A job with Adobe in London, Varsity football success and winning awards
The Class of 2024 will be celebrating during their graduation ceremonies over the next two weeks. This series introduces just a handful of these grads who have made the most of their time at Portsmouth.
Graduate Ernest Turay will take to the stage on 18 July to celebrate his BA (Hons) Business and Management degree. Ernest has been a key member of the University of Portsmouth football first team and is starting a graduate sales position with Adobe in London after a successful placement with the global software giant.
Ernest shared his story with us reflecting on his achievements and highlights of his time at Portsmouth:
Journey to Portsmouth
Before attending university, I had no plans to continue my education after A-levels. I focused on playing competitive academy and county football in London and Kent. With promising prospects of signing my first professional contract with the first team, I was confident about my future in football. However, the coronavirus pandemic abruptly ended my final year at the academy. The financial impacts of the pandemic also led my club to hesitate in offering professional contracts to academy players like me.
Fortunately, I had the foresight to apply for university as an alternative to a career in professional football. Initially, I applied to study Sports Science at five universities, with Portsmouth being my first choice due to its top 20 ranking in the UK for the degree and its proximity to the beach.
However, after researching career paths, I decided to change to a Business degree. I successfully secured a place on the Business and Management course during clearing.
Discovering a passion for sales
Despite my research on common career paths for Business graduates, I was still unsure about which direction to take. During my first year at university, I participated in various virtual insight days hosted by companies like Amazon and Aviva. These experiences provided me with excellent insights into various roles and helped me realise my interest in a career in Sales, attracted by its financial incentives and the autonomy it offers.
Adobe placement
With a clear career path in mind, I applied for approximately 45 Sales placements and internships during my second year. I went through 15-20 first-round interviews and five final-round assessment centres, receiving almost 40 rejections. Persistence paid off, and I eventually received three offers from reputable firms, including Adobe, where I completed a year-long placement. My experience at Adobe was exceptional. Among the many lessons learned, the most important was the art of effective communication with customers and colleagues. In a fast-paced work environment, clear and concise communication is crucial to avoid wasting valuable time.
Outstanding Impact Award
Returning to university for my final year, I embarked on my last academic journey. One highlight was a group client project with Coconuts Delivery for my Business Consultancy Module (BCP). We consulted with the Coconuts team for several months, providing them with practical growth solutions through a presentation and a report. This project enhanced my skills in presenting, teamwork, and critical thinking, and our group won the 'Outstanding Impact' award at the BCP Awards event.
Winning Varsity and football success
Alongside my degree, I played for the University of Portsmouth’s men's first football team. Despite narrowly missing out on the league title to the University of Surrey two years in a row, we made significant progress in my final year, reaching the quarter-finals of the National Cup and winning Varsity against the University of Southampton. The away fixtures in the cup were particularly enjoyable, allowing me to explore new cities. University football has been an unforgettable experience.
Next steps
After a successful placement at Adobe, I was offered a full-time Graduate Inside Sales Representative position starting in September at the company’s London office. In this role, I will be responsible for developing and qualifying prospective customers for Adobe’s annual software licence service agreements. While this role will push me outside of my comfort zone, I am confident that it will provide invaluable learning opportunities and help me realise my career potential. I look forward to beginning my career journey in September.