Tell us about your employer

Canvas Reply designs, develops and delivers world-class digital experiences for its clients. With services including UX Research, UI & Creative Design, Bespoke Development, and Project Delivery, we combine insight, creativity, and technical expertise to deliver all-encompassing digital solutions.

What was the position you were recruited for. Please briefly outline the position you were recruited to within your organisation and summarise the business needs and role you fulfil

EI work as a PMO Coordinator at Canvas Reply. I joined three months ago and have already been involved in several projects, engaging with Delivery Leads and Project Managers, attending and participating in client workshops and supporting project operations.

What attracted you to this position?

Reply first attracted me by their website and digital approach to consulting, then, I discovered its culture and people. Moreover, I believe the field of consultancy and in particular digital consultancy is the perfect opportunity for starting a career, allowing me to explore different industries and sectors to find my best fit along the way.

What are the key skills you learnt at Warwick that have helped you with your career to date?

The course I studied at Warwick was highly practical, which undoubtedly has helped to enter the workplace more confident. During my time at WBS, I took a module which specifically covered the basics of what I do now, Agile Methodologies, Scrum Master and Project Management principles. As well as learning code and therefore now being comfortable when speaking to developers for projects and using a variety of tools in my day to day job.

What has been your greatest career challenge to date and how did your experience and skills help overcome it?

As a young female having graduated not so long ago, I would say the biggest challenge I have faced to date has been the jump from studying to entering the work environment and the process to landing a job.

There are many opportunities out there, however, rejections are tough and I found being in a constant state of uncertainty quite hard. I made sure to not get discouraged and took any opportunity to study, do internships and waited until I found the job I am doing now. Whether you are doing something different to what you want to do, there is always time to learn, all skills are transferable. I switched from executive events in my first internship, to Project Management at a digital consultancy now. Who knows what is ahead of all of us, the workplace is constantly requiring us to adapt and be ready for new challenges, so I think the most important is to have the right mindset and be positive and above all consistent.

What top tips would you give to students looking for a career in your market sector?

The consulting sector is a very broad space which fits practically every skill, but don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone too and apply to something a bit different from what you have studied. Being honest, what you learn during university is applicable in the workplace but you will learn and grow by doing and shadowing people at work.

Also make good use of LinkedIn, update your profile and follow companies you may be interested in. Keep applying to jobs you think you may like and don't give up!

What do you know now that you wish you had known when you were applying for jobs?

I think it is very important to have a picture in your head of certain characteristics you want to get in your job, you will more or less know if you fit in from interviews or assessment centres. But I would say it is also trial and error, if you are a fresh graduate, you have to try certain things to know what you like doing. Organisations and people change, there is always opportunities to move job and you have to be proactive about this, evolve and adapt to the fast changing environment.