Meet Isaac McAreavey, our new placement student

A University of York graduate joins the team for six months across marketing, business development and client work.

Aetopia is pleased to welcome Isaac McAreavey, who has joined us for a six-month placement. Over the coming months Isaac will work across the business, from marketing and business development to technology and client-facing activities.

We asked Isaac about his background, his first week and what he hopes to get from his time with us.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

"My name is Isaac, I am 21 years old, originally from Belfast, but I moved to Newcastle upon Tyne in 2017, so it is nice to be back home! I went to the University of York, where I studied Economic and Political Science (BSc), graduating just a few months ago.

"In my spare time, I am a trustee of European Youth Parliament UK, where I am in charge of our membership development as well as helping out with issues of international governance. As you can imagine, this alone takes up a good portion of my free time, but I also manage to squeeze in practising piano and bassoon where I can!"

What attracted you to this placement?

"What attracted me to this opportunity at Aetopia was the chance to work across a wide range of projects and gain exposure to different areas of the business. From marketing and business development to technology and client-facing activities, there is a lot of variety in the work, which creates a fast-paced and engaging environment.

"I also liked the collaborative culture at Aetopia. Everyone brings different skills and expertise, and there is a real willingness to share knowledge and support each other, making it a great place to learn and develop professionally."

What were your expectations before starting?

"Before starting I wasn't sure what to think. The people I had interacted with were very friendly, but starting your first nine-to-five job can be a bit daunting, so I wasn't fully sure what to expect. That being said, it was emphasised to me before I started that I would be helping out in a range of areas of the business, so I was expecting some variation in my day-to-day work."

What has surprised you most during your first week?

"What surprised me in my first week was just how friendly and welcoming the whole team is, and how easy it is to interact with anybody at any level. When I have had questions or issues, I have felt extremely comfortable approaching the people who can help me out.

"More than that, I have found it very easy to interact with those who are more senior in the company. It really feels as though there isn't a rigid hierarchy and that everybody is working towards the same goal. This makes the work environment very comfortable, and I feel it has helped me settle in quite rapidly."

What are you hoping to learn over the next six months?

"This is always a difficult question, especially for someone who has a range of interests and has just come out of university, but there are two key things I would like to take away.

"The first is new skills, or sharpened existing ones. I would like to come away feeling that my role here has improved my skill set, and that I can point directly to abilities I didn't have before or that this placement has helped to hone.

"The second is more clarity about where I want to be in the future. I am a strong believer that to know what you like, you have to know what you don't like. By doing this multifaceted role, I hope to get a clearer picture of what my career will look like and exactly which area I enjoy working in."

What would success look like by the end of your placement?

"As this question is closely related to the last one, I will steal my answers! Success will be being able to look at specific skills that have improved during my time here, whether that is communication, marketing knowledge, networking or something else, and confidently say I now have abilities I didn't have before.

"Success will also mean more clarity about the area I want to work in, whether that is marketing, customer service or some other part of the business. I want to finish with a better understanding of what I like and don't like."

In three words, how would you describe your first week?

"Busy, dynamic and satisfying."

We are delighted to have Isaac on board and look forward to working with him over the next six months.