student – Queen's Careers and Employability Blog

Unlock Your Future: Share Your Aspirations and Win with Cibyl’s Survey

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of students across the nation while having the chance to win fantastic prizes? If so, you’re in luck!

At Queen’s University Belfast we’re excited to introduce you to an incredible opportunity offered by Cibyl, a leading student market research consultancy in the UK and Ireland. Cibyl plays a crucial role in providing employers and universities with invaluable insight into students’ career thinking, helping to bridge the gap between education and employment.

Why Should You Get Involved?

As a student or recent graduate, your experiences are invaluable. Here’s why you should get involved:

Influence the Future:

Cibyl conducts annual research to understand your experiences with graduate recruitment. Your participation empowers universities and employers to take meaningful steps to ensure your success in your first graduate role.

Win Amazing Prizes:

By taking part in Cibyl’s 15-minute survey, you could win incredible prizes, including:

–£500 gift cards of your choice (two given away at the close of the survey).

–A HP Pavilion x360 2 in 1 laptop (given away at the close of the survey).

–£100 gift cards of your choice (given away every week, with 14 to give away!).

Make a Positive Impact:

Every perspective matters, and together, students like you can make a meaningful change to student recruitment. Participating in this survey will contribute to creating a brighter future for students across the nation.

We encourage all Queen’s students and recent graduates to participate in this opportunity. Your responses are completely anonymous, so you can be candid about your university experiences and career aspirations.

Your voice matters, and your insight can drive positive change for future generations of students.

Start the survey now: Take the Cibyl Survey.

How To Get Into: Media & Communications

Daniel McGibbon, a blogger from our MEDIA programme, shares the top tips he has learned about breaking into the media and communications sector.

There is no one route into the industry.

The beauty of entering the media and communications sector lies in its lack of a standardised process. There is no established set of hurdles to clear to get a job. In the points below, I’ll explore some of the vast array of opportunities, methods and avenues to enter the sector. The door is open to anyone with the drive to succeed!

2. Writing experience is invaluable

Having experience in writing is crucial when beginning a career in media and communications – the clue is in the name! Make sure to jump at any opportunity to gain writing experience. Whether it’s proofreading or article-writing as a university or school commitment, these are invaluable experiences to boast about when developing a professional CV.

3. Build a portfolio

Employers seek people who are accustomed to writing and purveying concise, engaging information. Practicing your skills through something as minimal as a regular blog post shows not only an ability to write, but a commitment to your passion. Find inspiration through reading industry professionals’ work or using resources like The Associated Press Stylebook and develop a portfolio of writing to showcase your ability to potential employers!

4. Find an internship

It’s not a simple task to land a permanent job in media and communications without having some prior, relevant experience. This is an initially daunting thought but it’s a lot more achievable than you might think.

Everyone must start somewhere, and local work experience, summer internships and similar temporary positions offer an invaluable introduction to the sector! Whether it is assisting at a local radio station or getting accepted to a short-term internship with a media organisation, all relevant experience will make you an attractive candidate for a permanent job. It’s as simple as reaching out and asking if they’ll take you on board for some work experience.

It is important to remember that these experiences are largely unpaid. Whilst big corporations are attractive, they typically exist in cities with huge living expenses that make unpaid positions untenable for someone starting out. Make sure to focus your energy on sustainable experience.

5. Look for an apprenticeship

Another entry point to media and communications exists in the shape of apprenticeships or long-term internships. This avenue offers fantastic experience of how a career in this sector operates daily. This can consist of positions anywhere from television production to online content creation. Check out sites like Idealist for some inspiration.

6. Put yourself out there

Ultimately, there are any number of valid and legitimate ways to enter media and communications, you just have to take the first step and look for openings! Write and read about your interests, ask around for work experience, and most importantly APPLY FOR THE JOB! There are vacancies out there waiting to be filled, it’s up to you to make yourself noticed and prove you want the job.

Want more information on breaking into the media industry? Explore careers by sector area on our website.