Futures newsletter

A week's placement at the NME has opened more doors 

When building a career in journalism, the advice is clear: work experience. And lots of it. My application to NME, a national magazine and a music journalist’s bible, included a brief CV as my only experience was occasionally writing for Impact and a long covering letter about my exuberant passion for music. After sending off many applications, you can imagine my surprise when in February 2012 the NME took an interest in me. Read Emily's experience 

Volunteering at a nature reserve boosts my CV

I work part-time time as a health care support worker and on one of my community days with my service user, I visited Attenborough Nature Reserve. With a passionate interest in environmental conservation and management, I approached the staff to ask about opportunities at the reserve. After being introduced to the team leader and various telephone conversations, I now volunteer for five hours a week. Read Akintunde's experience  

Summer camp experience will help me demonstrate key  skills at interviews

I am a third year natural sciences student, however I went to summer camp between my  first and second year at Nottingham. In the first term my new best friend dragged me along to a talk from Camp America, who were recruiting summer staff to work in their camps. I got hired through a fair; it was a new and daunting experience having to persuade recruiters why they should hire me to work at their camp. Read Amy's experience