Andrew Hartley
BA (Hons) Sports Marketing Management, 2017
About me
- Communications Coordinator at Manchester City Football Club
- BA (Hons) Sports Marketing Management, 2017
- Contact me on LinkedIn
ABOUT MY CAREER
I decided to study in Manchester as it has always been a city close to my heart. I have family there, my favourite football team is based there, and it is a vibrant city with a thriving music scene. After attending various university open days, I ultimately chose Manchester Met because the open day presented my chosen course exceptionally well, and the business school left a strong impression on me.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed when an agreed-upon placement year with a company fell through just before it was set to commence. Consequently, I had to enter my final year without the planned placement. However, undeterred, I pursued voluntary internships alongside my studies. One of these internships was at Fanatics, where I worked two days a week in their head office. This experience enabled me to forge valuable connections within the company, connections that I believe played a pivotal role in helping me secure a full-time role with them down the line. This underscores the significance of placements and internships, not only for securing a position in one’s desired field but also for networking and gaining real-world experience.
Immediately after completing university, I was granted a British Council scholarship that allowed me to study Mandarin in China for six transformative months. This opportunity came to my attention through the Manchester Met Careers Service, which proved instrumental in honing my employability skills, including crafting a compelling CV and mastering confident interview techniques. I hold immense gratitude for the Careers Service, as they guided me in shaping my CV, crafting quality cover letters, and providing enduring advice on interview presentations.
Upon my return to the UK, my initial job was in Customer Services for a bank. Despite my short tenure there due to a lack of satisfaction, I subsequently embarked on a 12-month journey to New Zealand on a working holiday visa, which provided exposure to various roles. Upon returning to the UK, my career path led me back to Manchester, where I secured a position as an Alumni Relations Assistant at Manchester Met. This role notably enhanced my marketing skills and served as a steppingstone into the sports marketing industry.
Presently, I am thrilled to be working for my dream organisation, City in the Community, a part of Manchester City Football Club. As a Communications Coordinator, my responsibilities involve spearheading communication plans for social media channels, internal email platforms, and the website. These strategic plans are aimed at fortifying relationships with internal departments, external partners, and sponsors. Additionally, I create visual content and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to fulfil their requests. The role also entails relationship management, as I actively participate in meetings with external partners.
Reflecting on my university experience, the ability to address large audiences during lectures significantly boosted my public speaking confidence—a skill that proves invaluable in my current role, where I regularly pitch ideas in multi-person meetings. My academic pursuit also equipped me with essential skills in sports marketing and promotion, which I effectively applied during the interview process for my current position.
Since graduating, I have furthered my professional development by completing courses that awarded me certifications from Google in Google Analytics, and from the English Football Association in Talent identification.
MY TOP TIP FOR STUDENTS IS
To advance in your career, maintain a side hustle or personal project. Throughout my journey, I’ve consistently pursued personal interests alongside my professional role, whether it involves photography, blogging, volunteering with local sports teams, or contributing articles to websites. These side projects have expanded my skill set and proved to be engaging topics during job interviews - hiring managers often find them interesting.
I’M INSPIRED BY
Exploring the world through travel. My experiences abroad bolstered my self-assurance and facilitated friendships with individuals from diverse backgrounds. I recommend that everyone takes time to travel and broaden their horizons.
WHY I LOVE MANCHESTER MET
What stands out to me about Manchester Met is the genuine and supportive community—whether it’s the friends I made during my time there or the lecturers I still maintain contact with. They all played an integral role in shaping the trajectory that led me to where I am today.