Aarhus Universitets segl

Historier fra alumner

Hvert år interviewes 2-4 nyuddannede af afdelingen til dets alumnenyhedsbrev. Vi deler nogle af disse interviews her, så potentielle og nuværende studerende bedre kan forstå det udvalg af karrierer, engelskuddannede går videre med at forfølge.


Mikkel Kragh Andreasen, F19, Lærer

Hvad laver du nu?

Jeg blev færdig med mit speciale i september og har siden arbejdet i et barselsvikariat på Aarhus HF og VUC. Jeg underviser i engelsk og i mit sidefag, filosofi, og jeg har faktisk lige haft de første op til mundtlig eksamen i filosofi. Så bliver det ikke mere officielt.

Hvordan har dit studie forberedt dig?

Jeg tror, at jeg primært er blevet forberedt ved, at min nysgerrighed er blevet fodret. Jeg har lært, at det at læse pensum er én ting, men en anden ting er at dykke ned i ens interesser og jage de ting, man synes er spændende og læse mere om det på egen hånd.

Hvad er det vigtigste, du har lært?

Ansvar for egen læring – hvis man skal bruge sådan et rigtig politikersvar. Men det er rent fagligt det vigtigste, jeg har lært. Jeg har også fået en masse socialt med fra mit studie, men fagligt set, så er ansvar for egen læring noget af det vigtigste. Hvis man synes, noget er spændende, så er det op til dig selv at bruge universitetets databaser, som man nu mister, når man er færdig. Det skal man måske tænke mere over, end man umiddelbart gør. Man skal huske at udnytte al den adgang til viden, man har.

Hvad vil du gerne fremadrettet?

Jeg vil gerne undervise, men jeg har også fundet ud af, at i tider, hvor der måske ikke er så mange penge til uddannelse desværre, må man være åben overfor at søge andre græsgange. Når mit barselsvikariat udløber, og der ikke er et pædagogikum i sigte, så er det måske konsulentbranchen, man skal undersøge. Det kunne jeg også godt se mig selv som. Måske blive kommunikationskonsulent for en virksomhed? Dog har jeg ikke gjort mig så mange tanker om det, da jeg altid gerne ville undervise.

Hvad vil du gerne sige til fremtidige studerende?

Nyd det! Nyd det og nyd, hvor svært det kan være. Frustration er vejen til læring. Forfærdelige eksamener og forfærdelige tider er ikke det, man husker efterfølgende. Man husker dem, man sad og sled med og al den viden, man får med i baggagen. Det er uvurderligt. Jeg er ikke tvivl om, at mine 5 år, jeg har haft på engelsk, har været det bedste 5 år af mit liv. Så det, jeg gerne vil sige til fremtidige kandidater, er: Nyd det, selvom det er hårdt, for studiet er noget, I vil huske tilbage på med gode minder.

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Heidi Olesen, E19, Projektleder og koordinator

Hvad laver du nu? Og hvad har du ellers lavet siden universitetet?

Jeg startede i praktik på et lille forlag kort tid efter, at jeg blev færdig sidste sommer, hvor jeg efterfølgende blev fastansat. Jeg er projektleder og koordinator på forlaget, hvor jeg også får lov til at lege redaktør indimellem.

Hvordan har din tid på universitetet forberedt dig på dit nuværende job?

Noget af det jeg, måske ubevidst, blev rigtig god til var strukturering. Man får pludselig ansvar for egen læring og tid på uni, og det er noget der i starten godt kan være lidt svært, men som virkelig har forberedt mig på det at have et ”rigtigt” arbejde. Mere specifikt har jeg lært en masse om litteratur og sprog, som jeg bruger dagligt, når jeg vurderer manuskripter eller redigerer en bog. Selvom mit arbejde foregår på dansk, kan meget af det jeg lærte på uni bruges.

Hvad er det vigtigste du har taget med fra universitetstiden?

Where to start? Udover det sociale, så er det nok, at det er okay ikke at have en fast plan for fremtiden. Jeg havde altid troet, at jeg skulle være gymnasielærer, men ret hurtigt opdagede jeg, hvor meget man faktisk kan med en cand.mag. og jeg har derfor næsten ikke søgt undervisningsjob.

Hvad er dine håb for fremtiden?

Mit arbejde foregår udelukkende på dansk, så jeg håber, at jeg snart får mulighed for at bruge mine sprog til lidt mere.

Hvad er dit bedste minde fra tiden på engelskstudiet?

Hvor kliche det end lyder, så er det det sociale. Der er så mange forskellige mennesker på engelskstudiet og så mange, der har de samme interesser som en selv. Det jeg savner allermest er uden tvivl Yule Ball.

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Clara Ulrich Eggers, F20, NLU Sprog Specialist hos Nuance Communications (Cerence Inc.)

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

(I’ll answer those questions in reverse order.) First of all, I was very unemployed for a while. I did a bit of linguistic work here and there and then worked as a (less than part-time) translator for a while, primarily translating technical manuals for agricultural machines (– riveting, I know...). Then in May 2019, almost a year after I’d handed in my thesis, I got offered a job as an NLU Language Specialist for Nuance Communications, an international tech company, where I would be part of a team developing language technology for automotive customers (so, cars). This is technically still the role that I’m in – however, on October 1st 2019 my division (Nuance Automotive) became its own spin-off company (Cerence Inc.) but I’m working on the same project and with the same people as when I was hired back in May. NLU stands for Natural Language Understanding, and this is the subcomponent of speech technology that focuses on understanding and interpreting human language. I work from home, I am the Danish (one-woman-) team on the project, and I love the freedom that this gives me. In the language tech field, we’re rarely offered stability, in the sense that most positions are short-term and project-based, but what’s lacking in stability, the companies usually make up for in flexibility. Most days I really enjoy my work and most importantly, I’m learning and have learned so much from this employment, especially because it’s so “tech heavy” and all the technical stuff is just learning-by-doing for me. So yeah, it paid off after all, being able to analyze sentences. Who’d have thought.

(Oh, and this spring, I’m running a bit faster than usual as I’m also teaching a BA course (Advanced Syntax, yay) at the university. Good times only.)

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

Well, everything linguistics has laid a pretty good (and completely essential) foundation, I would say. Also, patience (– and then crying in fetal position when patience is just too ambitious a strategy). “Self-discipline” should probably be on this list too, seeing that I actively have to choose to sit down in front of my computer and actually work for 7-8 hours-ish every day (instead of, say, just watching Netflix in my PJs all day).

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

Hard work pays off but never enough to make up for a lack of self-care. There was one semester in particular where the academic situation made me very frustrated but I kept telling myself that I had to make it through, no matter what, and so I just ignored all the physical symptoms of stress that began to appear and quite forcefully so. Although I got out of that situation relatively unscathed, it’s evident that the strain has had a long-lasting effect on my nervous system and the way my body reacts to stress today, so self-care first and foremost. Definitely.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

It would be great to be able to keep paying my bills. Also, Anne Mette Nyvad from the Department of English (is the boss and) has been awarded a Sapere Aude Starting Grant from the Independent Research Fund Denmark for a research project (“At the Edge of Language – An Investigation into the Limits of Human Grammar”), and as part of this project, she has offered me a PhD position which will begin on September 1st this year. I’m currently walking the fine line between excitement and terror so I would say my ‘hopes and dreams for the future’ currently are 1) to become less terrified, 2) to survive, and 3) to be able to thrive and make the most of a pretty amazing opportunity.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

At the risk of sounding like a big nerd (perhaps it’s too late for that anyway), one of my best memories is returning to English (after having endured way too much time at my tilvalg) and taking The Psychology of English Syntax with Johannes Kizach. This was by far the most interesting and challenging course through­out my time at the university, and it somehow managed to spark my inner drive again – a drive, which, at this point in time, had weakened to the point of oblivion. I remember spending several days trying to get through a 16-page article, and I almost cried with joy when it finally dawned on me what the words meant. And then, being a tutor. I loved being a student at the Department of English, and the department thrives when the new students feel integrated and engaged, both in the social life, in committees, and in the academic part of the study. I’m very happy that I got a chance to make others feel just as included, just as happy about their choice, as I came to feel during my own first semester when the Department of English became my, at least temporary, home.

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Mathilde Noer, F20, Lærer på HTX ved College360 i Silkeborg

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

Right now, I have a permanent position at College360 in Silkeborg where I work as a Danish and English teacher at a technical high school (HTX). Though, it is a small high school, and we are only two English teachers and four Danish teachers. This means that there is not much sparring between my colleagues, but it also means that I have a lot of responsibility – and as the youngest and freshest out of university (and therefore obviously coolest), my other colleagu­es look to me to know, understand, and share the newest research in our field.

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

Much of my time at university has helped me develop excellent time management skills and a (most of the time) excellent work ethic. This helps me structure my time, so I do not burn out or lose track on important deadlines. As someone who primarily chose literature electives, the amount of fiction that I had to read has given me a huge catalogue of references to draw on in my teaching. But most importantly, my time at university has provided me with incredible friends who are interested in and work in the same field as I do – they are always willing to give advice and share their thoughts on whatever issue I might encounter (even though it is such a cliché, remember to network).

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

Always be kind to people. Though it sounds like an utterly boring truism, you never know whether you need to work with them at a point in time, or you need their help with something later on.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

In the future, I have my eye on a bigger bookshelf, a subscription to Amazon Prime, and even more plants for my apartment. A puppy is definitely in the cards too. But on a professional level, I want to work with more graduates from our department.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

I have so many good memories from my time. Creating, writing and featuring in the revue with my friends are definitely on the top of my list. Being chosen to become a tutor and then climbing the ranks while meeting new friends and strengthening old friendships along the way is also one of my favorite memories. Relaxing in the Friday bar and talking with professors and students alike surely deserves an honorable mention. However, writing my thesis is probably my best memory. Do not get me wrong – it was tough, but the community amongst the people at the “speciale sal” was so (pardon my pun) special. Throughout a whole semester, we helped, supported, and care for each other every day. That is something I will always treasure.

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Astrid Okholm Larsen, E20, Fuldtidsstilling ved Stenhus Gymnasium

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

You learn best through working with others (and should not fear peer-review) and I thank my study

group for the hours of studying together and everything in between. On the same note, #theschwaisneverstressed

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

I have learned to organise, plan and co-work through my time in Anglia, tasted teaching as an instructor and found that I enjoyed guiding young people as tutor. Oh, and I studied my languages, especially their cultural connection to their speakers, which I went abroad several times to experience. All the above are skills I use every day as a teacher.

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

This year, I was offered a full-time position at Stenhus Gymnasium in Holbæk where I have been the past year as a part time årsvikar in both my subjects (Minor in Spanish). During my first year at the school I also taught adults at FOF on weeknights which was a very instructive teaching experience and a lot of fun! I am right now in the exciting maelstrom they call Pædagogikum. Here, I paddle my way through theory and try to swim in the ocean of practice, where I teach both my own and my mentors’ classes. I have the full palette of STX, HF and Pre-IB, where in the latter, everything – even grammar – is in English, which is awesome. I have also continued my volunteer work as ambassador for Swap Language where I practice my languages in an informal environment and meet new people. In my first year after finishing Uni I applied for jobs and found an internship at Egaa Gymnasium which reassured me of my wish to teach. While there, I was offered a temporary position at Aarhus Katedralskole, which was extended, and I ended my stay in Aarhus by examining my first students that summer. By then I had moved to Zealand and commuted to and from Aarhus on weekends.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I want to keep teaching, but my hope is that in the future there will be more time for immersion and developing great courses rather than running to classes and grading papers. This is something you might not remember everyday as a student, but the opportunity to immerse oneself in the material you love is golden.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

It is hard to name one, so I won’t, but it might be when we won the Limerick Contest at Yule Ball writing from the perspective of the duck or dressing up in costumes whenever we could!

Astrid is currently employed at an international high school in Florence, and will be applying for jobs in Denmark in the coming school year.

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Ida Solkær Lassen, F21, Lærer ved HF på SCU

What are you doing now? And what haveyou been doing since finishing uni?

I have gotten a job as a teacher at the HF department of SCU – Skanderborg Odder Center for Uddannelse.After finishing uni, I took a much needed break, andstarted the infamous ‘dagpenge’ life, which wasenjoyable, but also kind of stressful because you haveno idea what the future brings, and I have always likedhaving at least some idea of what the near futureholds. I could not believe my luck when I was offered afull time job teaching English and Danish.

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

Other than providing me with academic knowledge and skills, I think my time at uni has taught me discipline, and the importance of a good work-life balance. I know it’s kind of a cliché, but my friends at the department and in my study group were really a big part of motivating me to challenge myself, and a big help when things felt like they were falling apart.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

That hard work pays off. That applies to academic work, of course, but also volunteer work at, for example, the Friday bar, the orientation week committee, Anglia, or exciting organizations outside of uni. Grades matter, but experience and social skills matter just as much.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I don’t really plan that far ahead, but right now I really hope to get tenure at my job this summer. At some point I would like to live abroad for a while - it was such a great experience when I studied abroad in Chicago, so that has really inspired me to do something like it again. And, of course, I hope that we will soon get rid of this stupid virus so that we can wave a proper goodbye to social distancing.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

It’s really hard to pick just one, but I think one of them is the feeling of belonging to a special and fun community, which I got from the moment my rusuge started. I just felt so welcome, and I have enjoyed every social and academic aspect of my years at the department. I already miss it dearly, and will definitely be back for a beer or ten when Esperanto finally opens again.

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Rikke Uldall, E21, Social Media, Community Management og Digital Communications hos BLAST

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

I am currently working with BLAST, an organization that hosts esports tournaments in different video games. I mainly work with BLAST Premier, which is a Counter-Strike tournament. I got headhunted for the job before I turned in my thesis, so I did not really have anything in between finishing uni and my current job. I do Social Media, Community Management and Digital Communications on behalf of BLAST Premier and sometimes BLAST as an overall organization. (TL;DR I post memes on Twitter. A lot of Squid Game memes at the moment.)

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

I get to use the English language to communicate something that I am passionate about to like-minded people all over the world. I think my entire degree added to the skillset I use today. Though if I have to highlight specific courses, I’d say CCI probably prepared me the most for entering the entertainment industry. I also did an internship with Astralis, another esports organization, as part of my MA degree, that’s how I got started.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

That knowledge is never wasted. I can change my mind and go in a different direction at any point. It might take time to readjust to a new path, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it, or that the things I have learned before aren’t useful. For context, I started uni in 2014, studying Japanese for a year. It wasn’t for me. During my English BA I also thought I was going to work with literature and write my MA thesis on poetry. I wrote my thesis on video games and the (lack of) cultural acceptance of the medium.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I think I’d like to stay in esports, but I’d love to work more internationally, see how the industry takes shape outside of Denmark. And the industry is still very young, I’d like to assist in its overall development.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

I just love the people there, teachers and students alike. We always felt like one big, weird family to me. I miss it quite a lot.

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Muki Sose, E21, Engelsk- og Dansk lærer ved IBC Kolding

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

I’m currently teaching English and Danish at IBC Kolding while taking weekend classes at AU to Minor in Danish (in order to teach more than C-level Danish). Since graduating two years ago, I’ve also worked at Lagkagehuset and Skolen Online, where I developed teaching materials

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

Obviously, the courses at AU taught me so much about English (and Film studies and Danish). They helped me gain knowledge and skills that make me confident when I teach my students. My internship at a high school likely taught me the most, truly validating my choice to become a teacher. Finally, the social experiences I had, particularly as a tutor and head tutor, prepared me for the task of talking in front of large groups of people. I figured if I could talk in front of 150+ people, I could easily talk to 25 students.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

As cheesy as it sounds, the most important lesson I learned is that I’m good enough. Good enough to get accepted into the university. Good enough to pass the courses. Good enough to write a master’s thesis. And good enough to eventually teach.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

My hopes and dreams are certainly to find permanent employment as a high school teacher. For every year that went by at the university, I became surer than ever that I was on the right path, and as a first-time high school teacher, I truly hope that this is the new normal for me, and that I will be allowed to teach until I retire.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

Limitation has never been my strong suit, so picking just one memory is difficult. Yet above all the Friday bars, Yule Balls, orientation weeks, Clasen lectures, camp weekends, and (even to my own surprise) writing my master’s thesis, lies the memory of a particular camping trip during which I won a ruthless game of Werewolf and made friends that I consider my best friends to this day (unrelated events, of course).

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Emily Virginia Hus, F22, Communication & Language Specialist ved Søstrene Grene

Emily Virginia Hus, cand.mag. in 2021

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

I was lucky enough to get hired before graduating. I had no intentions of applying for jobs before graduation, but then one day, by accident, I stumbled upon a job ad in a uni Facebook group: Søstrene Grene is looking for a Communication & Language Specialist for German. That’s what I’m up to at the moment: Translating our texts to German, proofreading our English social media texts, and copywriting creative product texts for our webshop. 

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

Apart from the linguistic and analytical skills required to do my job, I have also benefited from the volunteer work I have done in Anglia, our student council. Working as a team, communicating openly, and knowing when to say “no” to tasks has definitely been relevant preparation for my work. Luckily, I work at a company where community, the so-called Sister Spirit, is prioritised and my team lead and my boss always make sure we are doing well and are not feeling like we are taking on too much. It makes for a healthy work environment where I thrive mentally and professionally.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

To say yes! I am by nature a little timid and flip-floppy. I always have the worst-case scenario painted in my head, and that has often stopped me from doing things I probably would have loved. I even procrastinated the application for Søstrene Grene for ages and almost gave up on it. At uni, I slowly learned to say yes to “scary” things; that this is how you grow. I hope to challenge myself by saying “yes” more often in the future.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

The People! Everyone will say this about their degree, but English truly has the best social life on campus. The happiest memories are the ones surrounded by amazing people: having a blast at Revy, Esperanto nights, beach days, being a tutor, Yule Ball, suffering together during exam season, lots of laughter. I am glad there are too many happy memories to count.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I feel very content with the work I do right now. Having wonderful colleagues is definitely a plus. However, I never really saw my future in the corporate world, even one that usually feels like a small family business. I think, at some point, I’d like to enter the publishing industry - it has been a life-long dream of mine. As for my personal life, I am really just settling in and doing what feels right and makes me happy.

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Frederik Gaardhøj Chrsitiansen, F22, Gymnasielærer ved Aarhus HF & VUC

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

I am currently employed at Aarhus HF & VUC as a high school teacher. I was remarkably lucky to land a gig in August following the completion of my MA thesis – shout out to Dale, supervisor and trusted confidant – so I didn’t really enjoy too much free time before skiddling into the shark cage. Life is wild, folks.

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

I can say in no uncertain terms that the uni experience played such a crucial role in how things have shaped out for me so far. The academic and social lessons and experiences from my time at the English department are to a significant extent applicable to the microcosm of high school life, at least with the age group in the 16-55 scope that I teach at HF.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

During my stay at the English department, I experienced a bunch of lovely faces that were nonetheless worried about what fate had in store for them in the future. We all asked tedious questions such as “what can I do with this degree” and “is it good for anything at all”. In my experience, these woes are best lifted when we approach each other at eye-level and push forward – together – under the credo “who cares, we’re all in this together” *Cue Zac Efron in a tracksuit*

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

In all simplicity, the personnel, and the peers. Maybe add the tremendous Yule Balls to that list too.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

The overarching philosophy that I will forever cherish is that it is healthy to seek nourishment and enrichment in life, whatever that might mean for you. Maybe a year-long trip to a coding camp in Malaysia or just a precious partner, some boxed wine, and a cat, who knows. Care for and love yourself, you deserve it.

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Camilla Bülow Agerholm, E22, Jobsøgende

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

At the moment of writing this I have been unemployed for 36 hours, so now my day is filled to the brim with online courses as to how one makes the most effective resume and how not to botch an interview. Before those 36 hours started, I worked as a Publishing Coordinator for one of the largest linkbuilding companies in Europe. I had been with the company for three years (the last year of my BA degree and all throughout my Masters), and when I handed in my thesis they offered me a position in their team in southern Spain and I accepted. However, you never know what life throws at you, and after almost three months in the position I decided to move back to Denmark.

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

I am now capable of organising and administering very large amounts of data, information and tasks in my work. Uni taught me how to sort and prioritise the different factors of my work, whether it be a smaller essay or a larger scale project for a client who spends thousands of euros on a well-made product. They taught me that it is not possible to do everything, every time, so you have to be able to localise what needs to be done ASAP and what might wait until there is again a bit more room to breathe. These are invaluable skills without which I would not have been able to function as effectively in my position without.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

One of the first, and perhaps one of the most important, lessons I learned at uni is that it is okay to shift perspectives, change your course and find another way to become fulfilled. Uni creates the best and most flexible frames in which you can decide what you would like to do and be, and they do so by assuring you that it is okay and sometimes even encouraged to question what you believe to be the path set in stone.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

I think one of the most memorable ones was on my second semester. We had our linguistics exam, which meant three days of (to me at least) unending panic. However, during the last 24 hours before having to hand in the paper, almost my entire class met in Esperanto, and we all studied for the exam together. We piled snacks, blankets and notes from our lectures and we camped there until 3 in the morning. It was almost 30 students in that hall, all working towards the same goal.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

My dreams and hopes for the future are very mundane. I would like to live in an apartment suitable for me (and the golden retriever I would love to have). I would like to work within the publishing industry and perhaps be a part of the team that one day discovers the new Harry Potter. Either that, or work in marketing. And I would love to start studying again some day.

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Signe Thiim Ebbesen, E22, Computational Linguist hos M47 Labs

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

I was lucky enough to get offered the first job I applied for after handing in my thesis, which means I’m currently working in Barcelona as a Computational Linguist. Linguistics has since the start been the “leg” that I’ve been the most interested in while studying English, so when I came across M47 Labs who were looking to recruit a Danish linguist in Barcelona, I simply had to go for it! The job consists of improving a cutting-edge Personal Voice Assistant software that is used by millions of people worldwide. This means I’m responsible for helping the Voice Assistant understand and speak Danish by focusing on the phonetics and phonology. As someone who’s been very passionate about phonetics since the 1st semester of the BA, I couldn't be more excited about what I’m doing.

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

This is one of those jobs where I actually feel like it’s very clear what knowledge and which competencies I’m using from the degree in my job. I’m not allowed to share many details about the specifics of my job (nondisclosure agreements and all that), but it’s very much about the phonetics and phonology of Danish. Even though I’ve been used to transcribing English, I’ve still acquired a broad enough understanding of IPA conventions that I’m able to transcribe Danish as well. I also use my knowledge of other linguistic-related fields in my day-to-day tasks.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

To just go for it! I’ve always been an overthinker, and I’m not good with change, but my time at uni has definitely taught me that good things often comes from stepping out of your comfort zone. I learned this, for example, by going on exchange in England, which was one of the best experience I’ve ever had. I felt at home straight away, and I had so much fun stepping out of that comfort zone - as is the case right now in Barcelona.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

It has to be the Friday bars, Yule Ball and just all the friends I made from studying English. The social life at the English Department is truly the best, and I believe I’ve made friends for life during those five years. Fantastic teachers and being able to be super nerdy and passionate about linguistics is, of course, not to be forgotten either!

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I’m quite happy and content with where I’m at as of right now, but being abroad has once again just made me wonder which destination is next. Especially if I want to continue working as a linguist. But I’m open to anything and I enjoy just taking it day by day, so who knows? Maybe I’ll be back in Denmark in 5 months, maybe I’ll be someplace else.

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Solvej Byriel Callesen, F23, Lærer ved GUX i Nuuk

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

I am currently in my first year of a two-year professional postgraduate teaching training programme at GUX Nuuk, where I teach English and History. I started working at GUX Nuuk shortly after finishing my MA degree.

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

My time at uni definitely taught me how to structure and prioritise my time. I also realised that asking for help is not an admittance of defeat, and I believe that that is a valuable lesson when you are new in any job. Furthermore, my time as an instructor at the English Department helped me confirm that I wanted to teach.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

I learned a lot of lessons during my time at the university, but I think the most important one was understanding that sometimes, you need a break from studying, and that is okay. Allowing yourself to take a break can actually help you to work more efficiently.

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

I have a lot of great memories from my time at the English Department, but very few of them are as truly magical as the ones from the annual Yule Ball. The Yule Balls themselves are always amazing, but being a part of the months of planning and preparing that goes into the Yule Balls was just as fantastic.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I love learning new things, and at the moment, I am constantly learning new things. Therefore, I hope that I can continue learning and evolving for the rest of my life. Besides that, the ultimate dream is to work at a small high school in Southern Jutland surrounded by family and friends.

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Cecilie Juul Mikkelsen, F23, Copywriter for SELECTED FEMME / HOMME (BESTSELLER)

What are you doing now? And what have you been doing since finishing uni?

After getting my degree in January last year, I enjoyed a few months of unemployment and the benefits that can entail (getting into a good work-out routine, and shopping for groceries at odd hours of the day). I then got a 3-month internship at a small start-up, which eventually hired me to do some freelance work. After a few months, I landed a job as copywriter for SELECTED FEMME / HOMME, which is a part of BESTSELLER. That’s what I am up to as of now - mostly collaborating on ideas for content, writing short and sweet texts for Social Media, Newsletters, SELECTED stores etc.

How has your time at uni prepared you for your current job?

I’ve asked myself this many times, seeing as my degree and previous experience differ quite a lot compared to my colleagues’. The obvious answer would be that the linguistic and communicative skills have been pretty important. Meanwhile, the way my working life is structured is actually pretty close to the way uni works in terms of exams and deadlines. As a DEEPLY unorganized person, I think uni has prepared me for handling deadlines and getting an overview of the tasks at hand. During my time at uni, I was also involved in a lot of volunteer work which has also benefitted me, as I am continuously communicating and engaging with many different people and departments.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at uni?

Not to sound like a broken record, but I think an important lesson is that it is okay to make mistakes. I have always been a bit perfectionist at heart (quite a cocktail when you’re also pretty unstructured), so if I make a mistake I can literally lie awake at night thinking about it. But I have learned and am still learning that mistakes happen all the time and that no one will die from them (unless you’re a doctor or something).

What is your best memory from your time at the English Department?

Honestly, while I wouldn’t want to go through it again, I think some of the times I reminisce the most about are the exam periods. There was something really special about the collective suffering during the exam periods, the late nights at the library and the whole “brothers-in-arms” vibe that really tied some of us together. To me, many friendships have been strengthened during these times, as morbid as it sounds!

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I am pretty content where I’m at right now. I enjoy working at a big corporation, and I think there are some exciting aspects to working in the fashion industry in terms of sustainability. They’re facing some big challenges if they want to stay in business and that’s pretty exciting to be part of!

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