As applications open for this year's Employ.ed on Campus Internships, Róisín MacFarlane (French and Spanish MA student) looks back on her 12 weeks as Web, Communications and Social Media Intern. HTML Róisín MacFarlane is a third year French and Spanish - MA Hons student currently on her year abroad (first in Geneva, then in Valladolid). Image Róisín MacFarlane, French and Spanish MA Hons student For 12 weeks in the summer of 2018, she swapped the classroom in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) for an office on the fourth floor, working as the School’s Web, Communications and Social Media Intern.The internship was part of the University of Edinburgh’s Employ.ed on Campus programme. Run by the Careers Service, the annual programme is open to second, third or penultimate year undergraduates at Edinburgh.In this short article, Róisín tells us in her own words why she applied for the internship and how she benefitted from the experience.Ticking all the boxesI was in first year when I found out about the Employ.ed on Campus scheme on the Careers Service website, and knew that when I was eligible to apply in my second year, that it would be a great opportunity.After going through the application process, in which the Careers Service supported me the whole way, I was lucky enough to gain a position working in both my academic and extra-curricular areas of interest.Having previously worked in social media on a small scale as part of a student charity group, I really wanted to focus on improving my skills and taking my interest in this area from exactly that into a potential career, and this internship ticked all those boxes.No set limitThroughout the summer, I mainly worked on digital content for the School's website. This involved interviewing current students - including Impact Award winners and newly elected Students' Association Reps - on camera and using editing software to make videos. I worked on several series of written content, including the rolling series of "Meet our graduates" features, as well as covering events and student achievement. I also worked on LLC’s social media channels, setting up undergraduate Facebook Groups for incoming students, tweeting, and writing a report on the viability of an LLC Instagram account. On the strategic side of things, I completed two audit exercises on accessibility and ease of understanding for both new and current students’ information. The exercises involved comparing the existing information on the main University of Edinburgh and LLC websites and ensuring that the information the School provided wasn't contradictory or unnecessarily repetitive, as well as ensuring that resources could be found intuitively. There was no set limit to what I worked on in this internship, from attending Welcome Week planning meetings to give a student's perspective on the Pre-Arrival communications, to attending an LLC-sponsored event at the Edinburgh Book Festival - I did it all!The benefitsThe benefits of this internship have been beyond anything that I could have envisioned. As well as learning editing and Photoshop skills, and improving my writing, the element of freedom and independent working that my line manager allowed me enabled me to grow in confidence (which was notable when I gave my end of internship presentation) and take pride in my own work and content. I really feel that the opportunity for growth and improvement which this role provided has not only allowed me to develop in terms of my employability, but has really given me a solid first experience in the career area in which I would like to work in the future.Having the opportunity to work in my own School and improve the services and communications available to our own students has been a unique and rewarding experience, and one which will be invaluable for my future development.Employ.ed on CampusI couldn't recommend the Employ.ed on Campus scheme highly enough. It's allowed me to develop and improve my skills and gain a tangible insight into the digital content sector, whilst constantly being supported by the Careers Service team.At my end of internship presentation, I heard from interns in all areas, from graphic design and web development, to alumni engagement - wherever your interests lie, this scheme is great for expanding your options, and getting an insight into the range of careers available to you. Give it a go! The full list of over 50 Employ.ed on Campus internships for 2019 is now live on the Careers Service website.Applications are open until 20th February 2019. While there are no positions based in LLC this year, there are lots in the areas of Marketing, Advertising and PR, Media and/or Internet, and Creative arts and design across other Schools, Colleges and Services in the University. Internships are open to undergraduate students from all Schools (not just Schools with positions to fill) from 2nd year onwards.Find out more on the Careers Service website Are you interested in studying languages at LLC?As global dynamics shift, an appreciation of diverse languages, literatures and cultures becomes ever more relevant, critical and sought after. We offer one of the widest range of languages of any UK university, from Chinese to Scottish Gaelic. We teach all six official languages of the United Nations, and eight of the languages of the European Union.Find out more about undergraduate study in LLC This article was published on 2024-08-13
HTML Róisín MacFarlane is a third year French and Spanish - MA Hons student currently on her year abroad (first in Geneva, then in Valladolid). Image Róisín MacFarlane, French and Spanish MA Hons student For 12 weeks in the summer of 2018, she swapped the classroom in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) for an office on the fourth floor, working as the School’s Web, Communications and Social Media Intern.The internship was part of the University of Edinburgh’s Employ.ed on Campus programme. Run by the Careers Service, the annual programme is open to second, third or penultimate year undergraduates at Edinburgh.In this short article, Róisín tells us in her own words why she applied for the internship and how she benefitted from the experience.Ticking all the boxesI was in first year when I found out about the Employ.ed on Campus scheme on the Careers Service website, and knew that when I was eligible to apply in my second year, that it would be a great opportunity.After going through the application process, in which the Careers Service supported me the whole way, I was lucky enough to gain a position working in both my academic and extra-curricular areas of interest.Having previously worked in social media on a small scale as part of a student charity group, I really wanted to focus on improving my skills and taking my interest in this area from exactly that into a potential career, and this internship ticked all those boxes.No set limitThroughout the summer, I mainly worked on digital content for the School's website. This involved interviewing current students - including Impact Award winners and newly elected Students' Association Reps - on camera and using editing software to make videos. I worked on several series of written content, including the rolling series of "Meet our graduates" features, as well as covering events and student achievement. I also worked on LLC’s social media channels, setting up undergraduate Facebook Groups for incoming students, tweeting, and writing a report on the viability of an LLC Instagram account. On the strategic side of things, I completed two audit exercises on accessibility and ease of understanding for both new and current students’ information. The exercises involved comparing the existing information on the main University of Edinburgh and LLC websites and ensuring that the information the School provided wasn't contradictory or unnecessarily repetitive, as well as ensuring that resources could be found intuitively. There was no set limit to what I worked on in this internship, from attending Welcome Week planning meetings to give a student's perspective on the Pre-Arrival communications, to attending an LLC-sponsored event at the Edinburgh Book Festival - I did it all!The benefitsThe benefits of this internship have been beyond anything that I could have envisioned. As well as learning editing and Photoshop skills, and improving my writing, the element of freedom and independent working that my line manager allowed me enabled me to grow in confidence (which was notable when I gave my end of internship presentation) and take pride in my own work and content. I really feel that the opportunity for growth and improvement which this role provided has not only allowed me to develop in terms of my employability, but has really given me a solid first experience in the career area in which I would like to work in the future.Having the opportunity to work in my own School and improve the services and communications available to our own students has been a unique and rewarding experience, and one which will be invaluable for my future development.Employ.ed on CampusI couldn't recommend the Employ.ed on Campus scheme highly enough. It's allowed me to develop and improve my skills and gain a tangible insight into the digital content sector, whilst constantly being supported by the Careers Service team.At my end of internship presentation, I heard from interns in all areas, from graphic design and web development, to alumni engagement - wherever your interests lie, this scheme is great for expanding your options, and getting an insight into the range of careers available to you. Give it a go! The full list of over 50 Employ.ed on Campus internships for 2019 is now live on the Careers Service website.Applications are open until 20th February 2019. While there are no positions based in LLC this year, there are lots in the areas of Marketing, Advertising and PR, Media and/or Internet, and Creative arts and design across other Schools, Colleges and Services in the University. Internships are open to undergraduate students from all Schools (not just Schools with positions to fill) from 2nd year onwards.Find out more on the Careers Service website Are you interested in studying languages at LLC?As global dynamics shift, an appreciation of diverse languages, literatures and cultures becomes ever more relevant, critical and sought after. We offer one of the widest range of languages of any UK university, from Chinese to Scottish Gaelic. We teach all six official languages of the United Nations, and eight of the languages of the European Union.Find out more about undergraduate study in LLC
