Rebeca Moss
2017 French and Philosophy alumna Rebeca Moss offers reassurance to students and recent humanities graduates who are unsure of their next steps after university.
| Name |
Rebeca Moss |
| Degree |
MA French and Philosophy |
| Year of Graduation | 2017 |
Your time at the University
Attending the University of Edinburgh had been a long-standing ambition of mine well before it was time to submit my application.
The university’s excellent reputation coupled with its iconic city setting made it my first choice from the get-go, and I was beyond excited when I found out that I’d been offered a place.
Prior to taking up my place to study French and Philosophy (MA), I spent a gap a year in Orléans, France, where I was an au pair to two girls. I also attended French courses at the local university. This was a valuable experience which helped me to begin my French studies with confidence.
As part of my year abroad, I was lucky enough to be selected to go to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, where I spent the academic year as an English Language Teaching Assistant with the British Council. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Studying philosophy helped me to develop important analytical skills that I use every day in my current role. I was blown away by the resources and support that the Philosophy department offers its students.
Speaking advanced French and having demonstrable analytical skills has put me in great standing, as engaging with clients and offering smart solutions to complex problems are essential aspects of the role.
Your experiences since leaving the University
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after I graduated, but I was soon offered a fantastic job at Edinburgh-based PR and Digital Communications Agency, Represent, and completely fell in love with the industry.
I work as an account executive, where on any given day I could be handling media relations, writing press releases and copy, developing search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies and helping out on campaigns.
Speaking advanced French and having demonstrable analytical skills has put me in great standing, as engaging with clients and offering smart solutions to complex problems are essential aspects of the role.
Although I didn’t know it at the time, four years of essay-writing, including two dissertations, was actually training for my current position where strong copy writing skills are essential.
Alumni Wisdom
If you don’t have an exact plan for after you graduate, don’t panic! A lot of humanities students worry about what they can do after university, and the answer is: absolutely anything.
A degree from the University of Edinburgh opens doors to so many career paths that you may not have even considered yet.
Your degree subject might not necessarily directly relate to the field you end up working in, but the university’s high-quality teaching along with its rigorous system of feedback is helping you to develop essential skills and setting you up for success in the world of work.
Related Links
French and Francophone Studies at Edinburgh
Represent Comms (external link)