History graduate lands her dream role at the National Trust

Like many people, Molly started University with no idea what she wanted to do as a career. Molly chose to study History at UCLan and enjoyed the small class sizes and friendly atmosphere. She was immediately impressed with how supportive and approachable her tutors were. She says: "Speaking to friends who went to other universities, they say that some of their lecturers had no idea who they were! Whereas at UCLan, the smaller classes meant you got more time with lecturers and opportunities to ask questions."

What impressed Molly the most was the dedicated History placement module, that she undertook in her third year. It was here that Molly gained valuable experience in the heritage sector. Molly did her placement at Rufford Old Hall. She enjoyed the practical side of the role which included conservation work. As part of her placement she also worked as a room guide for visitors. Molly enjoyed her placement so much that she continued to volunteer at Rufford Old Hall after she graduated. During time she this worked as a conservation volunteer and took on more training. Molly told us: " My time on placement gave me valuable opportunities to learn and understand what skills were needed to succeed in the role."

Molly has since secured a job as a Collections Assistant at Rufford Old Hall. As a member of The National Trust House Team her duties include the day-to-day care, cleaning and presentation of the property. She ensures the preservation of the Trust's historical collections. She assists with the implementation of preventative conservation measures. This includes things such as pest control and humidity level checks. No two days are the same for Molly.

Molly has this advice for other people considering joining the heritage sector: "Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Volunteer and talk to people in the heritage industry. There are so many roles available and it is valuable to get practical experience. The dedicated History placement module has had the biggest impact on my employment. It gave me an opportunity to put into practice some of the skills I developed on the BA History course as well as an insight into the museum sector that is now my job."

Molly continues: "UCLan has also given me confidence. The lecturers are great support and are always available for a chat and advice, which is so important at university."