Hattie Lowe - Graduate Case Study
Hattie Lowe graduated with a History degree and then went on to do a Masters at Chester University in Sustainable Heritage before securing a job as a Programming and Partnerships Officer for the National Trust.
What does your job involve?
My role is very varied and includes planning spirit of place events, driving visitor numbers, working on the education programme and managing social media and the website. I also work closely with the archive and conservation teams to produce inspirational storytelling and /exhibitions interpretation of the site. I also work closely with volunteers, and community partners to develop a meaningful visitor experience, and solidify the significance of the property to both local and national/ international visitors.
How did you get to where you are today?
A large part of me getting this role was due to networking- I found out about this role through the connections I had made during other jobs. The recruitment process for my current role was strange as it was done during the pandemic. A Teams interview is very different and somehow more nerve wracking than a face to face interview.
Three things you like about your job:
- The creativity
- Working in living history
- The variety
What skills are important in your job? Did your degree help you?
My degree has helped me massively in my career so far. The communications skills gained throughout my degree were invaluable. The analytical skills built up through studying primary sources have been key in helping develop my skills in working on exhibitions and interpretation. Working under pressure Studying history helped me to build on these skills, particularly when writing my dissertation and managing deadlines in my final year.
What work experience / volunteering did you do to help you get to your job?
I have worked hard to achieve my current position, and it has been a long-term goal of mine. I started working for the National Trust as a Visitor Welcome Assistant when I was 18 and continued to do so throughout university. During this time, I also volunteered at the World Museum in Liverpool in their education department. Finally, I undertook an internship in social media, which aided me in getting invaluable experience outside of the museums and heritage industry. After leaving university I became the visitor experience assistant at Attingham Park. I was made redundant during the Covid-19 pandemic, however this led to achieving my new role, which is a real dream.
What advice would you give to other history students to improve their employability?
Don’t apply for random roles but rather pick roles which will aid in you achieving your next career goals. Tailor your CV and cover letter to the role.
Support from the Student Futures team
If you want to talk about potential careers options with your degree, need help finding opportunities or want support with your CV, application forms or preparing for an interview, you can get advice and guidance by booking a 30-minute 1-2-1 careers meeting with a Careers and Employability Adviser from the LJMU Student Futures Team. You can also come along to a Careers drop-in or CV Café which take place weekly at the Careers Zones for quick careers queries.
If you are thinking about starting a business, freelancing, pursuing a side-hustle or have an idea that you want to explore further, email the Start-up Hub and a member of the team will be back in touch. For more information about the Bathgate Boost Award, visit the Start-up Hub website.
For help finding part-time, temporary or casual you can fit around your studies, email the Unitemps team or visit their website.