No wrong path: Business Management Graduate Caitlin

Our 'No wrong path' series supports the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) campaign for young people who may feel disheartened by their exam results. If that's you, or you're not sure what route to take after school, we hope the stories of employees here at Team Robertson will show that there's no right or wrong path.

From hospitality to Business Management Graduate

Caitlin, tell us about your time at school:

I didn’t have the best experience at school or feel the most academic. I was told I’d swerve a pass in most of my subjects but in fact got As and Bs. I didn’t feel supported and left when I was 17 with no clear idea of what I wanted to do – my thoughts so far had gone from something sports related to being a special needs teacher. 

What was your next step?

I was already working in a catering assistant role at one of the local colleges which I started when I was 16 so carried on with that. When I was applied to do a BA Hons in Human Resources, I decided to keep my job on too. For the last two years of my degree, I ran an independent coffee shop – it was hard work, balancing a job with studies, but I got myself into a routine and quite liked having the best of both worlds.

After completing a three-year course, I knew my heart wasn’t in human resources. But I also knew the experience of working in the hospitality sector along with study had given me a strong skillset, for instance communication, time management, health and safety and even dealing with stressful situations.

When I saw the advert for Business Management graduate with Robertson Facilities Management, I thought that would be an ideal place to develop those skills further.

How are you enjoying your role at Robertson?

It’s good, I feel well settled into my role. I support the Mobilisation Manager in the FM Bid team. Essentially, I help check that our mobilisation plans for new contracts meet customer needs and contract obligations. I’m really enjoying the research side and getting into the detail – there are so many aspects to a contract and multiple specialisms needed to pull it together. It’s given me a real taste for bid writing too, something I can get involved in once I gain more experience.

What’s your message for any young person disheartened by their grades or not sure what their next step should be?

 I'd say there is always something out there for you, your grades don’t define you and there's no rush to know what you want to do.