Icenian Interview – Polly

Polly joined Langley in 2009, leaving five years later with A-Levels in Biology, Geography, and Psychology. Following her Master degree, world travel and experiences working on National Geographic projects, Polly is now a Business Analyst and here she tells us more.

Polly CurtinWhich co-curricular activities were you involved in at Langley and have they been useful?
Participating in sport was really important to me during school, in particular hockey, cross-country and athletics. Sports definitely helped me develop clear communication skills and the ability to perform well with others in a results-orientated environment, both of which are transferable to the workplace. I was also lucky enough to go on some incredible trips to Indonesia and Iceland, which definitely influenced my degree choices and allowed me to participate in research studies in some incredible locations such as the Maldives and South Africa.

What did you study at university?
I went to Royal Holloway University of London to study Zoology and then the University of York to complete a Masters in Marine Environmental Management.

How did your career begin?
I was unsure of what I wanted to pursue for a long-term career so I gave myself time to work within different fields after my Masters. I started with an internship in Glasgow, within data analytics and marketing communications, followed by a brief time in sales in London and then worked as a Research Assistant within a Conservation and Behaviour Lab on a project funded by National Geographic. After which I knew I wanted to move away from working in a lab within a University environment and towards a new challenge. I am now working as a Business Analyst on a graduate management consultancy scheme.

So far, what have been your post-school highlights?
Having research articles published and news outlets run stories on the research papers has definitely been a highlight!

On reflection, did your time at Langley help your attitude towards career choices and progression?
I didn’t have a specific career path in mind at school and my career goals changed multiple times so Langley didn’t directly influence my choices because I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but instead Langley helped instill in me a strong work ethic, which certainly aided my career progression.

What advice you would give to students considering Langley and their onward career options?
Langley was a great school for me, and the diversity of opportunities available is something that can appeal to anyone. When considering a career, I wouldn’t stress if you don’t know what you want to do, but do always try to seek out experiences that can help to shape your future direction and build up skills.

Published On: February 18th, 2021Categories: Icenians, News

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