Diana Nicuțari case study

Journal Specialist at Frontiers  

Please describe your current role and the journey you took to get there

3+ years of total experience in Academic publishing as a Journal Specialist and Commissioning Editorial Assistant in the Publishing Development Area. 

Did you know what you wanted to do before you started University? 

Before my year at the University of Birmingham, I wanted to work in bioinformatics, but unfortunately, the field is very competitive and I found it difficult to get an entry-level role so far. 

Did you have any work experience before you graduated? 

Not any field-relevant work experience. I worked as a part-time Postgraduate Ambassador and part-time Bar and Waiting Staff during my MSc studies. I volunteered for clinical trials and worked temporarily as a prep cook to support myself during my BSc studies. 

What do you love most about your role?

I love that I interact every day with highly experienced, brilliant researchers and scientists, publishing cutting-edge research in their respective fields. 

What is most challenging about your role?

It is a sedentary role and target-driven, therefore I have struggled at times to find a healthy work-life balance. 

Have you faced any key challenges during your career journey, if so, how did you overcome them?

Yes, some key challenges that I have faced so far have been poor work-life balance, dealing with micromanagement in the workplace, lack of employee recognition, and conflicts with colleagues. I overcame these issues by being open, positive, and diplomatically expressing my concerns. Staying true to my values and authentic self is very important for my mental well-being, and I try to respect my boundaries while striving to accomplish my duties and achieve work expectations. This can be a challenge sometimes, but in the long term, I believe my co-workers appreciate my integrity and consistency. 

How did your time at Birmingham help you prepare for this role? 

My one-year experience at Birmingham taught me many things that helped my career so far, especially soft skills such as communication, time management, critical thinking and problem-solving, the ability to work in a team and solve disagreements, presentation skills, leadership skills, and receiving and giving feedback. 

What are your career plans for the future?

I want to improve my data analysis skills so I can have a better chance of getting a job in bioinformatics. 

What advice would you give to students who are interested in getting into your industry or role, or if they’re unsure what they want to do?

For publishing, you need to have good communication and presentation skills to efficiently communicate with academic editors to ensure the high-quality and on-target execution of journal content strategies. It is also useful to know how to use Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Tableau. 

What would be your key piece of career advice for a student just entering the employment market?

Be open to different opportunities and roles, apply to many jobs and work on your interview skills; build a good resume and brag sheet.