Holly Warner

Why did you study Linguistics at Queen Mary? Did you have a particular career path in mind?

I knew I wanted to do a PhD after my master’s, with a focus on qualitative sociolinguistics. QM had different paths for the master’s, which is something that other universities didn’t have. This was really important to me as it enabled me to really focus on what I wanted to study, instead of still having a more generalised study of linguistics.

What topics did you like learning about and was there anything that surprised you in your studies? 

I was really pleasantly surprised by my Directed Study module. I opted to research something slightly out of my comfort zone, focusing on the crossover between semantics and the legal field. I was nervous about trying something different, but I had a great time in Hazel and Luisa’s sessions!

Can you describe your career path to date and touch on your current role? How did you arrive in your current role?

I haven’t had much of a career path just yet! I completed my undergraduate studies in 2021, and my master’s in 2022. I then spent one year working as a researcher for Amplified Global, and as a research assistant for a project run by Agnieszka. During this time, I applied for PhDs and for funding before starting my PhD in 2023.

How do you describe the skills and knowledge you gained during your Linguistics degree to your employers? 

As I’m still in education, both the knowledge gained from my modules and the transferrable skills I gained are useful. My course had lots of opportunities for individual research projects (both small and large) so those specific research skills are incredibly useful to me now.

Can you describe what a typical working day looks like for you?

My days revolve around my PhD so I spend all my time doing that!

What are your career plans for the future/Are you looking to expand your skill set in anything? 

My current plan is to finish my PhD and try and find a job in academia! I’m very early in my research, so at some point I would like to expand my skills by taking on a teaching position during the latter years of my PhD.

How did your degree prepare you for your current job role? Which skills that you developed during your degree have you brought to your current job?

My degree itself gave me the research skills and knowledge that I needed to embark on my PhD; however, it was the opportunities that came along with the degree that were most impactful. I was able to take on an internship facilitated by qLegal during my studies, I became a student ambassador, and I was subsequently employed as a researcher and a research assistant because of the connections I made during my degree. All of this experience was so important to me in preparing for my PhD and my career beyond that.

Is there any advice you would give to current students or recent graduates considering their career options?

Do everything. Obviously don’t overwork yourself, but if there is something that sounds interesting then sign up/apply etc. Throw yourself into absolutely everything and step outside your comfort zone occasionally, because (for me at least) it seems to pay off.

What advice would you give to a prospective student considering the course you studied and Queen Mary?

Do it! I’m obviously so biased but genuinely it was an amazing experience for me. The course itself is highly customisable, there are more opportunities for work experience outside of your course, and the connections that you’ll get from being at the university are so valuable. I would truly recommend it.

What was special about your time at Queen Mary? Can you give one or two examples of your most memorable moments?

Being in London was something bizarrely special to me. Having lived deep in the countryside for my whole life, being in London was a surreal experience. A fun memory for me was going into the centre of London after my 9-11 lecture on a Friday morning and exploring a new area of the city for a few hours before going back to do some work. Another special memory was doing my dissertation. My topic was sexual violence narratives, which is incredibly important to me, so to be given the space and guidance to do that was amazing. It also inspired my current PhD which is on a similar topic.

Feel free to share any other comments/thoughts you think would be relevant:

Just a note that my favourite module was Research Methods in Sociolinguistics (especially the qualitative content covered by Sophie). It was such great content and Sophie was an amazing lecturer.