Esther Roberts
MA Creative Writing, 2023
About me
- Alumni Relations Assistant at Manchester Metropolitan University
- MA Creative Writing, 2023
ABOUT MY CAREER
My decision to study at Manchester Met came during a somewhat hectic time in my life. I often joke that I was experiencing a mid-life crisis at 22, but in reality, I was just extremely dissatisfied with my situation. I had a job I enjoyed, but it required me to travel from Birmingham to Manchester as I had recently moved home due to family issues. I was struggling mentally in the aftermath of Covid-19, having graduated from my undergraduate degree in 2020, and I was generally unhappy with my life. All I wanted to do was write and focus on something for myself. So, one cold December day, I randomly searched for the best Creative Writing courses in the UK and found that Manchester Met was among the top. I was already somewhat familiar with the city, having lived there six months prior, and I loved the sound of the course, so I applied. Within weeks, I had an interview with one of the lecturers, and before I knew it, I had been accepted!
Studying for my Creative Writing master’s degree was genuinely one of the best decisions I have ever made. The course allowed me to focus on my writing, which was exactly what I wanted. Additionally, I found a home in Manchester with incredible friends and experiences that I can’t imagine gaining anywhere else. The course was fantastic—I feel like I really hit the jackpot! Everyone in my class was so helpful and encouraging in workshop sessions; it truly felt like we all wanted each other to succeed. Despite taking a year out between my undergraduate and postgraduate studies, I quickly got back into the swing of essay writing since it wasn’t all just about creative writing.
During the summer before my second semester, I knew I wanted to stay in Manchester forever. I knew that this was the city for me. The people, the music, the culture, the nightlife—it’s truly unlike anywhere else!
My first job after graduating was as a Marketing Assistant for an assisted living facilities service. The Head of Marketing reached out to me via email after seeing my CV on job websites. She really liked that I had a master’s degree in creative writing, as sharing residents’ stories was a key part of the job role. After an interview, I found out a week later that I had got the role! However, after working there for six months, I started looking elsewhere. Fortunately, a friend of mine who already worked at Manchester Met sent me a job role that suited my experience and, as a very recent alumna, I could add my own perspective. As an Alumni Relations Assistant, I’m in charge of many tasks such as planning and scheduling social media posts, monitoring the inbox and responding to emails, working at events on campus alongside other teams such as Careers, and ensuring that previous students know they are forever part of the alumni community! The best part of my role is the variety it brings—no single day feels the same! It’s a brilliant and dynamic role, and my supervisors always find ways to utilise not only my master’s degree but also my student experience.
At Manchester Met, I learnt how to take feedback and apply it to my work effectively. During workshop sessions, we would have our work read and assessed by both the class and our lecturer, who would tell us what they liked and what could be improved. It can be hard to have something so close to you be, what can essentially feel like, ripped apart, and sometimes you may feel stubborn about certain parts. But luckily, I was part of a great class that provided fantastic feedback, and in the long run, it made my story better. Feedback is something that will always be part of life, especially when working directly with an audience. At the end of the day, we all want our best work to reflect us! I also learnt time management as I completed the second semester while working a full-time job—the very job I got once I realised that I wanted to live in Manchester indefinitely. Balancing work, university, and a social life was a challenge at times, but I somehow made it work. Overall, one of the best skills I learnt was to just be myself and be open to whatever opportunities come my way because you never know how good the outcome might be!
MY TOP TIP FOR STUDENTS IS
Know what action words to use when building your CV. Instead of saying you ‘worked with others’, you could say you assisted, collaborated, supported, etc. I’ve found that less passive words are a great way to make yourself sound a lot more involved. I also think that there are many ways to stretch skills further than you think, and many can be applied to different scenarios if you know how to make them work.
I’M INSPIRED BY
No one and everyone at the same time. I don’t believe in looking up to anybody for inspiration, but at the same time, this is everyone’s first time here—that’s an achievement.
WHY I LOVE MANCHESTER MET
I loved the people I met and the way I was able to find myself, unapologetically.