Lizzie Wright
Postgraduate Researcher, University of Leeds
BA English Literature and Language, 2021
Academia is very much an industry where contacts are a huge advantage
Lizzie shares what it has been like as a working-class researcher:
"It was immensely difficult as a working class student to find opportunities; many unpaid/low wage positions I was unable to apply for because I wasn't going to have a supplementary form of income (for example, my parents) that many are lucky to have.
It was really helpful for me to try and network (academia is very much an industry where contacts are a huge advantage), so I would attend conferences in my research area, I reached out to various academics (via Twitter and email) and had some really fruitful conversations regarding my research - or just so they could put a name to a face! I've definitely learned that so many people are willing to offer 15 minutes to discuss their career and advice on how to get there."