Profiles

Megan Simpson

Working as a Projects Assistant.

Left Toot Hill in 2018

What are the key transferable skills you have developed through your working life?

  • Confidence, punctuality, time management, being a team member, and understanding target audience

My advice to you...

  • Sometimes where your path leads isn't where you think it will go, I never imagined I would working for a fire alarm company, I wanted to be sociologist, then an author, then an artist, at one point I nearly joined the RAF. It's always good to keep your options open, but don't worry too much about your entire future right now, embrace being at school and learn as much as you can!

Ethan McKenna

Working as a Live Event Technician.

Left Toot Hill in 2017

What was your best decision/best opportunity you have had?

  • I have done several work placements on UK tours and West End Theatre shows which have been amazing. My work has ranged from small scale local gigs to large music festivals and therefore every time I work on a new event, it is a completely different experience so it’s always interesting.

What are the key transferable skills you have developed through your working life?

  • The main transferable skills I have developed have been communication and teamwork. When working on events it is often a case of working with either small or very large teams of people that you have never met before therefore it has been important to learn how to communicate. Organisation and time management has also been important as there is always a strict schedule to stick to.

Ellis Maddison

Working as a Music Journalist.

Left Toot Hill in 2017

What is your job title and briefly describe your job role?

  • To be honest I work a few different jobs currently, mainly in music journalism and public relations. I’ll try and summarise a few of my jobs:
  • Editor-in-Chief: Essentially I’m editor for a team of 10 or so music journalists who run a network of around 30 different independent music blogs. As editor, I have press releases sent through to me containing information from new bands or musicians that have released new music or have an album on the way. I then delegate these press releases out to my writers and ask for a certain number of articles written on the news returned to me by the end of the week.
  • I founded my own music magazine where I also act as editor for team of music journalists and photographers. All in all I manage a team of around 40 contributors. I’m also regularly contacted by bands and musicians who wish to feature on the mag. Visit Soundwave Magazine to find out more.

My advice to you...

  • Jump at any opportunity you may come across which could help further your career, even if they are just internships or work experience roles. Where these roles may not pay initially, adding little bits of experience here and there will eventually mean you’ll have an extensive amount of experience that will collectively make you look that much better when it comes to applying for full-time jobs in future.

Emma Baker

Working as a Social Media & Outreach Assistant.

Left Toot Hill in 2016

What was your best decision/best opportunity you have had?

  • Hard to pick one, so my top three are visiting New York with my university, working at London Fashion Week with a PR company, and my first launch event with In the Style. Each opportunity was an experience I have always dreamed of and a bit of a pinch me moment!

What are the key transferable skills you have developed through your working life?

  • The ability to communicate with different people effectively and stepping out of my comfort zone to reach out for what I want. Take everything as a learning experience whether you enjoy it or not.

Oscar Izard

Working as a Life Guard Trooper

Left Toot Hill in 2016

What does your job entail?

  • Over the last year or so I have been on a Jungle Warfare Overseas Training Exercise attached to the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards, where we set the British Army record for the most amount of concurrent days spent in the jungle on exercise without leaving at 32 days. I also bumped into another former pupil, Alistair Walker. I've also had the opportunity to do recreational rides at Chobham common and Blenheim Palace and was entered for jumping competitions.

What was your best decision/best opportunity you have had?

  • I have ridden for the Queen on the Queen's Birthday Parade, taken part in the Cenotaph Parade and the Garter Service. Have been inside Buckingham Palace more times than I care to remember and have performed Queen's Life Guard Duties to no end.

Maddie Drabble

Working as a Brand and Strategy Manager & as a Future Trainee Solicitor.

Left Toot Hill in 2013

What is your job title and briefly describe your job role?

  • I work as the Brand and Strategy Manager. We help diverse students from underrepresented backgrounds (BAME, socially mobile, LGBTQ+ and/or those with a disability or long-term health condition) access the legal profession through free events, coaching and mentoring, work experience opportunities, scholarships and competitions.

What are the key transferable skills you have developed through your working life?

  • Resilience, interpersonal skills, teamwork, communication skills (written and verbal), adaptability, analysis, attention to detail and the ability to be proactive and use my initiative.

Alice Shepperson

Working as a Freelance Dance Artist.

Left Toot Hill in 2012

What University or apprenticeship did you go to/do after leaving?

  • I went to a dance conservatoire in Leeds called Northern School of Contemporary Dance. I then went on to do Jasmin Vardimon's Professional Development Certificate Course.

What are the key transferable skills you have developed through your working life?

  • Adaptability- my line of work always asks for more than just dance. Whether that's having to learn new skills as a mover and performer or learning how to promote yourself as an artist. Some days I will be writing tonnes of emails or editing a showreel; the next day I'm creating material for choreographers or learning new moves. This way I can do what a choreographer or director asks of me with precision and confidence.

Copyright disclaimer: Stopgap Dance Company and image by Chris Parkes

Teresa Talbot

Working as a Software Developer.

Left Toot Hill in 2007

What are the key transferable skills you have developed through your working life?

  • Working with autonomy and ownership Balancing speed and quality
  • Questioning the way we do things
  • Breaking down large projects into designable pieces
  • Communication of complex ideas with various audiences
  • Coding skills

What was your best decision/best opportunity you have had?

  • The best opportunity I had was when a Product Lead at a company invested in my desire to move from Operations into Software Development. I then learnt a new skill set and started a career in something I really enjoy.

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