Alex Johnson
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Hoare Lea
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
I did a masters in Environmental Pollution Control at the University of Southampton, along with spending a year doing short term jobs with the Ordnance Survey and the GeoData Institute. I have recently started a job as a Graduate Air Quality Consultant at Hoare Lea in London.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
Air pollution and climate change has always been the most interesting part of studying geography and environmental science, and it was the focus of both of my dissertations. I enjoy being able to continue studying this field on the job and keeping up to date with the most recent science.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
I was a committee member for the Video Games Society on the Penryn Campus, along with a member of Geography Society.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I enjoyed being able to study a mix of human and physical geography modules in order to widen my opportunities. Additionally, the professors were all extremely engaging which made every lecture interesting.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
The atmosphere and community around the Penryn Campus was super friendly. The blend of Exeter and Falmouth students allowed me to make a wide variety of friends.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
The opportunity to study at a prestigious, Russell Group University whilst living in Cornwall was ideal. Plus the smaller campus atmosphere made it feel a lot more welcoming.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Keep LinkedIn and other job-site profiles up to date. Many recruiters are actively searching for graduates who list the right skills on their profile. Also, taking on short-term contract work is a great way to build up your CV before you decide on a long-term career.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Learning very basic technical skills in QGIS, R, Excel, etc. can go a long way. Make sure to list them on any CV or profile to maximise your value to recruiters.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to work in this company until I can move up a level or two, then I hope to pursue a more research focused job in the public or university sector.
