Fiona Walsh BA English, 2015

Southampton Hub Manager at Student Hubs

I loved the campus, and the energy and enthusiasm which the student ambassadors had for the University of Southampton when I came to visit. The English course itself looked incredibly engaging; I was really interested in the department’s work with the Parkes Institute and the modules of Jewish Fictions and Holocaust Literature, as well as the diverse range of 20th century modules.

The people on the course, students, lecturers and PhD students, were all fantastic and I continue to regularly meet with friends I made on my English BA course. The expertise in the department was very diverse and the module Holocaust Literature was an amazingly insightful and a fascinating module.

What other activities did you take advantage of while at University?

I was a student ambassador from 2013; I took part in Southampton University Archery Club (SUAC) and was involved with the committee for two years; I volunteered for Southampton Hub; and set up the Student Ambassador Society.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

The diverse range of modules, especially in the first year from Anglo Saxon English all the way up to 20th and 21st century texts, was a useful starting point to consider how we wanted to choose our modules in the following year. The people on the course, students, lecturers and PhD students, were all fantastic and I continue to regularly meet with friends I made on my English BA course. The expertise in the department was very diverse and the module Holocaust Literature was an amazingly insightful and a fascinating module.

What have been the highlights of your career to date?

Being able to produce the annual prospectus for three years for Itchen Sixth Form College and create brand new video campaign content, along with the work I did going into local schools and talking about college options, was a huge career highlight and taught me much about the education sector, marketing and how to support young people. In my current role at Student Hubs, connecting with a network of such passionate and driven individuals and being able to rapidly develop the local work the Hub does in Southampton has been a huge achievement and something I’m very proud of.

How did your time at Southampton help you to grow as a person and help you get to where you are now?

My experiences as a student ambassador and in my role as Events Officer for Southampton University Archery Club (SUAC) were both massively helpful in developing my skills in public speaking, organisation, time management, confidence and how to work as part of a team. The role as a student ambassador also helped me professionally develop in terms of the relationships I was able to develop and facilitate with young people, and my knowledge and expertise in the FE and HE landscape which translated directly into my first job working at a sixth form college.

What advice would you give to a student starting their degree at Southampton?

Make sure that you are taking on other extra-curricular opportunities whilst you are at university, whether that’s as part of a society, being a student ambassador, or doing part-time work or employability schemes. These will help you stand out as a candidate when you leave and give you lots of experiences which will help you personally and professionally develop.

What tips would you give to current students looking to start a career in your sector?

The third sector is very competitive, so make sure that you have a variety of additional experience outside of your degree. Ensure you are volunteering, that you’re looking for experiences such as shadowing, internships or work experience, and consider what skills you have developed from these experiences which will make you a strong candidate for the role. Charity roles often involve lots of independence, innovation and initiative, so take on roles which develop these skills!