Next up, in our intern series is Harjan. Read on to find out more about Harjan and see his message to employers…

Hi, my name is Harjan, and I am 21 years old. I am a recent graduate in Media and Communication at Loughborough University.

Media and Communication has become a pertinent area of study because the media has proven to perpetually affect and shape individuals in everyday life. What I enjoyed most about my undergraduate degree was that it presented a multi-faceted approach towards society through psychological, sociological and criminological modules. Therefore, the degree has enhanced my analytical and critical thinking skills, which I hope to apply to my future roles. Furthermore, my strong desire to work in a digital marketing environment stemmed from my degree.  

During my final (and most intense) semester of university, I applied for a Marketing role for a major retailer. I managed to pass three stages and reach the final stage which was a Virtual Assessment. After being told that I would gain feedback in fourteen days, I was disappointed to receive no phone call or email from them. After enduring a mentally draining application process, I thought that the least I deserved was feedback. Consequently, I emailed the company twice, and their response was that both tasks were done rather efficiently, but I still did not land the role. 

A few months later, I was offered the Marketing Internship with Access Generation. I guess the saying is ‘when one door closes, another door opens’. After researching about the company and reading their Employment Accessibility Report, I strongly admired the work that they do to help employers empower young people. I was interested in Access Generation also because they guide businesses in promoting diverse and equal opportunities. My final year dissertation project focused on the Black Lives Matter movement. In this thesis, I concluded that businesses and educational institutions should be doing more to facilitate social change. As an individual with a passion for activism, I resonate with Access Generation’s values and believe that corporations have an obligation to reduce any disparities or barriers. 

My message to employers 

My message to employers is: “It is the young employees that will lead the future of business. Do not knock them down before they even have a chance to prove themselves”.

There are now many more jobs for young people, nonetheless, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain one, particularly throughout this COVID-19 pandemic. 

My other message to employers: “The least that applicants deserve after a strenuous application process is a response with detailed feedback”. Put yourself in the applicant’s shoes.

I am looking forward to having fruitful discussions with businesses and assisting them in the implementation of new strategies that will help to empower young and underprivileged groups.  During this internship, I am eager to develop my communication, teamwork and time management skills. Additionally, I am excited to put my knowledge of research methods and data into practice. 

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Did you know…?

Universities typically have an employability team who work to match students with employment opportunities including internships. An internship is often a short paid work experience and a chance for the student and employer to ‘try before they buy’. Internships are often part or fully funded.

Afra has joined us via Loughborough University’s Talent Match Programme which is part-funded by Santander. For more information, visit their website https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/careers/employers/sme/lborotalentmatch/