Charlotte Crouch graduated from Leeds Beckett University with both an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree in English Literature. The skills and knowledge she acquired on her studies have enabled her to quickly progress in her career as a Marketing Campaign Manager working for Oxford University Press. 

Courses: BA (Hons) English Literature and MA English Literature 

You chose to progress onto a Masters after graduating from Leeds Beckett with a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature. What made you decide to continue your studies?

After my undergrad I wasn’t ready to stop studying, so I decided to do a Masters in English Literature, specialising in Contemporary Literature. I loved the experience I already had of working with these kinds of texts on the BA, plus I knew that an MA would give me that extra edge when applying for jobs in the future. 

Were you also working whilst completing your Masters?

During my time on the MA, I spent time volunteering on the Society of Young Publishers and gaining work experience where I could. 

I was also working part-time. I created a new routine for myself where I would work the same days each week, and have dedicated days and times to focus on different parts of studying (for example on a Monday morning I would do wider research, before working in the evening, and so on). I also made sure that I gave myself a couple of days off from all commitments each week. Sticking to a routine was essential for me. 

How did you find the step up from undergraduate to postgraduate study?

It wasn’t as daunting as I was expecting. There was much less contact time which gave me a lot more time to do wider reading and focus on my interest areas. The seminars/ group conversations were always really insightful and much less teacher-led than my undergraduate sessions. 

At first I thought that having a longer dissertation to write with a bigger percentage of my overall grade would be difficult and scary, but this actually ended up being my favourite part. It was great to bring my own ideas to life and focus on what I was passionate about, with the support of great lecturers.

Can you tell us a little about your career journey so far?

After my degree I got a position with Oxford University Press as a Marketing Assistant in the Dictionaries team (including the Oxford English Dictionary). I then worked my way up in the company until my current position as a Marketing Campaign Manager in the primary education team.

Did having a degree in English Literature help you secure this employment, and how did the skills you learnt during your undergrad help you progress in your career?

Definitely. The job ad called for a degree, and an active interest in publishing and reading. The literature-reviewing, copywriting and editing, and presentation skills were especially helpful in my career progression.

All of the work required for submitting assignments, such as sticking to tight deadlines, managing my own work load, researching, writing, taking on feedback and adapting work are all very relevant in my current (and all previous) roles. Gaining experience and confidence in group projects and presentations was incredibly valuable too, as these kinds of things benefit any kind of role, especially ones in publishing where you’re constantly working with lots of different stakeholders.

What value do you see in having a postgraduate degree?

I think a postgrad proves that you’re capable of conducting much more independent research and taking your ideas and research further than simply required for an assignment. 

Having a postgraduate degree also makes you stand out in job applications, as so many people have undergraduate degrees now!

What advice would you give to others who may be considering continuing their studies to complete a postgraduate degree?

If you’re genuinely passionate about the subject, or love your studies, do it! Make sure you love what you’re going to do, and don’t do it for the wrong reasons (e.g. because you think it will get you a certain job, or because you think you “should” study further). Once you decide what you want to do, find a practical way to actually do it, with a routine you can stick to, and enjoy!