Four questions with… Mary Connolly

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Briefly describe your role:

I’m a Graduate Trainee Solicitor at UoB, after having been a Paralegal for just under two years.

What is the biggest mistake you have made since graduating and what have you learned from it?

The biggest mistake I made since graduating was thinking too far ahead, and believing that I had to have a dead set plan of what I was doing since I was now graduated. In doing that, I made the mistake of not enjoying the accomplishment of having graduated University, and instead, focused too much on seeking a graduate job.

What I learnt was that there are jobs everywhere, and they will always want you. You don’t need to have a fixed plan of where you think you need to be in one year, six months, or even a month, after graduating. The working world is always, and will continue to be, there. Once you graduate, you should give yourself breathing time, as it’s the first time (in a long while) where a timetable, exams and the pressure of doing well are not ruling your life!

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

Nobody starts work in a job straight after University that they will stay in forever!

There will be lots of job opportunities that come your way which you might not see as being valuable, as you have your eyes set on your ideal career. However, those initial jobs available to graduates are extremely useful in building up transferable skills, that will be attractive and useful to employers on your further career steps! You don’t have to go straight for your perfect ideal career, mostly because you may not yet be qualified to do it, and also because you never know what opportunities you will get working in your first jobs after graduating. So go along for the ride, and know that you’re never stuck in any job, and each job and role will be useful for your next one!

What have you learned since graduating that could be helpful to other graduates like you?

That nobody has it all planned out, and even if you do, plans change!

I was set on the idea of completing a PhD when I had finished my undergraduate and masters degree programme. However, as I was working full-time in a role during my Masters, they subsequently offered me a promotion, which I have now accepted. I accepted this as I knew it was the perfect step up, even though it was not the top of my list for a long while and so my plans changed. However, what’s also important to know is that nothing is of the cards forever – and in my case, I still plan to do a PhD, but maybe just a little later than I thought I would!

Can you recommend us something?

Not taking everything seriously, and carve out time for yourself and your friends in the weekday evenings when sometimes work can feel like it over bearing you!

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