Jaanika R.
About me
| Jaanika R. | |
| Archaeology | |
| Conservation Studies (Historic Buildings) | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| Vanbrugh | |
| 2014 | |
| Estonia |
My employment
| Visitor Services Assistant | |
| National Trust | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Library, museum and information services | |
| 2014 | |
| £8000 | |
| £11000 |
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A day in the life of a Visitor Services Assistant in the United Kingdom
My career history
This is my first proper job after graduation. It took me close to half a year of constant applying to get a job. As I was unwilling to move from the Yorkshire area it made the job search even more challenging.
I have volunteered with a variety of organisations like West Yorkshire National Trust Volunteers, York Castle Museum, Council for British Archaeology, The Rowntree Society, York Curiouser.
Where I hope to be in 5 years
I hope to successfully complete the currently running projects and gain enough contacacts to progress to a role with more responsibility and more to do with historic building conservation.
My advice to students considering work
Gain work experience wherever possible. Make sure the volunteering you do is relevant to your future career. Network, network, network - who you know matters! Be ready to move, there are not enough good jobs in heritage for everybody at their ideal location. Perseverance is key. In the heritage sector you have to be able to deal with constant rejection. Just keep at it and you will find the job for you.
My advice about working in my industry
Perseverance. In the heritage sector you have to be able to deal with constant rejection. Just keep at it and you will find the job for you.
What I do
Brimham Rocks is a small property in a sense that the team running it consists of less than ten people. As a result my role can be very varied. During the busy visitor season I tend to be more in the front of house, running the shop, doing membership recruitment, delivering our visitor offer from guided walks to geocaching taster days and climbing demos. When there is time left over or the site is closed I also have an office role, making sure that the website is up-to-date, compiling and delivering our social media plan, looking for marketing opportunities, writing press releases, putting together the property newsletter, managing the Day Maker volunteers, rolling out new activities like an interactive Geo-Pit. If I believe something can improve Brimham Rocks Visitor Enjoyment score I can give it a go.
Skills I use and how I developed them
Extracurricular skills:
I developed my communication skills in every job and volunteering role I have ever had as there has always been an element of customer service.
Computer skills are essential. I have always been good at Microsoft Office packages, but now I am also learning to use Photoshop and video editing programs to make my ideas into reality.
What I like most
I love the variety, the fact that I can improve my skills in all sorts of areas, from people management to marketing. I also have an excellent line manager who is also my mentor.
What I like least
I am based in York and driving to Brimham Rocks every day takes up 2-3 hours of my day. Working days are very long and by the time I get home I am usually too tired to do anything else.
Next steps...
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