Written by Grace Livesey

My volunteering role:

Giving back to your community is super important, especially considering the diverse array of opportunities available in Manchester. Whether it’s through volunteering your time or leveraging your skills, there’s always a role where you can make a meaningful contribution. During my first year, I started as a content creator for the university. Building on this experience, I found a role on the university volunteering hub that aligned with my skills. The volunteering hub has so many roles available, which you can filter to fit your timetable and interests. I managed to volunteer with Invisible Cities, an organisation which trains people who have experienced homelessness to become tour guides in their own city. I was able to utilise my creativity in producing social media content, something I had picked up on through previous work with the university. I could produce the content from anywhere and they provided a lot of flexibility regarding content deadlines, which was perfect during busy university periods. This experience also allowed me to improve my networking skills and I was able to use the posts I had created as further evidence of my adaptability to employers. 

How I got to work with Google:

When looking for part time jobs I wanted to apply these skills again so I applied to work with Raptor Marketing agency, which gave me opportunities to create social media content for Deliveroo and Wagamma. I recently leveraged my diverse roles to secure a position as a content creator and brand ambassador for Google. I was able to visit their London headquarters and promote their new products. I believe that my previous roles and volunteering helped me to stand out during the application process. These positions have also helped me to secure a placement opportunity next year. Without my initial content creation roles secured through the university and volunteering I might never have discovered this interest or considered pursuing jobs in this field.

What I gained from volunteering:

Overall, this experience has been incredibly fulfilling as it allowed me to contribute meaningfully to my community whilst shaping my career path. Beyond the satisfaction of helping others, it facilitated the development of valuable networking skills and led to the formation of new friendships outside of university. As a pharmacology student, I’m leveraging the skills acquired during placement year by integrating my academic learning with content creation during my role in Medical Affairs.