Graduate Q&A: Beating the grad life blues with graduate blogger and podcast host Jess Bacon

Jess' story

I’m Jess, a twenty-three year old woman working in marketing, writer, blogger, influencer and the host of The Guide to Life After University podcast. 

​I graduated from my BA in English Literature at the University of York in 2018, and then went straight into doing a part-time Masters in Creative Writing - the dream is to be a writer! Alongside my MA I worked part-time as a Features Editor of a local magazine and after six months was promoted to Editor of Architecture Magazine.

​It was a great job and I met some brilliant people! And it was also the springboard to my freelance writing as I began to write for other publications at the company as well as Be Kind Magazine and then I blogged for Sue Ryder. Now I contribute to The Happy Newspaper, Career Girl Daily blog and upkeep my own blog too. ​

Q: What are your 3 top tips for graduates who are currently job hunting?

A: The job market is full of graduates or young people working at entry level positions so it’s imperative that you stand out.

​1. I recommend using Canva to design yourself an eye catching CV and matching cover letter and make sure you tailor your cover letter (sometimes your CV too) to every single job position. 

​2. Equally, make sure your LinkedIn is up to date. LinkedIn is a great place to find jobs as well as connect with people in different industries. Making those connections will really help you long term!

3. Don’t forget to connect with everyone from your school, university and family friends too, you may already know someone who’s in the industry you want to work in. If they do, then utilise those connections, maybe do work experience or shadow them for a few days to have something extra for your CV. 

Also, I’d really recommend having an online presence. It could be a blog, website or just your social media, all of which will show employers more about you and what you’re passionate about.

Q: How did you secure your current role? How did you make yourself stand out against other applicants?

A: Currently I work in marketing at a publisher in Cambridge, a role I only got from having my own social platforms and blog as evidence that I could market myself essentially. 

Both my roles outside of university I’ve achieved by having a blog as it’s shown that I had a good writing ability, pay attention to detail and that I’m driven. This is why I always rave about everyone getting their own website or blog! From growing my Instagram in lockdown I’ve been able to start working as an influencer and drive substantial traffic to my blog. 

As a result, I’ve launched my podcast, The Guide to Life After University. I’d written about life after uni on my blog since I graduated in 2018 but I thought a podcast was a great way to discuss the experience with other people to make us all feel a bit less alone!​

Q: What is something you wish you could tell your younger self just after you graduated?

A: Everything will come together, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Things come together and fall apart very quickly in real life. There is no plan. It’s very hard to even know what’s coming in six months time, let alone a year’s time, so just don’t worry about it as things do work out how they’re meant to in the end. ​

Q: What do you miss the most about university?

A: I miss living near my friends! Being a few minutes walk from my closest pals was one of the best things about uni and the spontaneous nature of everything. You get so much freedom at university to carve your own life, see people as and when you can with minimal responsibilities. 

I also miss reading in coffee shops, but doesn’t every English student?​