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Graduate case studies

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Georgina - 
Employed Head of Development

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.

About the job

Main responsibilities

Fundraising and development - all types.

Typical day

Writing grants applications, talking to potential funders, organising a sponsored walk, talking with the team about strategy and plans.

What do I enjoy about my job?

The imagination and vision of the creative team and enthusiasm of a small team of people all there because they love the organisation. Being able to discuss the issues around migration with people who are just as passionate about changing the tone of the debate in the UK.

Challenging aspects

Fundraising requires hard graft and resilience (also repetitive) and it's difficult sometimes to figure out if you're doing the right thing.

Why did this area of work appeal to me?

Love the Migration Museum idea - migration is such a hot topic and one I care about a lot. I didn't think fundraising was something I would ever choose to do as a primary job function but could not pass up the opportunity to work here.

Skills/qualifications I use in my job?

Writing, comms, marketing and sales (tracking return on investment), presenting, excel, political understanding, diplomacy.

Training I receive as part of my job

1. None
2. None
3. Training in systems and social media use in communications


Career information

Brief history since leaving University

Finished university, worked in cafes while applying for jobs. Couldn't get job I wanted so got sales job for a conference company in London for 8 months. Applied for a few more jobs I didn't get. Did part time internship with Justice Africa and part time job in customer service and logistics for conference company (3 months), then offered full time marketing job in conference company (3 months).

Msc in Global Politics at LSE.

Temping job at Qualifications and Curriculum Authority as Project Coordinator (6 months),

Project Officer at The Learning Trust, Borough of Hackney, London (20 months). Meanwhile volunteer refugee mentor at Terrence Higgins Trust ended up coordinating, interviewing and training other volunteers (all voluntary).

Took voluntary redundancy from The Learning Trust. Moved to Bolivia and did 3 voluntary and consultancy roles for women's rights orgs including Marie Stopes Bolivia.

Got job with Marie Stopes International based in London in 2012 and stayed for 5 years, becoming Strategic Projects advisor working on liaison with donors for multi-million pound projects in multiple countries.

Where do I see myself in the future?

I really have no idea - turns out I really love the museum gig and this team. My contract as Head of Development is only for a year and all is very funding dependent - if I succeed I can stay on...if not then I will have to find something else!


Advice to students

My piece of advice to students

Be ambitious but recognise that most of the jobs you want you won't be able to get straight away.

Just make sure that whatever job you do get you do brilliantly. Get yourself noticed in any organisation even as the lowest of admin staff. People will help you to move up and open doors for you, so take the initiative and work beyond your job description. The International development world is tough to get into. If you have other skills like sales (fundraising), great admin skills, accountancy or financial management from another job (plus some volunteering) it can be more useful that a relevant degree.

If you can't do what you love in your day job, find a way to do it in your spare time. Prepare for interviews like you would for an exam - anticipate all the questions that they will ask you and make sure you know the answer.

Sometimes it's worth just finding an organisation with people you really like and just doing whatever job you can - even later on in your career. There's nothing as satisfying as working with other people who are totally dedicated to something you believe in too.



Send Georgina a question about their career.


Last updated: 06 Sep 2017