Joshua Neal, Strategy Associate at Aon
Joshua graduated in 2015 with a BA in English. He went on to secure a role as a Strategy Associate for Aon.
He discusses his exploration of the various study areas with English, and how he built a portfolio of skills during is degree.
"I chose to study English at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ because of the breadth of its programme, with modules available across five areas ranging from language and linguistics to medieval studies. Medieval studies was a new topic for me which held my interest from the first lecture.
I particularly enjoyed the Year Two and Year Three name-studies modules, focused on the names of people and places in medieval England. The research skills I first developed on those modules have proved invaluable for my current work: engaging with a wide variety of source material, using software including Excel and digital mapping tools, and presenting data in graphs and tables. The projects I produced for the name-studies modules used the broadest methodologies of my degree, and creating a coherent narrative from a range of complex material mirrors my day-to-day strategy consulting work in London."
I am glad I chose to study English at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, and expand into new topics. I would advise any student to try new things during their undergraduate degree, both in and out of the classroom – I also joined the University’s kung fu society in my first year and was its president in my final year. A range of activities allows you to develop critical skills for both career and life.
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