From Literature Analysis to Group Sales Director

However, Simon (English, 1994, Cartmel) says that it's still relevant to his current role as sales director. 'One of the things that surprised me about studying at Lancaster was what you learnt away from the course. As a naive 21-year-old, having to look after yourself was surprisingly difficult; it was a bit of a shock to the system to see that those clothes don't wash and iron themselves.' 

Despite a harsh lesson in the realities of life, it was on his course that Simon found learning points still relevant in his job today. 'Studying the great characters of literature and analysing motivations for behaviour gave me a real appreciation for the complexities of the human mind and human interaction which I try to carry into my work today. I am the Group Sales Director for www.leisurejobs.com. I also hope that I am able to paint a picture with words and have also managed to adopt a half decent writing style which is not always apparent in these days of text messaging and hashtags!'  'As everyone who has been to university will tell you it's the social side that draws millions of students into higher education every year. Unfortunately, my social life did tend to revolve mainly around the 9 Bars and The Sugar House! I still don’t think I could say that my time had been wasted as I met a really diverse range of people from all backgrounds and nationalities. It was where I started to build my network of contacts that is useful to this very day. For those who are still studying, Simon has a few simple words of advice. 'There are so many things that are going on that I think it can be a bit overwhelming. Although there is always the temptation of a good pub, I’d urge students to really get the most out of their time at university. Sign up for the societies, explore all of the opportunities that are on offer. You only realise after you graduate just how unique that university experience is. It can even teach you to do your own washing!'