University News Last updated 19 March 2021
RBC hosted a series of ‘Careers Resource Sessions’ recently, which were online careers talks for final-year students.
The optional sessions had up to 50 students in attendance on Zoom. The talks covered topics such as how the music industry is responding to Covid-19, Brexit restrictions on touring, embarking on a portfolio career, entrepreneurism, networking, confident interviews and working with professional organisations.
The speakers at the six online Zoom sessions included musician career guru Angela Beeching, Senior Partnerships and Marketing Manager at the Incorporated Society of Musicians Ruth McPherson and film and TV composer and alumnus Segun Akinola, composer of the Doctor Who soundtracks, among others.
Angela Beeching, who advises musicians on how to achieve their goals, worked with three students directly during her session to demonstrate how they could move forward with their career ambitions.
Final-year students also heard directly from a number of alumni such as Ivor Novello award-winning composer and jazz musician Charlie Bates. The alumni offered insight into their careers and the stages they were at.
All speakers drew on their experiences and shared how they had overcome certain challenges within the music industry, which prompted discussions about mental and physical wellbeing, and why it’s important to pursue the things that make you happy.
After the final talk this month, final-year students gave the following feedback on the series:
“All the sessions were great for coming up with ideas for further discussion and for growing my own skills, and making me think about what's coming in the future and to always have back-up plans.”
“As final-year students, these sessions were always going to provide useful information as we are about to graduate, but the fact that the sessions were adapted in some way due to Covid-19 made me feel less stressed. I had answers and an idea of what is to come in the future. Thank you!”
Teaching Fellow in Professional Development and Outreach, who organised the series, Jeremy Clay said: “I’m thrilled we have been able to offer these tailored resource sessions to our final-year students and that they have responded so enthusiastically. All the speakers gave fascinating insights drawing on their own experiences and have given our students great food for thought.”
Pictured: Composer Segun Akinola courtesy of Charlie Clift.