News | Tuesday, 20th February 2024

Monika Szabova’s Graduate Story

Monika Szabova, an Events Management graduate, talks about her transition from a student to their role as a Sustainability and Impact Manager at Vita Health Group.

What did you study at Manchester Met and why?

I came to Manchester in 2015 to study BA (Hons) in Events Management. Manchester was my first choice for the vibrant city life and good connectivity with London. When you study events, you need to be in a city full of them!

While I enjoyed learning about how to manage events during my various units, the course opened my eyes to other possibilities and jobs I had no idea existed before. There is so much more you will learn at the university than just what you thought you would. For example, before starting the course, I had no idea about sustainability and the negative impact events have on the environment. It inspired me to become a person who brings about positive change. That’s why after finishing my events management course, I used the alumni discount and applied for an MSc in Environmental Practice – a complete 180-degree change from what I initially set out to do, but it turned out to be the best course of action for my future. I graduated in 2020 with Distinction (in a science subject that I never studied before) and set out on my path to bring the positive change we need in the world.

Did you enjoy your time at Manchester Met? What was your favourite part of your experience?

My Favourite part of being a student at Manchester Met was the opportunities that came with it. I got to join societies, attend many interesting events, take part in volunteering activities, and used the Career Hub to get help with my CV and job applications. I also ended up working for the Humanities Department as a Social Media and Events Assistant, which funded me throughout my Master's degree. I helped to organise Christmas events for staff and students, and worked with venues and artists – fully utilising my BA degree! University was a great time for me where I changed and developed into the person I am today, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What journey did you take whilst looking for a job once finishing University?

I was very active with my job search throughout my university experience. Coming from the EU, I wasn’t eligible for a maintenance loan, meaning I had to fund my lifestyle and accommodation myself. I tried to align my jobs to what I studied – I was an Operation Assistant at an events venue, promoted to a Team Supervisor after a year. Then I managed to get a job at the university as a Social Media & Events Assistant for Research in Arts & Humanities and as I was finishing my Masters I managed to score an internship with the Strategic Planning Department of Arts and Humanities.

While it was initially only a 10-week internship programme, I worked hard and diligently, which got recognised by the team and they extended the funding for several more months.

This was at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, so it was even more difficult to get a full-time job as a fresh graduate. What helped me was doing extra-curricular activities related to the field I wanted to get into (Environmental Practice). I signed up for a 6-month voluntary program in Environmental Leadership through a charity, and while it helped me develop a few key skills, the most valuable outcome was getting a mentor. My mentor introduced me to a few people from this network whom I had chats with and as it turned out – it scored me my first full-time job too.

What is it like working in your field?

I was surprised by how much autonomy I was given from the get-go. Sustainability Manager is a very sought-after profession, and not many people understand the intricacies of sustainability and how to implement it across the organisation, so you’ll be most likely left in charge of telling everyone what to do with limited guidance (within agreed budgets of course).

How does your day-to-day life look like at work?

Working as a Sustainability Manager varies from day to day. You have so many competing priorities that no day is the same. The priorities can change quickly if a new government scheme is introduced or your company suddenly qualifies for a certain reporting standard. A lot of proactive and independent working is required, and often you’ll be looked at as the expert in the field, so you have to be sure about your opinions. That is not the say that I work in isolation – the opposite is true, for sustainability to be truly embedded in a company, you will need a lot of internal buy-in. You will work closely across all the departments, getting data, creating engagement strategies, and proposing new efficient ways of working – depending on what the company’s priorities are.

What advice would you give students looking to get into your field of work?

Network, network, network. The power of networking will never cease to amaze me – you can get a job out of having a conversation. I use LinkedIn a lot when looking for jobs, try to be active with your posts and outreach, and search for jobs on their site – they usually include the salary range too, so you know what to aim for. And please, don’t undersell yourself. Always research how much is the average pay for your role and aim for at least that – if the company is flexible and willing to invest in your further development that’s an even bigger plus!

If you could give one piece of advice for those starting their career journey, what would you say?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to people in the industry you want to get to and ask about their journey. It can inspire you to work harder to get there but also give you good tips and ideas on how to approach the job searching process yourself.

Do you feel being a first-generation student/graduate affected your University experience or career path?

I came from a family of very low-income but hard-working people. I knew that once I got the opportunity to go follow my dreams I wouldn't give up and being the first from my family to achieve not one but two university degrees, in a completely different country, speaking a different language, was one of my biggest accomplishments.

Being a first-generation university student affected my experience and career in quite a big way. I had no immediate role model to look up to. Nobody in my family to go for advice or just simply talk about the different career options or struggles of an office job. My parents still to this day don't quite understand what I do all day, as the idea of working on a computer for a career is so foreign to them. However, they gave me undivided support and cheered me on in whichever form they could, so I count myself very lucky.

The advice I would give to other first-generation students is to find your tribe. It can be your fellow students, your tutors, a career advisor, or someone at work who you can look up to and discuss these seemingly inconsequential things with. It will make you feel less alone, and you can learn from one another.