Not knowing the kind of job, or even the sector, that she wanted to work in, Emma Reekie struggled to decide what to study.
She began researching several different courses in universities and colleges throughout the UK, with the only criteria being that it had to be a subject focused on words, rather than numbers!
It was Emma’s parents that recommended Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and after a quick look on their website, followed by an open day tour around the campus, Emma knew the university, and its broad range of professionally focused courses, were the right fit for her.
Since graduating from QMU in 2019 with a BA (Hons) in Public Relations, Marketing and Events (now titled BA (Hons) Digital Marketing and Public Relations), Emma has thrown herself into the various opportunities that her degree has equipped her to do, as well as experiencing work in different sectors, before finally landing on her preferred job. In this student story, Emma shares her experiences and the fact that it’s ok to not always know exactly what you want to do in life.
Why did you choose to study at QMU?
I’ve always loved Edinburgh. Being from Glasgow, it was a perfect distance from home – I wanted to move to fully immerse myself in the authentic university experience, but in the knowledge that my home comforts would still only be a short train journey away.
QMU was the only university I could find that had such broad course offerings, and the Public Relations, Marketing and Events course seemed ideal. The content was varied and would allow me to try out different sectors so I could gain extensive experience that would serve me well in the workplace, no matter what area I would end up settling into.
Was the PR, Marketing and Events course the right choice for you?
The course was exactly what I was looking for. As I was never certain about what I wanted to do, I really ended up basing my decision on what I enjoyed the most at school and what would present me the best opportunities when I graduated.
The Events module proved to be the most interesting for me, but I was very glad I was able to learn about the other aspects of the course. This way, I gained a much broader understanding of the world of media and communications, which I knew would give me the best range of options when it came to looking for jobs – and they certainly did!
What did you most enjoy about your course?
One of my biggest concerns about university (which also transpired into the workplace too) was sitting at a computer all day like a zombie. I quickly realised that wouldn’t be the case at QMU. As much as we had the all-important theory-based learning in lecture halls, our lecturers made sure that the modules were highly engaging and often activity based.
During my time at university, I was able to create websites, participate in a real-life PR crisis scenario, design an online portfolio, write blogs, organise and execute our very own event in the Students’ Union, pitch a proposal to a real-life client, go on a month-long placement in an industry of our choosing, and even take a day trip to Musselburgh Racecourse to help write a marketing plan for the site. There were loads of great opportunities that helped us develop our skills out with a classic classroom set-up, and this is also what made me realise I wanted the same kind of dynamism in my future job.
How did your lecturers support your learning?
The lecturers at QMU really are special. You can tell how much they care and how much they want their students to succeed. In particular, my dissertation supervisor, Ann Turner, who was also the Programme Leader of my course at the time, was truly wonderful. I can’t thank her enough for all of her help and support with, not just my dissertation, but also other aspects of the course.
During my time at QMU, I also made a lot of use of the Effective Learning Service, which really helped me hone my academic writing skills.
What did you think of the facilities at QMU?
In 1st year, I stayed in QMU’s student residences, and loved every second of it. My flatmates and I would go to Welcome Week activities together, take day trips to Portobello beach, climb Arthur’s Seat, make group meals and have movie nights together. We’d also host several parties in our flat!
I was a member of the on-campus gym, which was ideal; made good use of the library, and enjoyed a drink or two at the Students’ Union, especially when it was great weather and we could sit outside. The fact that the campus was right next to the train station was great too, as it was really easy to get to and from the city centre, as well as my hometown of Glasgow.
What have you been doing since graduating?
I feel like I have been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride since graduating!
A one-month placement in my 4th year of my course at an events management company led to me landing my first full-time job within the team (which I accepted after taking a couple months out to enjoy some travelling in South East Asia – something I had always wanted to do!)
After two years helping to organise some of the UK’s biggest mass participation running events, such as the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, I decided to turn my hand to the world of PR, starting as an Account Executive at Scottish agency, Holyrood PR – which had also hired a number of my fellow QMU graduates across the years. I spent a further two years at the agency, working for an array of clients, from small start-ups to national corporations, such as Mackie’s of Scotland, and gained some great experience. During my time at Holyrood PR, it became clear to me that agency PR just wasn’t for me, so when my managers offered me a chance to go on secondment to the University of Edinburgh as a Corporate Communications Manager for two months, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.
After a successful two months at the University of Edinburgh, I was delighted to be asked back for a further six-month secondment, and I can honestly say that it opened my eyes to the type of job I wanted to work in. I felt so much enjoyment working with students and I much preferred executing the PR for the company I was working for, as opposed to third-party clients. I felt like I had finally found something I had a passion for, and from there, I applied for a job in the Marketing and Communications team back here at QMU. I am delighted to say that’s where I’m now working. No two days are the same – whether I’m facilitating filming opportunities with the BBC, attending an event to capture social media content, or grabbing a coffee with students and graduates to find out their stories and write case studies for our website (much like this one you are reading now) - it’s certainly not a ‘sit at a desk all day long’ type situation, which is exactly what I wanted!
Sometimes it can take time to find exactly what it is you are looking for (especially when it feels like so many of your peers know what they want to do in their life, even as early as school), but that doesn’t mean that you are behind. There can be some trial and error to finding the kind of job you want to work in and what suits you best, but every job is an opportunity to gain valuable experience. However, it does feel good when you find your fit in the world of work, and I value the sense of community, belonging and purpose that I’ve experienced as both a student and a member of staff at QMU.
