Janice Yap: How the Careers Centre helped me secure my first job
In this post, we’re delighted to share Janice Yap’s journey from St Andrews graduate to her current role at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.
Janice graduated in November 2023 with a Master of Letters Museum and Heritage Studies degree. Now working at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Buckinghamshire, Janice reflects on how the Careers Centre helped her navigate her career journey—from refining her CV & cover letter and preparing for interviews to securing her dream role. With valuable advice for current students, she shares how the Careers Centre’s support made all the difference in her transition from university to the professional world of work.
When and how did you first discover the Careers Centre, and what motivated you to start using it?
I discovered the Careers Centre during my induction classes. Having used my previous university’s Career Centre to successfully apply for my postgraduate programme at St Andrews, I knew how helpful their services would be. Therefore, I was eager to use the Career Centre’s services to not only help me find a part-time job alongside my studies, but also secure a full-time job towards the end of my degree.
What services or resources did you find the most valuable, and how did they impact your career planning?
The CV/Cover Letter and 15- minute Career Appointments were the two most valuable (and used!) services to me as the discussions I had with Careers Advisers and CV Advisers about different job vacancies and the Graduate Visa really assisted me when planning my next steps after St Andrews. Furthermore, the feedback that I received from advisers over my CVs, cover letters and various personal statements also helped me to improve my applications and successfully secure job interviews.
How did the Career Centre help you develop key skills or gain confidence for your job search or career growth?
Through various meetings with career advisors, I acquired knowledge of what to focus on when reading job vacancies information packs, and how to decide if my current skill sets and experience were suitable for the role or not. Furthermore, the Career Centre also taught me how to specifically tailor my application statements and CVs to each vacancy’s person specifications using the STAR method. Aside from that, I also learnt how to better structure my answers and what questions to sometimes expect from interviewers if I was not given any questions beforehand. In addition to that, I certainly gained confidence through interview practices for not only my job interviews, but also for when I was interviewed for my Summer Exchange Programme at the École du Louvre, which I was successfully selected for.
Can you share a memorable experience where the Career Centre made a significant difference in your career journey?
In October 2024, I made an appointment with the Career Centre to discuss an application for a role I was hoping to move into and I will always remember how during my first appointment with Amy, she commented on how much more confident I was in my job search. And this was because the comment had taken me by surprise as it was not something I had noticed about myself as I had felt that I was just doing exactly what I had done when I applied for jobs the year before. It was just amazing to me because I never realised how much I had changed after working for a year and it was just really nice to hear that insight from Amy, whom I hadn’t seen in a year but was one the career advisers who really supported me in my studies and previous job search towards the end of degree, who has also now helped me move into my current role after that initial first job. It was just a memorable experience that stuck with me as I had never really noticed how far I personally grown in my career journey until she had pointed it out, and I am really grateful for it.
Looking back, how has the Careers Centre contributed to your success as a graduate?
I always knew that getting that first job after my degree would be the hardest step in my career post-University, especially in an industry/sector that was extremely competitive. Therefore, I am extremely thankful to the Career Centre and their advisers who played such a vital role in helping me land that first job – from the almost daily feedback on my applications, to the numerous (one too many!) last-minute meetings and interview practices. Furthermore, I cannot be more grateful as well that the Career Centre continues to support graduates for up to three years following graduation, as I was able to get support from advisors in my transition to my current role and will continue to use their services as long as I am eligible to.
What advice would you give to current students to get the most out of the Careers Centre?
The Careers Centre is always there to help you, even if you aren’t sure just yet of what your next steps are. It is always worth just looking on their website or booking an appointment to chat to advisers about potential next steps, and really see what options are there for you. And if you are ever in need for a last-minute appointment, advice or practice before an interview, it is always worth just emailing them to ask for assistance as I am sure that they will do their best to help you. Overall, I am certain that you will be well supported in your career journey as I was as the Career Centre really just wants to see you succeed!
Janice’s journey is a great example of how the Careers Centre can make a real difference in your career path. We encourage all future students to take full advantage of our resources, services and 1:1 advice. Whether you’re just starting to think about your career or preparing for that crucial job interview, the Careers Centre is here to help you succeed. Make sure to contact us, book an appointment, and start planning for your future today!
The Careers Centre team