I Got Hired: Digital Marketing Intern at ParkSmart

Posted on: 20 December 2020 in Student experiences

Charity Swales studied MSc Marketing and BA Hons English degrees at the University of Liverpool and is now working as a Digital Marketing Intern at ParkSmart in Liverpool.

Which aspects of your course do you think have been the most beneficial to your career development? 

My Masters in Marketing gave me a deep theoretical understanding of the field which means I can draw on my knowledge and critical thinking to develop a sound strategy. Although it is in academic setting the case studies I did on companies such as Burberry, ASOS and IKEA allowed me to apply this knowledge to real life situations.

I think taking the Digital Marketing module and enjoying that made me realise that that's the avenue I wanted to go down, as we're no longer in a paradigm where Marketing is a one-way conversation. It can also be incredibly creative, you just have to look at Marks and Spencer's Percy Pig TikToks!

The chance to work with other students to complete assignments is great for developing your teamwork skills.

Can you describe your current role?

I am currently working as a Digital Marketing Intern for ParkSmart which is a B2B Parking Software company based in Liverpool.

Over the last few months I have been developing a digital strategy that will boost engagement with the company, increase leads and nurture current relationships. This is developed over various client touchpoints such as social media and email marketing and also a relevant SEO strategy. I also utilise programmes such as Google Analytics and Search Console to monitor traffic to the website, and develop new avenues for targeting potential clients. I love working in smaller companies as there's such a sense of passion instilled within the business.

Although I had never previously considered a career in the parking industry, I gained the role through the support of Paul Cullinan at the Employer Connection team in Careers & Employability. I would definitely recommend looking through Handshake if you're looking for opportunities!

Do you have any top tips to share with future and current students?

My top tips would definitely be to engage with your interests! For example, while I was a student I wrote for the student newspaper which has definitely helped my chances of gaining a job. Most societies are looking for Marketing or Social Media Managers so make sure you go up for them as it is impressive to employers.

I also would recommend going to the Careers and Employability events or engaging with the team in the Career Studio. I went to a few of their events during the Digital Discovery Week and it really gave me some useful insight and tips. Their events allow you to consider how to inject your course knowledge into a career setting.

What is the first thing that you think of when you think of the University of Liverpool?

I think of the best four years of my life. What's better than studying in a top-class institution, in an amazing city, meeting my favourite people along the way? Not much really.