Alumni

Megan Farr

Career Path: CRO Executive, ScS
Location: Sunderland, UK

I took the role at ScS as I wanted some first-hand experience in working in a major e-commerce retail company. I took an interest in this industry whilst studying for my BA Information Technology Management for Business and MA Design degrees which provided me with not only knowledge from a technical and creative point of view, but practical company experience. Working with companies such as Procter & Gamble and CPI provided a stepping stone for what I wanted out of my career, with this leading me to my current position.

What are you doing now?

I am currently a Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO) Executive at ScS. This role involves running tests on things such as the website designs as well as monitoring the analytics behind this to ensure visitors become customers, and determining the elements that are stopping them from buying.

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

What made me want to study at Northumbria was the facilities and experiences that were offered throughout my BA and MA degrees. The modern facilities and software gave me excellent practical experience and knowledge which I use on a daily basis.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

My courses consisted of a huge mix of lectures, seminars and team/industry collaboration projects. All of these combined allow me to become comfortable when working with others and professionals. The feedback I received facilitated my own learning, pushing me to work more effectively and gain better results, with both courses giving me real time experience with projects that I now work on in my current employment.

How connected was your course with industry?

Both my courses allowed industry experience, including a whole year in industry during the second year of study. I worked with three different companies during my time studying, as well as being able to go to industry conferences every year to meet different companies who specialised in my area. This enabled me to meet a lot of professionals in industry which helped gain a lot of valuable connections.

What was the best thing about your course?

The best thing about my undergraduate degree was the number of different modules and tasks we got to take part in, there were so many different tasks that involved group and independent work which I think was a perfect balance. The course structure also helped me to understand what real life employment would be like. The best thing about my postgraduate degree was the knowledge and practical experience I had as well as the more in-depth research into a chosen topic. On this course I was also able to work with professionals to enhance my ideas and help see them come to life, benefitting companies.

How did studying at Northumbria help you achieve your career goals/ give your career an edge?

It gave me the ability to become more confident in my abilities and allowed me to see that I can achieve my goals. There is also a lot of advice and facilities available, like personal skills and CV writing courses, to help kick-start the job seeking process which personally helped me.

Which skills/knowledge did you learn on your course that you use most now throughout your career?

It provided me with the skills and knowledge that I use within my current employment, it has facilitated me to create a more social and team working experience that I’ve found is essential when working within a company.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Northumbria University?

The aspect I most enjoyed about Northumbria was meeting and interacting with so many new people.

What advice would you give somebody who is considering studying at Northumbria?

It will be one of the best experiences within your life, it helps you to develop your knowledge and experience as well as to grow as an individual. It prepares you for the working world as well as being the most fun.