Create your Future! Employability Series

Mohammed Ali Salha, Managing Director of Tastemade – a video network that offers food and travel related programming for online audiences -  speaks about how he uses his psychology degree working with people today (despite deciding it wasn't his path), what motivates him, experiences of failure, what Tastemade look for in applicants. In addition, Mohammed discusses tailoring your cv, issues with internships, underrepresentation in the workplace and asking for guidance/mentorship! An extremely insightful interview, this one is sure to support you way beyond your graduate years.

Jess Douglas works in business development for addiction charity Phoenix Futures. She started off working in addiction services in prisons, moving to community support and then to her current role. Jess has a wealth of experience and gives us some great tips on working within the third sector, and how to work effectively with others. If you want to know how to get a role in a prison or for a third sector organisation, this is your stop. 

Ben Tooke - Clinical Education and Wellbeing at Brook, and previousy Terrance Higgens - tells us all about his role, how he got there, and what you can do if you want to secure a job supporting young people and their sexual health. Ben provides some excellent advice about volunteering and making the most out of your CV, as well as what NGOs in general will be looking out for. Interviewed by Dr Carly Guest, this podcast is an enlightening listen showcasing Ben's commitment to his roles and the wide range of day to day issues he faces as part of them.

Matt Cracknell (the star that he is) worked for the probation service for 7 years, both in the community and in a prison. In today's episode we hear all about the challenges he faced, the rewards of the job and how to get employed to change people's lives one day at a time. Someone fetch him a cape! As always, any questions, email them to m.scally@mdx.ac.uk.

Henna Zamurd-Butt is a PhD student with heaps of experience working with the media. Henna owns their own business, and tackles issues such as race and social justice from a consultancy angle. Henna considers herself a portfolio worker. Interested to find out what that means? Listen in! You won't be disappointed to hear what this strong business woman has to say about leading and effecting change.

In our third installment, Annabel Crowley talks to us about activism, working in the Arts and educating the masses. Annabel provides some exceptional advice around staying true to yourself, knowing your worth and undertaking work that speaks to you as a person. A true emphasis on wellbeing and self-care, Annabel's message is often lost in today's neo-liberalism. Today, she's here to remind you to put you first, and do work that builds communities, not just corporate paychecks. 

Dr Paul Bleakley share with us his experiences of working in journalism after his undergraduate degree and the skills needed to succeed in that profession. Paul regales us with funny stories, interesting challenges and tips for getting what you want; the elusive dream job. Have a listen! You won't regret it!

Dr Jeffrey DeMarco joins us today to chat about his Director of Research role at NatCen. Jeffrey's role involves researching hate crime and terrorism, amongst other topics, and feeding back to key stakeholders. Want to know how to make an impact on people's lives? Listen in. Jeffrey sheds light on his experiences before NatCen, and offers some crucial advice for all of our Middlesex University Criminology and Sociology students... he doesn't actually work at night like the title suggests. That would be unhealthy. I just thought it sounded cool.