Aston University graduate refuses to let dyslexia diagnosis limit career success
Hi, I'm Victoria and I studied BSc (Hons) Economics and Politics at Aston University.
I grew up in a very small town in Cheshire so going to a very large city such as Birmingham was a big adventure that I liked the sound of. I had a great passion for economics, so I started researching into which universities offer great economics courses and I saw that Aston University offered Economics and Politics.
What was your favourite thing about studying your course?
I think my favourite thing about studying Economics and Politics is that it gives you a really nice window into the world. Being able to study economics gives you a good business view of what’s happening around the world and politics is an essential part of that.
What were your lecturers like?
The academics for my course were great, both for economics and politics.
I got diagnosed with dyslexia in 2019 so my final year at Aston University was really crucial to succeed. Being able to go to my lecturers at any time for help was really great. They were able to provide me with various resources and were able to support me with my different learning needs. I was able to graduate with some of the highest grades that I had achieved during my three years at university.
What did you do for your placement year?
During my third year at Aston University, I took part in a year in industry.
I got an internship at Microsoft as part of their Education Team in the UK. Going from living that student lifestyle into the industry was a really big transition but I was able to learn a lot of transferable skills and increase my network. As part of my internship, I interviewed for one of their graduate roles which I was successful in getting.
I’m now a customer success manager in the Business Applications Team for Microsoft UK. My day-to-day consists of working with customers to utilise their technologies that they have acquired from Microsoft, to improve their day-to-day processes.
How has studying at Aston University impacted your career?
When I first started studying Economics and Politics at Aston University, I never would have thought a career in technology would have been possible. During my time at university, I was able to acquire some really great skills such as confidence as well as how to work well in groups. I believe that set me up for success in my current role at Microsoft.
Victoria commented:
I recommend Aston University for anyone who wants to study something that they are passionate about, but also wants to go into a very successful career after graduation.