media

production team? Entry points for a new graduate?

• How do people get jobs in your chosen sector?

• Explore your networks – create some new ones

• Make your CV more interesting

• Where are your gaps?

• Have you got enough/any experience?

• Create your social media profile

• Are you really suited to this line of work?

Media

• Research the job roles - www.skillset.org

• Work experience - Guardian Media Guide, PACT, Kemps

Directory, watch the credits!

• Research the sector - www.guardian.co.uk/media/television

http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/

• Extracurricular activities:

http://brunelstudents.com/volunteer

http://brunelvolunteers.com/blog/category/subject/media-

subject/

http://brunelstudents.com/studentactivities/content/506753

• Create an on-line profile – blog, website, twitter

• Write focused and persuasive applications

Social care professions

• Research the roles -

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs_social_care.htm

• Volunteer

http://brunelvolunteers.com/blog/category/subject/social-

work-subject/work-subject/

• www.do-it.org.uk www.volunteering.org.uk

Know yourself

• Are you suited to these roles?

• Personal considerations

• Is there a better/different match?

• What if you don’t know what you want to do? • What if you don’t know what you want to do?

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/options_with_your_sub

ject.htm#s

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/services/pcc/students/deci

ding-on-your-career

How can the Placement and

Careers Centre help?

• Careers Consultants help you think about your skills & explore your options

• Advertise graduate training schemes, immediate graduate level jobs and internshipsinternships

• Employer events on campus: www.brunel.ac.uk/pcc/events

• Help with job applications – CVs, application forms, postgraduate study applications, interviews

• Quick Query Mon-Fri 11.30am-3.30pm Email for a longer appointment

Questions?

Kate Croucher

Kate.croucher@brunel.ac.uk

01895 267223

Become a fan of our

www.facebook.com/BrunelPCC

01895 267223

www.brunel.ac.uk/pcc

page

Copies of the slides from this workshop will

be available by the end of the week at:

www.brunel.ac.uk/pcc/skills