Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

Preparation of monthly accounts.
Preparing annual budgets.
Co-ordinating projects for the Parish.
Preparing and minuting meetings.

Entering invoices, receipts and payments onto the accounting system. Preparing for monthly Finance meetings. Responding to enquiries. Co-ordinating on-going projects such as installation of water taps for flower displays or arranging the installation of festive light displays. Alongside the work I am undertaking an accountancy course by distance learning to achieve an AAT qualification.

Interaction with the public. The varied nature of the business of the Parish Council, the accuracy required for Finance Administration, learning new things through my studies.

Difficult financial transactions. Dealing with bad debts.

This is not my main job out of university but it is a job I moved into when I got to a stage of my life when I needed more stability and job-security. Administration is an area at which I excel and I thrive on the varied workload, the ability to command my own workload and see positive results. More recently I have considered further study and an opportunity to specify in Finance Administration led me to the opportunity to undertake AAT training which I hope will inform my future career.

Literacy and numeracy skills, time management, organisational skills.

My suitability for the job was based on past experience: other, more junior roles in a similar area of work.

In the first few months after I graduated I worked as a temp gaining admin experience in various office environments in Sheffield, followed by a couple of months working at Sheffield Job Centre as a Customer Services Assistant.

My first proper job was in the Literary Department at the Royal National Theatre in London. I was Scripts Assistant which basically involved providing admin and PA support to the Literary Department. I was also a "Reader" which meant that I read new scripts and wrote reports to either recommend or reject for further reading.

I then moved abroad to Greece where I lived for 1 year carrying out a variety of manual labour jobs.

On returning to the UK I worked as Production Assistant for Sonia Friedman Productions, a major West End Production company. Again providing admin and PA support to a small but busy company.

I then moved to the role of Education Administrator at Bristol Old Vic Theatre where I was office manager for the team of Theatre in Education practitioners.

When the theatre closed I moved to the University of Bath as Programme Administrator in the Department of Education. Coordinating the administrative aspects of the undergraduate programmes.

I needed to find a job closer to home to manage my family responsibilities and found my two current part time jobs working for Parish Councils as Parish Clerk and Administration Officer respectively. In my Administration Officer role I quickly progressed to Finance Officer and have recently started AAT accountancy studies, paid for by my employer. I hope to progress through all three levels, I am studying by distance learning alongside my other two jobs and also being a parent.

As I progress through my AAT studies I hope to replace one of my part time jobs with a job in accountancy. At this stage of my life, with my children getting older I hope to focus more on my career and follow the accountancy route. At some stage I would love to move back into theatre, perhaps utilising my finance qualifications.

My theory has always been that you need to be in a job to get a job. All work is experience especially with a degree such as Eng Lit which does not lead directly into a profession. Don't be afraid to take a temporary or menial job as companies will understand that graduates are unlikely to stay for long in these jobs. Secondly, don't be afraid to take time out or pause in your career to focus on family. Your children are only young once and I have found that part time work is the perfect way to balance family life with using my brain.