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Graduates of the University of Winchester described their personal journeys in the creative industries at a special careers day for current students.
A panel of seven assembled for the University’s first Creative Careers Day included five alumni whose employment paths had taken unexpected turns. However, the skills they’d learned at Winchester prepared them navigate these changes and optimise every opportunity.
A willingness to try new things to gain experience and contacts which in turn often led to further job opportunities was a key takeaway from the event.
The audience at the Stripe Auditorium heard how:
Two other alumni described how they’d carved out careers in areas more closely related to their degree studies.
Amanda Watkinson studied Dance and Choreography at Winchester and fulfilled her ambition to become a dance teacher but also set up a dance company Innov8, putting on shows and workshops. This morphed into Move Momentum where Amanda now leads a team of six staff and many more volunteers.
“Networking is super important,” said Amanda. “If the opportunities aren’t there you must create them.”
Shian Hunter, Young People’s Producer at Play to the Crowd, studied Drama at the Winchester, but wanted to write or direct rather than act.
The panel of creatives - Back row from left; Sarah Griffin, Shian Hunter, Rob Peacock and Natasha Vickery-Orme. Front row: Tasha Turnbull, Amanda Watkinson and Matthew Lane
Two successful Hampshire creatives - Sarah Griffin who runs video production firm Flyte Media and Matthew Lane, a location manager for TV and cinema with his own company Film Factory – also described their job journeys.
Sarah’s ‘portfolio career’ was the result of saying ‘Yes to opportunities when they came up”. Her past roles had included academic writer, magazine editor, and local radio presenter. She’s still multi-taking as she combines her job with flight with a successful sideline as a voice over artist for TV adverts.
Her key piece of advice to students was: “You write your CV every day through all your interactions.”
Matthew studied music at university but was keen to work in TV and approached many production companies before landing the position of ‘puppet co-ordinator’ on 1980s TV hit Spitting Images. Since then, he has worked on scores of different films and TV shows and his most recent credits include Fleabag and I May Destroy You.
He told the audience: “You have the chance to experiment and take risks.”
It is hoped the event, organised by the Careers and Opportunities Team, will become an annual one. In addition to the professional panel there was an exhibition area where students could network and find out about volunteering, placements and jobs from a range of organisations reflecting the creative courses at Winchester.
Head of Graduate Success, Meredith Smith said: “This event was a brilliant opportunity for our students to connect with creative professionals working in industry and be inspired to think about where their degree skills can take them. A huge thank you to the organisations, individuals and alumni we worked with on this event and to my team for putting together such an inspirational day.”
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