UCLan Alumni returns to academia

Alex (far right) with fellow THE Alumni

Our programmes are designed to help you further your career ambitions. Graduates often progress straight into their dream job, though others choose to tackle postgraduate study to enhance their knowledge.

Event Management graduate Alex Grebenar is now a UCLan PhD candidate studying Dark Tourism and he recently returned to Preston to share his experiences with current undergraduates.

"Only in England would the phrase 'too clever by half' been seen as something bad," said Alex. "For some jobs it's necessary to gain postgraduate qualifications, but I'd recommend adding new disciplines to what you learned at undergraduate level.

"Ideally you do want a mix of education and experience, so I'd advise people to take some time away before continuing their studies – it gives you perspective. I went to work for Team Spirit for nine months, before taking on seasonal work. I ended up as a resort representative and was offered a full resort management role, but I decided to further my education.

"I'd advise students to be 100% committed to what they do – don’t just do things for the sake of it. Personal reflection is important and make sure you embrace your placement year – it helped my grades improve. Don't fear group work as it does help you learn. It's not ideal but it is the nature of the workplace.

"Finally, forget about negativity and make sure you use your degree when applying for jobs. Play on the fact you've done it and got those management and team building skills in your locker."