A big part of my role is coordinating between people from different backgrounds, disciplines and perspectives, and bringing everyone together in the same direction.
It may sound like a cliché, but I’ve always loved cars, so I’m incredibly grateful to have built my career in the automotive industry. My journey in automotive started as an undergraduate on placement at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). That experience gave me my first real insight into the industry, but the biggest development has come since joining the Commercial Graduate Scheme. Since finishing university, I’m now around a year and a half into the programme, and the level of responsibility and exposure has grown significantly. Rotating across different areas of the business has pushed me to adapt quickly, understand how decisions are made, and see how everything ultimately links back to delivering for the customer.
Before joining, I think my view of the sector was quite narrow. I expected it to be more internally focused, with most decisions driven by products and processes rather than people. What surprised me most was how central the customer really is – and how much that mindset has evolved even in the time I’ve been here.
Since joining, I’ve seen a real shift towards putting the customer at the heart of everything we do. Conversations now start with understanding customer needs, expectations and experiences, and then working backwards from there. That focus is something people often overlook when they think about automotive, but it’s absolutely the direction the industry needs to be heading in.
What I enjoy most is the level of trust and autonomy I’ve been given. Even as a graduate, I’m encouraged to take ownership of my work, make decisions when needed, and have a real voice in discussions. That responsibility has helped me grow quickly and build confidence in my judgement. I also really enjoy the variety – working on different projects, with different teams, and constantly learning something new keeps things interesting and motivating.
Recently, I’ve been working closely with our partners and agencies to make sure we’re meeting targets and delivering against shared goals. A big part of my role is coordinating between people from different backgrounds, disciplines and perspectives, and bringing everyone together in the same direction.
What might surprise people is that the role is far less about technical or “hard” skills than they might expect, and far more about communication, relationship‑building and understanding people. Being approachable, adaptable and confident when working with others has been just as important as any technical knowledge. One of the highlights for me was an optional experience where we were able to spend a week working in a completely different function of our choosing. I chose engineering to see what happens behind the scenes, and it was honestly one of the best weeks I’ve had. Being able to step into a different world, even briefly, really reinforced how collaborative this industry is and how much respect there is between different disciplines.
We all know the automotive sector is changing – that’s not new news. From electrification to digital transformation, the pace of change is obvious. What makes it exciting is being on the inside and seeing how those changes translate into real strategy and action. I can’t say too much about JLR’s direction specifically, but I can confidently say it’s genuinely exciting to be part of a business that’s thinking long‑term, pushing boundaries and redefining what modern luxury and mobility can look like.
I’d say don’t limit yourself based on assumptions. Automotive isn’t just about cars, it’s about people, technology, creativity, sustainability and solving real‑world problems. If you want a career where you can grow, explore different paths and be part of something that’s constantly evolving, it’s well worth considering. Being around the products is a nice added touch, with the occasional opportunity to sit as passenger or even drive.
Starting my career on a graduate scheme has been a big learning curve, but also an incredibly rewarding experience. There’s always an element of uncertainty when you begin something new but having the opportunity to explore different areas of the business, learn from experienced colleagues and take on real responsibility has helped build my confidence. Looking back, saying yes to opportunities, even when they felt outside my comfort zone, has been one of the most valuable parts of my journey so far.
