July 2012’s Graduate Profile of the Month is Alice Bramston. Alice graduated, in 2011, with a BSc Psychology and is now working on a Graduate Management Scheme at Harrods
Your background:
I read Psychology at Loughborough even though I had not previously studied the subject. I chose Psychology as it combined my love for mathematics as well as studying human behaviour which seemed an interesting subject to me. I particularly enjoyed the final year when I was lucky enough to do a project on driver sleepiness using the car simulator in the sleep laboratory.
Where are you now?
I am presently on the Harrods Graduate Management Scheme. It has given me an insight into working in a luxury retail environment. The scheme is over 16 months, during which time all the graduates undergo extensive training and gain experience in at least four different areas of the retail business. I have already worked in two departments: my first placement was based at the toy enquiries desk where I was responsible for handling customer complaints and general queries. Currently, I am working as a buyer’s clerk in women’s fashion accessories. In a couple of weeks time I am moving on to selling in a luxury area.
Where are you going?
I aim to become a retail manager for one of the departments within the store. I want to pursue my career here at Harrods by becoming a business manager and hopefully head of retail, taking on more responsibility.
What if anything would you have done differently during your time at Loughborough University to help you prepare better for your career/life upon graduation?
I feel I have been lucky in getting this job. If I was to do anything differently, I would encourage other students to do more relevant work experience in the summer holidays and build up contacts from this.
What advice would you give to a student studying your subject at university now?
I think that a psychology degree can take you anywhere and that current students should just enjoy the subject at university.
