Alumni Stories - Anita Chagar
I completed the Teach First programme from 2015-2017 as a Secondary School English teacher. I then worked for Teach First’s Recruitment Team as an Assessor from 2017-2019. As of September 2019, I am a graduate at Heathrow Airport on their Future Leaders Programme.
Tips
- Apply to multiple opportunities at a time, and if one comes back unsuccessful, immediately find another opportunity to apply for.
- Whilst waiting to receive news, keep yourself busy with activities that benefit your personal development. For example, reading relevant materials; completing online training; volunteering; supporting a charity; writing a blog on topical affairs; finding short-term work experience.
Wisdom
- It’s okay to not know right now exactly what you want to do or who you want to be in the long-term. Instead focus on the journey you would like to go on – the experiences you would like to have, the professional relationships you would like to build, the qualities you would like to develop within yourself. This will help you eventually reach that elusive end goal, which you may figure out along the way, or not at all – but you will be grateful for the journey that got you there.
- Don’t feel like you have to set yourself on one role, one organisation, or one sector, straight after graduating. You may start out in a job that you soon realise is not suited to you; don’t be afraid to make a change and go elsewhere. Transferable skills and experience are valued wherever you go; you can provide your new place of work with a unique insight that can lead to innovative ways of working.
Encouragement
- Everything happens for a reason. Even if you don’t know the reason immediately, it will come to you eventually. And you’ll find yourself appreciating the challenges you have faced because of the heightened strength you now have when you overcame them.
- Don’t consider ‘The Class of 2020/The COVID-19 Cohort’ as a label for uncertainty, adversity or loss, but as a label for determination, resilience and a new way of achieving success.
Inspired to share your own story? Please email alumni at warwick dot ac dot uk