I took part in the 3-week ACE workshop back in 2018. I had been struggling to secure a long–term job for almost 3 years, going between short-term placements and doing temp work in the meantime. A friend of mine referred me to the annual Social Mobility Careers Fair that Making The Leap host. During the fair, I met a few Fellows from the most recent cohort who all spoke very highly of the workshop. I also met Jamal (Recruitment Officer), who was extremely helpful in explaining the mission and purpose of MTL – this encouraged me to sign up then and there.  

During the ACE workshop I learnt to improve my skills in every aspect of the job application process from improving my CV and cover letter to building confidence with public speaking and improving interview technique. Throughout the process I learnt to identify my strengths and improve my weaknesses. Taking part in the ACE workshop was a turning point for me, where I started to slowly build confidence in my ability, and it made me feel motivated to pursue my dream of working in the Media Industry once again. I am still incredibly appreciative of the support from my cohort and felt great pride in seeing everyone encourage each other and help each other grow. Just after the workshop ended, I took part in the Social Media Internship at MTL where I gained experience in the type of role I wanted to secure in future. I learnt a lot about Marketing, being resourceful when gathering content and continuing to stay engaged with followers. 

Sophia on a Corporate Experience Day with Antin IP.

After the internship ended, I continued to attend the Job Search Thursdays, where there were CV and Cover Letter workshops and support with my applications. The aftercare I received post-workshop was wonderful and I felt very supported, particularly by Krupa (Progressions Officer), in finding potential job openings. I was fortunate that the team at MTL came across a LinkedIn advertisement for a role at my dream company, Viacom (now ViacomCBS), who own iconic brands such as MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central which I grew up watching. I had applied to work there several times previously but never got past the interview stage. My CV was sent across and I landed a job interview for a 5–month contract. The team at MTL were very supportive throughout the process and helped me organise myself with two mock interviews ahead of the day. I felt extremely prepared during the interview where I was able to convey my passion for the industry. I got the 5-month contract and nearly two years later I still work for the company. I recently offered a promotion as Global Inclusion Strategies Coordinator and feel more driven than ever to achieve my career goals. My role involves everything from Social Media Marketing to organising events and influencing company policy.  

My career journey has been far from easy and I have had multiple hurdles to overcome every step of the way, but I have shown growth and resilience throughout. I am very grateful to MTL for giving me the tools to continue pursuing a career in media and would not be where I am without the support of the wonderful team, I cannot recommend part-taking in the ACE workshop enough. 

By Sophia.