I have recently come to the end of my internship working for the Liberal Democrats. The communications aspects of the job were what I found most interesting. I want to couple the skills I learned in that role with work in the heritage sector, an area I have a strong interest in from my love of History. I would love the opportunity to work in York's vibrant tourist industry, built on the city's rich and varied past.
Below is a summary of the skills I developed while completing my degree:
Essay work ensured that I can write informative, analytical and engaging text to a high standard. Proof reading this work refined my eye for detail.
I demonstrated in 24- and 48-hour open exams that I can be highly productive and remain calm and focused under intense pressure in limited time constraints.
I was excellent at organising time and managing work load in preparation for seminars, essays and exams. This planning allowed me to work effectively on several projects simultaneously.
Throughout my degree, and particularly while completing my dissertation, I learnt how to research a variety of subjects effectively and quickly.
Working in groups to produce written pieces and presentations furthered my ability to plan, communicate, and operate as part of a strong team.
My role as the intern in the Wells Constituency was to further the efforts of the Liberal Democrat local council candidates for the election on 2nd May this year. We ran a highly successful campaign, increasing the number of district councillors in our jurisdiction from 5 to 21. I was asked to stay on as Campaigns Assistant to work on the campaign for the elections to the European Parliament, increasing our MEPs in the South West from 0 to 2. Throughout my tenure, I also assisted Tessa Munt in her effort to get re-elected as MP at the next general election.
I had a significant role locally in the increasingly important field of digital campaigning. I oversaw the output on Facebook and Twitter. This included the filming and editing of videos, and the creation of images and graphics.
I developed competence in using the software NationBuilder for the purposes of mass communication emails and website design and development.
I engaged with local journalists and was involved in the drafting of press releases and their distribution to the local media. I also took, edited and shared clips from local broadcast media, to ensure they reach a wider audience.
I assisted in the writing and design of campaign leaflets.
I worked to enable on the ground activity, providing support to local election candidates on technique and logistics, and engaging with volunteers to make the most of their contributions.
The frequent and varied use of the Liberal Democrat databases taught me the importance of data led campaigning, making sure you are getting the right messages to the right people.
I understand the vital importance of complying with GDPR and how to best protect personal data from misuse and careless handling.
I was responsible for restocking of the store and assisting customers with enquiries in a polite and helpful manner.
My experience allowed me to assist in the training of new team members.
I retained strong professional relationships with the in-store managers and was asked to return for seasonal work over three consecutive years while on summer break from university, during their busy Back-to-School season. After graduating, I returned to this role as a way to earn while looking for more stimulating work in a sector I have personal interest in.