{"id":10979,"date":"2026-11-06T11:50:06","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T11:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/?p=10979"},"modified":"2026-11-06T11:50:12","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T11:50:12","slug":"graduate-planning-for-the-future-my-journey-as-a-liberal-arts-alumni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/2026\/11\/06\/graduate-planning-for-the-future-my-journey-as-a-liberal-arts-alumni\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Planning for the Future- My Journey as a Liberal Arts Alumni"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ global_module=”322″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_fullwidth_menu menu_id=”8″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” module_class=”main-navigation” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_menu][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title featured_placement=”above” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.9″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” admin_label=”Text” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

My current role and how I got here\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

My name is Eva, I studied Liberal Arts with Professional Experience, and I graduated in the summer of 2026. I now work as a Graduate Planning Officer for Natural England. My job is in Urban Design, and I work specifically in protecting natural sites in the Northwest of England, so I am still based in Manchester. This means I consult Local Councils and developers to ensure they are doing everything they can to improve biodiversity, protect habitats, and make good environmental choices in their designs. I got this job by applying to Pathways to Planning which is a scheme open every year for people with no experience to get into planning! The full process takes around 9 months and it is quite a complicated application process like grad schemes (although this is not just for grads). Different councils\/government organisations hire people all around the UK. A huge benefit to this programme is that you get a free master\u2019s in urban planning, which you can study at most universities part time alongside your work.<\/p>\n

How my course prepared me for the role<\/strong><\/p>\n

Liberal Arts was an amazing course, and I highly recommend it for having an open range of options ahead of you. I think being adaptable between disciplines, gaining strong critical thinking skills, and being able to nurture my interests with a lot of creative freedom prepared me well. People often think \u2018there\u2019s no job in Liberal Arts, what are you going to do with it after uni\u2019 and I often felt mocked for doing the degree, but I am so happy with where it has gotten me! In this age with AI and the job market, picking a degree on what you \u2018should\u2019 do does not guarantee you anything. It is all about attitude, proactiveness, and what you do alongside your degree.<\/p>\n

I also did a placement year in UX Design and an internship with a sustainable fruit and veg organisation in my time at uni. As well as a part-time role as a Research Fellow in my fourth year and freelance work in a Creative Writers Room. I think any degree will be highly boosted by work experience and I could not have got these opportunities if I wasn\u2019t a student. This definitely put me ahead after university, so I recommend to anyone that aiming for a stacked CV is a gamechanger.<\/p>\n

To get work experience the Careers website was the place to be- very underrated!! I found my placement year, my internship, and my Research Fellow role there. I also had a meeting with the careers team which was great. My future career aspirations right now are to continue working in urban design and eventually go into green infrastructure. I want to improve people\u2019s lives and the environment as a core mission of mine!<\/p>\n

Tips\/advice for students\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

My advice would be that as a student, it is easy to let the time pass you by, but I cannot stress how much just doing absolutely anything is better than nothing! Just put yourself out there, get rejected, say yes to opportunities. Everyone is underqualified so don\u2019t feel like an imposter. I also volunteered at a few random places like a community kitchen, and that was valuable. I think it is so good to have a varied amount of experience too. Once an interviewer said to me that my career path seemed \u2018all over the place\u2019 at 22, and I think that was the biggest sign I did not want to work there, because my aim is to be full of different experiences. One more tip I have is to save up and go travelling because it is hard to discover what you want when you don\u2019t know yourself. I went travelling straight after uni and it was the most eye-opening experience and I can\u2019t recommend more. Overall, just be proactive and have fun with it!<\/p>\n

Written by Eva Parr, a BA Liberal Arts with Professional Experience (2026) graduate.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”off” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_post_nav][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ locked=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_comments][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Related<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_sidebar area=”sidebar-1″ show_border=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” module_class=”footer-section” _builder_version=”3.0.90″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” global_module=”380″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”4.16″ make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” module_class=”contact-us” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

+44 (0) 161 306 6000<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Find Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” module_id=”address” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

Connect With Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Social Media” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n