In Conversation with Sophie Mart
Sophie Mart, a Senior Careers Consultant at Alliance Manchester Business School, looks after students on the full-time MBA program, supporting those wishing to target Banking and Finance.
Sophie has an extensive background in Higher Education, where she has worked for the last 6 years; her career has spanned across student support and recruitment.
Watch the full interview with Sophie Mart
How did your journey in Higher Education begin?
At the age of 18, Sophie decided to go to university to study music. Later pursuing a master’s course in Arts and Management: Policy and Practice. This involved working in galleries, museums and theatres, which at the time Sophie felt like she wanted to do, but quickly realised it wasn’t the career path she wanted to go down at that particular time.
After realising too late that wasn’t the career path she wanted to go down, it helped steer Sophie to have a strong interest in careers, based on receiving advice from the career service at the University of Manchester. Quickly asking for guidance and advice on what direction she should take.
One area that Sophie looked at was education, as she had previously done some work at Bridgewater Hall through a part-time position. Later reaching out to educational institutions and learning, and Sophie decided she would like to look at education as an option for herself in that sector.
Sophie looked around local universities, and that’s exactly where her career in education started.
Has your career in Higher Education progressed?
Since starting her career in education 10 years ago, it has progressed massively.
Sophies first job after her master’s course was at the Open University, where a lot of her career was formed naturally. She started as a student support and recruitment advisor, where she worked for about two years. During her time in the role, Sophie worked across different roles, such as speaking to new inquirers, supporting people with onboarding, supporting recruitment and registration, as well as helping and supporting students.
During her role, she started to interact with careers services through referrals for various issues that would often arise.
Sophie felt she had a lucky break at the time as a role came back up at the Open University, but this time in careers services as an employability advisor.
It was a great place to work at the Open University, working alongside a very small team, but with a lot of variety of work.
Sophie, alongside her role, upskilled and completed her NVQ level four in careers information and advice there, which was a key point for her.
Later on, she progressed to a new role at the University of Manchester, where she started her first role as a career’s advisor in the central careers service, which was a great role.
The role consisted of various hybrid tasks, which was great as she hadn’t experienced that in her previous role. This then led her to her current role as a senior career’s consultant at Alliance Manchester Business School in the postgraduate Careers Service.
Sophie now works supporting full-time MBA students on the course at Manchester. It is a very niche, specialised role, with a very different kind of support, a lot more personal, supporting MBA students right from the start, before they join the course.
What have been some of the most defining moments in your career?
Sophie has many defining milestones in her career, which were all turning points for her.
A true highlight was when she finished her master’s course and started looking for jobs in the art sector and quickly realised it wasn’t for her. A true turning point that made her realise she needed to make some new decisions and plan her career.
The second career moment was when Sophie secured her employability advisor role at the Open University. This was a big break into careers, working amongst a great team.
Sophie’s final defining moment was getting her current role, which has been an amazing role, right from the start.
The role has given Sophie multiple opportunities, not forgetting the privilege of working with wonderful MBA students all the way through their MBA.
Sophie has been able to progress within her current role, where she is currently doing a higher apprenticeship at the University of Warwick in career development as well.
What kind of opportunities has your career in Higher Education opened up for you?
During her career, Sophie has been given many opportunities, particularly to upskill.
Sophie found that a lot of ad hoc opportunities come up all the time that you can get involved in through different areas of the university. Within the business school, there are a lot of different opportunities.
Currently, Sophie is working on completing her higher apprenticeship at the University of Warwick in career development, which has been a great experience so far.
Apart from taking the time out to complete her apprenticeship, Sophie has completed multiple training courses, mainly at the central career service as a career’s advisor.
A true highlight during Sophie’s career was taking part in a coaching course, on a three-day residential, which was a great experience, alongside meeting other professionals within the career industry.
The coaching course was a great experience, and Sophie has used all the knowledge gained in her current qualifications to help build on her career and development.
Opportunities to travel to London and meet contacts within banking and the finance sector, amongst networking events, have been engaging and interesting, helping Sophie develop in her career.
Reflecting on your journey so far, what key lessons have you taken away from working in higher education?
A key takeaway for Sophie is working and meeting lovely people in education, within professional services; a lot of people’s roles are to help and give back to support.
The education sector, particularly in professional services, is a great place to grow and allow you to progress.
To summarise, a key takeaway is having the opportunity to meet lovely people and having the opportunity to progress and develop in your career.
What advice would you like to give to people looking to progress in their careers?
Sophie’s main piece of advice would be to be open-minded. Opportunities can come up within organisations and development, which can happen in the labour market, that potentially influence the trajectory of your career.
A second piece of advice is not to be afraid of change. Sophie believes having the courage to say yes to change and embracing the change has led her to where she is today.
Sophie’s final piece of advice is to remain positive in life and in your career; having a positive stance and mindset can influence not only your career, but how you feel at work and how you are perceived by your colleagues.
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