Ellie Timbrell

Current employer: Jaguar Land Rover

Current job title: Early Product Information CCR Coordinator

Current location: Gaydon, Warwickshire

“Processes and strategies have been very transferable and really suit my role. Logistics, planning, and communication are a huge part of my role and these are skills I learnt at the University of Plymouth: I am now enjoying putting them into practice.”

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

Throughout my degree, and initially, when finishing my degree, I worked for Atwell Martin Estate Agents in Plymouth. This provided me with a great opportunity to gain office experience and as a base to search for my future career. Within two months I received an offer for an exciting position at Jaguar Land Rover.

Did you decide to change your career path during your studies, and if so, why?

I loved my degree but since finishing, the career path I have chosen is slightly different to my degree in the sense that I’m not organising events, although the processes and strategies have been very transferable and really suit my role. Logistics, planning, and communication are a huge part of my role and these are skills I learnt at the University of Plymouth: I am now enjoying putting them into practice.

What, if anything, would you have done differently at university?

If I had the opportunity to do university again, I would try and get more involved with societies and activities. Since leaving university, I have realised I won’t be in that same close environment again and it’s more difficult to find time to get involved in a society or team. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done any differently: it was great!

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to get into the same line of work?

I would say to anyone trying to get into the same line of work that the subject of your degree should not limit what type of job you go for, but to transfer the skills you have learned and to work as hard as possible to get the grade you deserve. Large companies want to be able to see that you have the work ethic and bags of enthusiasm to bring to the company and the role.

How did studying at Plymouth help you?

The University of Plymouth really encouraged me to gain work experience whilst studying. I am so glad I did this: it really has filled up my CV, giving me so much to talk about in my interviews. Even the experiences which I thought at the time may not be the most beneficial have, surprisingly, been used as examples in interviews to demonstrate experience and skills.

What is your favourite memory of studying at Plymouth?

I have so many favourite memories studying at Plymouth but the highlight would have to be course trips to Amsterdam and Prague, which were such awesome experiences. Spending time with university friends in such different places was amazing.

Fire dancer at Chinese New Year celebrations