Name of Student:  Ayooluwatomi Adesina

Degree Subject:  MA Creative Writing

Job Title: GBP 5836 Communications Assistant

Company Name:  University of Exeter

Type of Internship:  Graduate Business Partnership (GBP)

What were your key duties and responsibilities during your internship?

During my internship, I worked within the University’s Press Office, with a specific focus on celebrating student achievement within the medical school.

In this time, I created a range of visual content for social media channels and campus screens to communicate with the students.

I was also responsible for writing newsletters and reviewing press-releases. I also monitored social media channels and worked with the team to develop strategies to increase brand awareness.

What was your biggest achievement on your internship?

I think my biggest achievement was moving from an intern to a full time staff within two-three months of being in the role. Thanks to a supportive team, I had learned the ropes pretty quickly and made a decent impression within the team. I was also trained on preparing for interviews which I used in my day-to-day role conversing with students to share their achievements, and academics in publicising research. This built tremendous confidence and articulation which was useful when I interviewed for my new role and I was given the job.

Were there any challenges and how did you overcome these?

My first challenge was learning how to write “corporately”. As a creative writer, I had a lot of flexibility in my writing style, but corporate writing has a different structure to it. I later learnt how to adapt my creativity to this structure so I could churn out news stories with more panache. My line manager was very patient with me and ensured that I got the hang of it, whilst not losing my flair. I’m pleased to have grown in that task as I’ve added an extra layer of skill in my current role.

Skills Learnt: 

• Ability to Work Under Pressure
• Organisation
• Leadership
• Strategic Planning

Attributes Developed:

• Logical thinking
• Creative thinking
• Independence
• Work Ethic
• Professionalism

Your message to other students considering a similar job role, organisation or sector?

I’d say summarise my experience as “From Intern to Full staff”. This is my second time an intern with the University. The first was an SCP role when I was a Masters’ student in 2020 and I’m grateful for opportunities like this to grow and expand my skills.