Saffron Mills, BA (Hons) History 2023

Full Name: Saffron Mills
Graduation Year: 2023
Course Studied: History (BA)
Job Title: Account Manager
Employer/Organisation Name: Bacardi Martini Limited
What are you doing now you have graduated from the University of Lincoln?: Since graduating, I secured a job for the world’s largest privately held spirits company – Bacardi Martini Limited. They have more than 200 brands across 170 countries and I’m lucky enough to represent a portion of those brands in a city I got to call home throughout my university years; Lincoln! I also work in the majority of the East Midlands as well as South Yorkshire, focusing primarily on business consultancy in bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the region.
How did your time at the University of Lincoln support your career?: The history department were great at focussing on employability, and life beyond typical routes taken by graduates of History which was something I was not particularly interested in. As someone who chose the course because she enjoyed history, the real emphasis on demonstrating the transferrable skills acquired in humanities courses contributed massively to my ability to think outside the box when it came to post-university life!
What are the best parts of your job?: The flexibility is a huge bonus, organisation is key, but being able to manage my own time and not being stuck in an office every day from 9-5 has made transitioning from university life to full-time work a dream. The social aspect of Account Management is also something that intrigued me about the job, no two working days are the same and I’m lucky enough to meet and work with different people every day – and as for the brands… they definitely speak for themselves which makes the job all the more enjoyable!
If you could give our current students any top tip for after graduation and their careers, what would it be?: Don’t panic, and embrace the change! I completed 4 years of university instead of 3 like the rest of my peers and I thought I’d be so far behind. It worked out in my favour and I was able to knuckle down and get the best grade possible at the end of it. Keep your eyes on LinkedIn for sure and attend any careers events companies you’re interested in working for hold at their HQ (you’d be surprised how often they happen).
What inspired you to study at the University of Lincoln (or one of its predecessor institutions)?: As a historian, the history of the city is what drew me to the city! Being from the south of the country, I also wanted to get as far away as possible from typical city life but to be somewhere that still had quick transport links back to London (in case I got homesick… which didn’t end up happening a lot in the end)
What was your favourite thing about being a student at the University of Lincoln (or one of its predecessor institutions)?: The social aspect was great, and the fact you can walk everywhere! I didn’t need my car until my last year of university and that was just because of where I had a part-time job vs. where I lived.
What would you say to a prospective student thinking of applying to the University of Lincoln?: If you’re from a big city and want to go to a city uni that still has a bit of liveliness about it then Lincoln is great, its super well connected to neighbouring cities as well that made for great days out.