Monika Gopal

 

Describe what your current job involves since graduation:

 

I am currently employed by Mitchells & Butlers. You may not recognise their name but you will recognise many of the pub, bar and restaurants that they operate, including All Bar One, Toby Carvery and Miller and Carter. My role is the Assistant Marketing Manager for All Bar One where I am responsible for delivering the brand plan and lead on all digital activity, food development and strategy and key date activity like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Bank Holidays. As it is just the Marketing Manager and myself in the team, I am involved in every aspect of our marketing activity so my work is very varied.

Briefly describe your career history to date since graduation(type of position and how you navigated this journey)

I was initially employed onto the Mitchells & Butlers Corporate Marketing Graduate Scheme. This one-year rotational programme enabled me to gain insight into different aspects of the organisation’s approach to marketing. These experiences, and my success of this scheme, helped me secure a permanent position with the company as Assistant Marketing Manager at Nicholson’s pubs, where I stayed for just under two years before moving across to the All Bar One brand.

In what way did your experiences at Stirling shape your career to date (academic studies, internships, study abroad, part-time work, volunteering)?

I was heavily involved with clubs and societies during my time at Stirling with Women’s Lacrosse and the Business Club. Additionally, I took advantage of multiple internship opportunities which saw me working at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA), Scottish Institute for Enterprise and in the summer of my penultimate year I worked for OPITO International in Dubai which was part of the Saltire Scholarship Programme. My internships have been crucial in developing skills such as my research, organisation and ability to work under pressure. Crucially, taking the initiative to pursue these opportunities made me stand out to employers and provided me with an impressive range of work experience relevant to my degree.

What advice would you give to current students in terms of preparing for your first job after graduation?

I would advise students looking to prepare for a post-graduation career to become involved in an extensive range of both academic and recreational activities. Being an active member of clubs and societies, you are passionate about is not only enjoyable, it can also help you develop key skills outside of your studies. Engaging with internship and fundraising opportunities is also a fantastic way to enrich your university experience and shows employers that you are willing to put yourself out of your comfort zone and have a desire for self-development that goes beyond just your course. A wide variety of pursuits will result in a more beneficial and enjoyable university experience and will do more to impress employers.