DMU graduate Ciaran on fast track to success

A graduate is starting work with one of Britain’s retail powerhouses after landing a coveted place on its fast-track programme.
 


Ciaran Conway, 22, from Daventry, is now a senior advertising executive at Dixons Carphone supporting the day-to-day running of and planning for the company’s marketing activity.

He said: “I’m excited to have been given this opportunity."
 
Ciaran’s interest in marketing was sparked while he was an A-level student, and spent two weeks on placement with computer giant IBM. While studying Marketing at DMU’s business school, he found a placement with Virgin Holidays which has a reputation as one of the most innovative, disruptive brands in the travel industry.
 
“The lecturers were my favourite aspect about this course,” he said. “Their industry experience and approachable attitude made the course, bringing real-life examples and guest speakers into the lecture theatre.
 
“The placement team provided exceptional support when trying to find a placement, from CV writing workshops to assessment centre days.
 
“David Gordon provided great support in helping me prepare for interviews, and shared his knowledge to help me gain a placement at Virgin Holidays and eventually my job at Dixons Carphone.”
 
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Ciaran also praised the experience gained while completing the brand portfolio module, which is offered as an alternative to a dissertation.  Students carry out primary and secondary market research and analyse the data to evaluable the market situation, and to recognise any potential gaps within the market to develop a new brand concept.
 
Ciaran said: “The Brand portfolio provides a strong foundation for anyone looking to further a career in product or brand management as it replicates the company experience of developing a new brand and launching it into the market.”
 
Ciaran said joining DMU’s third and fourth football teams and representing the university at Varsity was one of his favourite memories of DMU.
 
Ciaran also made use of the £100 graduate support fund to help him travel to and from interviews with the firm, which in June declared a record pre-tax profit of £501million.