I have no excuses for my absence. Actually, that's a lie. I have many:
1) Finishing my third AND FINAL year at university has turned me into a complete hermit.
2) After studying finished, I didn't want to read or write ever again.
3) I got over it, but just felt lazy.
4) I'm now working full time in a GROWN UP JOB. *Scream*
That's correct! I am now a proper 9-to-5 gal. Not that I'm used to it one little bit. Who knew 5 days a week would be so HARD?! I never felt like this when I was at school working 5 days a week! The days have long gone where I could legitimately mong out in my onesie scoffing a Pot Noodle whilst watching Friends or The Walking Dead. I'll still try and find time to do those things nonetheless.
But, let's backtrack a little bit. Before I decided that I wanted a full time job and actually earn enough to start paying tax, I decided to work for free. (Many would ponder what's the difference...)
I did a week's work experience with The Times newspaper in London (that massive News International building where The Sun is based too)
How AWESOME would such a thing look on my CV?! Amazing, what a brand - what an experience in the top-dogs of the journalism industry!
How wrong was I?
I didn't do anything that I thought I would whilst I was there. I worked on the magazine desk, and frankly - I felt like I had no input whatsoever. Oh, wait - I'm being harsh. At one point, I was asked to manually type out chapters from a fiction book because their PDF-to-Word wasn't working. TOP journalism right there! I sat in the corner all day every day, and stuck it out. I have a good 3 years of journalism experience under my belt and I was typing out chapters! It was either chapters or research for interviews. Stuff I could've done from home.
Now, I can't be too harsh, as at the time I didn't have any formal journalism qualifications, so The Times can't just trust anyone to write stuff - but the CHANCE should've been there. A chance to prove myself, get myself published (even if it'd been the SMALLEST piece) but no. I have nothing physical to show for my work experience at The Times apart from £130 taken out of my account to cover travel and food expenses for the week. (No, they didn't pay for anything. But I knew that anyway) I left The Times feeling slightly humoured as 'the work experience girl' and nothing more. I wish I could say the work environment was pleasant, but alas, I cannot. I won't go into even more boring detail, but rant over!
I now have a job where I can actually DO stuff! I have some responsibility at last! Currently I spend my working days engaging with university students (new and existing) digitally via emails and social media, as well as managing the web content for our new website (www.hertfordshire.su, in case you're wondering) it's been stressful at times but I actually don't mind that (for now!) when the new term starts, I'll be engaging with students face to face and promoting the many services that The Students' Union offers.
I'll try to be less absent-y next time... but I'll probably have an excuse!
