Be open to change. Your first job won't be your last job. So take every opportunity as a learning experience.

What's your career?

A Lecturer in Planning in the Department of the Natural and Built Environment, I joined Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) in February 2023. Before joining SHU, I worked as an Assistant Professor at the School of Planning and Architecture in Vijayawada, India, for five years. I also worked in various capacities with MNCs like URS Scott Wilson, Knight Frank and Lea Associates for three years.

My advice to others looking to progress their career today:

Find your niche. Thousands of graduates are in the market today. Identify what sets you apart from others and the benefit your prospective workplace will get by hiring you.

Network. Talking to people will help you apply to jobs not posted online and allow you to learn from someone in a similar field. Be open to change: Your first job won't be your last job. So, take every opportunity as a learning experience and a stepping stone in your journey.

Find an opportunity that scares you a bit, especially because this will ensure that you will learn something and be thoroughly engaged.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of studying at the university
It is difficult to pick any particular memory from my innumerable happy memories at the University of Sheffield. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of studying at the university over a span of four years during my doctoral studies. The facilities, the staff and my supervisors were simply amazing and made my life happy and enjoyable.

The facilities, the staff and my supervisors were simply amazing and made my life happy and enjoyable.

Dr Shweta Sharma

PhD Management, 2023