UK University Guides

Greenwich University IT Profile: Amy Frost

I choose to do my degree in Information Systems at the University of Greenwich because the course description seemed to suit me perfectly. I wanted to do an IT degree, but I didn’t want to spend hour upon hour writing computer code and programmes. It turned out to be exactly what I was looking for, and helped me develop skills beyond the technical IT world. Various coursework’s and team building exercises allowed us all to build on important softer skills too; time management, working in and leading a team, organisational skills and communication skills to name just a few.

I decided to opt to do a sandwich year as part of my degree; a year working in an appropriate role in industry, utilising and building upon everything we’d been taught so far. Even though I had some work experience, I knew that a whole year in a good role would give me a better chance to get the job I wanted when I graduated. The careers office at Greenwich were extremely supportive, giving advice on job applications and CV’s, and even sparing time to give me a mock interview as practice for the real thing. With their help I was successful, and so for my third year, I worked for one of the worlds leading research based pharmaceutical companies, GlaxoSmithKline, as an Analyst/Programmer in a Small Projects group. Working on small projects enabled me to see the development lifecycle completed during my year on various projects, taking what I’d been taught in the classroom and seeing how it worked in the real world. The experience was invaluable, my managers and peers were fantastic, and I was able to complete a Diploma in Industrial Studies at Greenwich too.

I was dreading returning to University for my forth year, having been working and earning money for 12 months and suddenly having to become a student again. But it flew by so quickly I hardly had time to think about it! As soon as I started university again I started applying for jobs, knowing that if I wanted to get on a graduate scheme with a big company, as I hoped, I couldn’t wait until my degree had finished to start apply. My early bird theory paid off, and after much hard work and stressful interviews and assessment centres, at the start 2006 I had secured a job with Reuters in London, working on their IT graduate scheme and due to start in September that year. With the next stage planned, I could concentrate on my degree and completing my dissertation, and with the help of my tutors and especially my dissertation supervisor, I graduated that summer, had a few months of resting and travelling, and then begun my career at Reuters. It’s my perfect job, and at the moment I’m working as a Project Manager, due to change roles and try something new within the company next year. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my time at Greenwich, and even now looking back, the course I chose couldn’t have been better for me and my career if I’d written the spec myself!

For more information on our courses see  www.cms.gre.ac.uk