Work Experience Benefits a Career in Marketing

Emma Harnett returned, virtually, to the Girls’ Division of Bolton School to talk to Year 10 pupils about her life in marketing as part of the school’s Women of Work series.

Addressing the year group, Emma recalled how she had enjoyed a fantastic time at Bolton School. She said it had given her some wonderful experiences and opportunities that she continues to draw on. Emma spoke about her involvement in team sports, her adventures undertaking the DofE and the benefits of volunteering. She advised the girls to take advantage of all that is offered to them. Emma explained how she developed a passion for languages at school, going on to study Spanish and Chinese at the University of Nottingham. At university she continued to involve herself in as much as she could: playing sport, being the Social Secretary of her hall of residence and the President of a society. She also told how, whilst studying, she had a number of part-time jobs, starting with working at McDonald’s from the age of 16 and including summer employment abroad with Thomas Cook as a holiday rep.

Emma recalled how she found work experience at Nestle and learnt a lot as she moved around departments, before securing a graduate position at Dyson. She then moved over to the Marketing Department when an opportunity arose and, again, worked across several disciplines.

Her next career move was to JD Sports, where, Emma said she found the culture to be very fast-moving. She told how it is a fantastic company to work for and that you have to be agile in your thinking as trends change quickly in the world of fashion. Her current role is as Head of Retail Marketing. Her parting advice to girls was to get involved and to push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

Emma finished by fielding a range of questions including: why did you choose Nottingham University and to study languages, what GCSEs did you take, have you used your languages at work, how did you find out about part-time work opportunities and how high up in the management structure did you go with McDonald’s?

Watch Emma’s presentation again.