Ememobong Etim, a student from Nigeria, is currently studying MSc International Business here at Aston. She also recently secured a postgraduate placement with Vitabonna – congratulations, Ememobong! We asked her to tell us a bit more about the role and how she remained motivated during the search.
What role have you secured and with which organisation?
Business Strategist and Development Analyst with Vitabonna Development Limited.
How did you find this placement?
I saw it in Iwan’s (our Careers Consultant) weekly emails and I applied for the role through Aston Futures.
How long did it take you to find your placement?
It took me about two months and I made six applications.
With my applications I looked at various platforms: Aston Futures, Indeed, LinkedIn, Reed, Student Circus and Debut, amongst many others. With each application, I ensured to adjust my CV and cover letter to align to the requirements of the role. Additionally, with some of the applications, I did my research on the companies to gain information that could help to differentiate my cover letter. I also applied to a range of businesses with different organization sizes, from SMEs to large corporations, to improve my likelihood of having a successful application.
How did you stay motivated throughout the search?
I definitely had times when I felt worried or disheartened! I spoke to fellow students to know their journey of applications and to share advice. I also got encouragement from my family and friends during the process.
What about this organisation or role stood out to you?
The alignment of the responsibilities of this role to my desired career path really stood out to me.
My desired career is to be a consultant for business growth and development. This role involves the strategic application of research and information to create a detailed process plan for the growth of a business.
With my new placement role, I have the responsibility of developing a business plan for a novel disruptive innovation model, so I’m able to directly engage with tasks that are similar to some activities that will be done in my career.
Will you be working remotely?
Yes, I have been working remotely for seven weeks now and it consists of personal and team work, online meetings and phone calls.
What are you most looking forward to about your placement?
The skills and experience that will be gained.
Specifically, I am looking forward to the development of my skillset that will be suitable for the professional world. The transition from a theoretical basis to a realistic and practical one will be highly beneficial for me especially because I switched from an engineering background to a business environment.
The collaboration with my colleagues as well as direction from our team lead is another exciting element as I will be exposed to a variety of perspectives to widen my knowledge of business operations.
Do you have any tips for other students currently looking for work experience or placements?
Take the risks in applications – it is better to take the risk and apply for a job rather than not doing so at all. Also, make use of the resources provided by the careers team, as they will help you to be prepared for each stage of the application process.