Career Stories

What primary school did you go to?

Bishopmill Primary School

What secondary school did you go to?

Elgin Academy

What organisation do you currently work for?

AES Solar

What is your current job title?

Junior Sales Assistant

What was your first job?

Waiter

What was your favourite subject while you were in school?  Did this subject help you with your career path?

Physical Education and Geography

What led you to this career?

Exciting opportunity for a young person to come in and gain qualifications on the job while also learning about the renewable industry.

What is the most memorable moment in your career so far?

no particular moment but experience of day to day working on domestic and commercial projects and seeing how our work has affected there house/ business in a positive way.

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Consider university/ college and read into it, but there is definitely other alternatives out their. Don't feel like you must go university to be successful.

Would you like to go back to one of your schools to speak to students?

Yes

Would you be interested in offering a career inspiration/skills session to your former schools?

Yes

What primary school did you go to?

Knockando Primary School

What secondary school did you go to?

Speyside High School

What organisation do you currently work for?

Code Wizards

What is your current job title?

Junior Game Tech Engineer

What was your first job?

Paper round

What was your favourite subject while you were in school?  Did this subject help you with your career path?

Computing science was my favourite subject, it helped me get my job as it taught me how to program and helped me fall in love with programming, I then went on to study and get a degree in the subject

What led you to this career?

My love for programming and video games as well as the fact the position is local

What is the most memorable moment in your career so far?

Getting the opportunity to meet loads of games companies see their amazing games and travel

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

It’s not what you know it’s who you know, get out there do events and make sure to network

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

It’s not what you know it’s who you know, get out there do events and make sure to network

Would you be interested in offering a career inspiration/skills session to your former schools?

Yes

What primary school did you go to?

Greenwards Primary School 

What secondary school did you go to?

Elgin High School

What organisation do you currently work for?

Elgin Town Hall

What is your current job title?

Hall Manager

What was your first job?

Trolley Boy at ASDA

What was your favourite subject while you were in school?  Did this subject help you with your career path?

PE, loved playing Sports but not connected to my carer path

What led you to this career?

A love of Music and attending concerts, this led me to promote events as there was a lack of groups playing live in the local area I wanted to see. When the opportunity arose to be part of the group that took over the Town Hall i jumped at the chance and through just getting stuck in I finally ended up as Hall Manager.

What is the most memorable moment in your career so far?

There are many but I suppose getting both Big Country & The Skids to play Elgin Town Hall would be up there after being a big fan of them for nearly 40 years. Watching a sell out crowd at the Hall absolutely loving a show is a highlight, just being a part of making that happen is a fantastic experience.

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

There's no wrong path, believe in yourself and just keep going.

Would you like to go back to one of your schools to speak to students?

Yes

Would you be interested in offering a career inspiration/skills session to your former schools?

No

What primary school did you go to?

Newmill Primary School

What secondary school did you go to?

Keith Grammer School

What organisation do you currently work for?

Isla Cooperage Company Ltd

What is your current job title?

Cooper

What was your first job?

Apprentice Cooper

What was your favourite subject while you were in school?  Did this subject help you with your career path?

PE and History - You need to be physically fit for this job so it has helped in a way

What led you to this career?

I'm from the local area and the job is on my doorstep. You can make good money once you are time-served and I work with a great group of people

What is the most memorable moment in your career so far?

Passing my Trade Test in my 3rd year

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Meet new people and get to know the people you're working with, keep your head down and be prepared to get involved at all times, and don't be late or afraid to stop learning

 Would you like to go back to one of your schools to speak to students?

No

Would you be interested in offering a career inspiration/skills session to your former schools?

No

What primary school did you go to?

Applegrove Primary School

What secondary school did you go to?

Forres Academy

What organisation do you currently work for?

Marine Conservation Society

What is your current job title?

Policy and Advocacy Manager

What was your first job?

Field Studies Instructor

What was your favourite subject while you were in school?  Did this subject help you with your career path?

My favourite subject at school was history! I was all set to study Ancient History at Edinburgh University as I wasn't very good at science so I thought my love for the ocean would have to be just something I did in my spare time as I couldn't be a marine biologist. However after a free trip to Aberdeen University I came across a degree called Marine and Coastal Resource Management which didn't require biology and it was a complete lightbulb moment for me! So I switched to Aberdeen University but my love for history came from stories and looking for evidence both which have been important elements of my career path

What led you to this career?

I learnt to Scuba Dive at Aberdeen University which isn't the cheapest of hobbies! So I got a part time job working at the Disney Store where I learned so many important communication skills. I then thought how to I join my love of creating magical moments for guests in the Disney Store and my passion for ocean conservation? I then came across the field of Environmental Education where another lightbulb went on for me! So my first job after graduating was as a field studies instructor down in Dorset working for PGL. I covered everything from taking wee ones out rockpooling to A level students doing coastal management and everything in between. It was a brilliant job but Scotland was calling me home so I moved back North and started work at an aquarium combining all the skills I had developed so far. It was during this job that I started volunteering again and became a Sea Champion with the Marine Conservation Society. Thanks to the support of my Volunteer Manager I had the confidence to apply for my first job with the Marine Conservation Society as their Scotland Conservation Officer and now nearly 10 years later I am a Policy and Advocacy Manager!

What is the most memorable moment in your career so far?

I have had so many career highs from bringing a giant bottle jellyfish into Scottish Parliament with a primary school to raise awareness of plastic pollution to leading the Marine Conservation Societies contributions to an international marine litter conference where the then First Minister for Scotland had their picture taken with our life size Leatherback Sea Turtle! However is it the people that I get to meet and work with that keeps me so motivated and my ocean optimism topped up. There are so many fantastic volunteers and community groups across the country that are doing such brilliant work and it is an honour to help bring their voices into parliament and government!

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

'Are the fish going to die?' - I remember my colleague Dawn so clearly saying this to me when I was feeling absolutely swamped with work and didn't know what to do next. She asked me 'Are the fish going to die if you don't send that email? Are the fish going to die if you take the afternoon off?' and it made me realise the importance of looking after yourself and ensuring you have the energy to do your best work. So in way some of the best career advice I have had is to make sure you don't do too much careering and you leave time to rest, recharge so you can come back ready to save the fish!

Would you like to go back to one of your schools to speak to students?

Yes

Would you be interested in offering a career inspiration/skills session to your former schools?

Yes

What primary school did you go to?

Hopeman Primary School

What secondary school did you go to?

Elgin Academy

What organisation do you currently work for?

Harper Macleod LLP

What is your current job title?

Administrator in Residential Property, Housebuilder & Estate Agency

What was your first job?

Administrator in Support Services

What was your favourite subject while you were in school?  Did this subject help you with your career path?

Drama - Helped with my confidence in dealing with clients face to face and on the phone

Modern Studies - Helped with my vocabulary and how to structure/format emails and other documents

What led you to this career?

Opportunity that could open a wider variety of career paths

What is the most memorable moment in your career so far?

My first time letting someone know their property had received an offer

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Take every Opportunity as it comes

Would you like to go back to one of your schools to speak to students?

Yes

Would you be interested in offering a career inspiration/skills session to your former schools?

Yes

What primary school did you go to?

Greenwards Primary School 

What secondary school did you go to?

Elgin High School

What organisation do you currently work for?

Moray Coast Vet Group

What is your current job title?

Practice Manager/Registered Veterinary Nurse

What was your first job?

Kitchen Porter

What was your favourite subject while you were in school?  Did this subject help you with your career path?

Biology, yes

What led you to this career?

Love for animals, interest in science subjects

What is the most memorable moment in your career so far?

Becoming a veterinary nurse

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

to go for it, take chances and go for the opportunities available, don't let the fear of failure hold you back

Would you like to go back to one of your schools to speak to students?

Yes

Would you be interested in offering a career inspiration/skills session to your former schools?

Yes

What primary school did you go to?

Seafield Primary

What secondary school did you go to?

Elgin Academy

What organisation do you currently work for?

The Moray Council

What is your current job title?

Building Standards Officer

What was your first job?

Lifeguard

What was your favourite subject while you were in school?  Did this subject help you with your career path?

Graphic Communication - this was an important subject to my career path as it taught me the basic's of graphical drawing, such as 2D and 3D views on paper and also using CAD packages

What led you to this career?

I had always been interested in construction and using CAD packages at school, gaining a degree in Architectural Technology seemed the right natural step for me, while working in practice, as an Architectural Technician, I gained interest in the Scottish Building Standard Division and an opportunity became available for me to join the Building Standards Division at Moray Council

What is the most memorable moment in your career so far?

Joining the team at Moray Council and also seeing my first complex house be completed

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?

There is no such thing as a stupid question & Don't be afraid to own your mistakes, as long as you learn from them

Would you like to go back to one of your schools to speak to students?

Yes

Would you be interested in offering a career inspiration/skills session to your former schools?

Yes