Since coming back from my work experience in London i've been thinking about what I learnt there and what it means for me over the next few years.
I loved the edit house and I know 100% that I want to be an editor..so thats a good start! It's really nice to finally have a plan, to know what I want to do and to know what steps I need to take to get there. I know that I need to start off as a runner, then work up to Assistant Editor (Junior then Senior) and then I'll make it to Editor. It was also really good to know the time frame on this journey to 'the top'. On average (optimistically) I will run for 6 months, be an assistant for 3-4 years and then get to editor. I realise that there is a lot of guess work here and it all depends on the company you're in and how well you do, but its good to have a rough idea.
Looking back at working in London, and looking over my degree (which is now finished..BA anyway!) I can't help but feel like I have done everything possible to give myself the best chance of getting a job when I've finished my Masters in May 2014. I have done work experience every summer whilst being at uni and have learnt so much about the industry and about different jobs in the industry, and I'm just excited that i've finally found my career path!
The other decision I have made since being back from London is that, although I loved living in London for the week, I think I would rather look for a job in Manchester after uni. I know there are more jobs and opportunities in London, but the cost of living is so expensive compared to Manchester and I will be only an hours drive from my family in Sheffield. I don't want my family to be a reason that I don't push myself and take opportunities during my career but I feel that at 22 I won't be ready to live so far away with no way of getting home regularly (not without spending hundreds on train tickets). Hopefully I will be able to find a job in the kind of company that I want, but in Manchester. I haven't researched it yet, but in the new year I will.
