Lauren from our editorial team sat down with her colleagues to chat about their career pathways in the life before Clearbox. If you missed part one, go back and read all about it here. If not, here’s part two.
Amy, our communications manager, came to Clearbox fresh from an MA in Literary Studies (she got her results hiding in the toilet of the Clearbox office when it was still in Holywood). She went straight to university from school, then straight into an MA after graduating, so has taken a very traditional route into work. Amy shared:
“The main thing doing an English degree taught me was critical thinking, which has hugely benefited the work I do at Clearbox. Whether it’s working out campaign strategies, evaluating media coverage or analysing campaigns, I don’t take much at face value. I’m also a very good independent worker, which is no surprise given how solitary the literary life can be. This comes in handy as a manager because the rest of the team suffers if I don’t have my ducks in a row.
“It also goes without saying, but being deep in all kinds of literature for four years made me a much better writer.”
Divisional director Alex joined Clearbox just over five years ago as a senior account executive.
Alex started working at 15 in an ice-cream shop, where she was approached by an employer who offered her £1 more than her current wage if she worked for him. Alex took the offer (don’t blame you, Alex) and ended up working at his jewellery shop for six years. Alex said:
“I loved this job. It gave me a lot of confidence, and my boss Rodney taught me a lot about how a business works. I think that’s where I got the knack for communication and speaking to the public, which is obviously very relevant to my job now.
“While I was at university studying Drama, I worked at a coffee shop called Rococo – still my favourite coffee shop. Then I moved to London, where I worked in a few bars and restaurants – and hated it. I knew I really wanted to work in broadcast, so eventually I joined a broadcast PR agency and worked there for two years before I decided the London life wasn’t for me and moved home.
“I emailed every PR agency in Northern Ireland asking for advice on how to break into the scene here. Two agencies replied – one of which was Clearbox. It was always the place I REALLY wanted to work. I was impressed by its client roster, especially Universal. But three weeks passed from my first meeting with John, and I hadn’t heard anything. At that stage, I’d been offered the job at the other agency, so I took it.
“After working there for eight months, I realised it wasn’t the fit for me, so I applied for a job at Clearbox – and didn’t get it. A couple of weeks later, John messaged and said that after a few client wins, there might be room for another team member. I applied again, got the job, and the rest is history – talk about third time lucky!”
Account executive Lauren joined Clearbox as a graduate last year. She said:
“I’ve been working since I was about 12 (is that even legal?) when I started working in my parents’ toy shop. I worked in several different restaurants and shops after that, but an honourable mention goes to my time at The Galley in Annalong as a kitchen porter. I was always right in the thick of all the busyness, and I loved that I had so many different responsibilities – it was chaos, and as tiring as it was, I loved it.
“When I headed to university to study English, I got a job in the infamous Holylands Spar for the duration of my degree. I loved working here and I not only developed my communication skills dealing with customers, but I also learned more about what it looks like to work as a team. My time at university was also pivotal in developing my editorial skills, which have been invaluable to me as I’ve started my career in PR.
“After graduating, I spent two years with Agapé UK as a student ministry intern, which again – I loved! I learned a lot about communication and teamwork, and honestly a lot about myself as a person. I really owe a lot to these two years for shaping me into the woman I am today and for setting me up well for my corporate girl era.”
