Eloise Hewitson

What course did you study for your undergraduate degree and why?

I chose to study Psychology for my undergraduate degree as it was one of the subjects I had taken at A Level. I took great interest in the subject and decided that because it was something I was seemingly good at I would study it at university too. At the time I was thinking about working in some kind of therapy role after graduating so that I could work in a field where I could help people. However, I was not aware of exactly how to get into this field after graduating and had no idea that many paths were extremely competitive, expensive and took a long time.

Which postgraduate course have you chosen to study at Northumbria and why?

Two years after graduating from my undergraduate degree I chose to return to Northumbria to study MSc Digital Marketing with Advanced Practice, a two year course. I chose to study MSc Digital Marketing at Northumbria because it is CIM and IDM accredited as well as having the opportunity to undertake a work placement. I knew as I was entering a brand new field I would need experience under my belt before graduating so that really sealed the deal for me deciding to study at Northumbria.

What were your reasons for changing direction?

Since graduating from my undergraduate degree I had been working as an Apprenticeship Support Advisor where I helped young adults secure apprenticeships. Whilst doing this I became interested in the digital marketing roles my candidates were applying for so I decided to look into digital marketing as a career. I knew that there was little progression available in my job role at the time and wanted to get into a career where I could thrive and, of course, earn a good wage.

What advice would you give somebody who is thinking of studying an entirely new subject for postgraduate study?

My biggest piece of advice would be to do your research. Research the course itself, the modules, teaching staff and go to open days. You can usually ask for the email address of the course leader too, fire off an email with your questions and curiosities to see if the course is the right fit for you and your goals. Research the current job market for the sector you are looking to enter to see if there is a good likelihood of there are actually job vacancies in your area for when you graduate.

How is your current course helping to prepare you for employment?

My current course had the option to find and undertake a four month work placement during the third semester. I was able to secure a placement with a local digital marketing agency where I managed local client's social media and email marketing strategies. During the summer between my first and second year I was also able to take part in a digital marketing Santander Internship for a local brewery through the Business School.

Both of these opportunities allowed me to put what I was learning in my degree into practice and increased my employability. This contributed to me securing a role working as a Digital Marketing Executive for a large motor retailer upon graduation.

Describe Northumbria in 3 words

Modern, Busy, Diverse