Zakir Hasan
Zakir Hasan is the founder and creator of Day of Wrk which seeks to bring clarity to job roles and industries and improve representation of ethnic minority people in professional ‘white-collar’ careers. He is currently a Content and Publishing Manager for PR and Communications agency, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, sitting in their Sports Team. Zakir is a former A Level student at NewVIc. He came from Lister Community School and studied A Levels in History, Government and Politics and Economics. He progressed onto study an undergraduate degree at Queen Mary University London to study BA (Hons.) History. We caught up with Zakir to find out a little more on his journey since NewVIc.
What made you apply to NewVIc?
If I’m being completely honest, it was because it was close. I was a lazy kid and NewVIc was local to me. It was also a college where my older sister studied at, alongside a few other relatives so there was that sense of familiarity already. I also had a lot of my friends were going to study at NewVIc, there wasn’t any other college that I really wanted to go to.
Tell us about your journey from NewVIc to where you are now?
I currently work as a Content and Publishing Manager for PR & Communications agency Hill+Knowlton Strategies, sitting in their Sports team. Prior to this role I have had lots of great experiences, jobs and met lots of people.
Whilst at university I didn’t really have a “part-time job”. Well, I don’t count it as one. I didn’t do the traditional retail / hospitality route. Rather, I was a sports blogger for Yahoo Sport UK throughout my three years. I ended up writing 150+ articles for them - all to do with football - and it was this which made me realise that I should do something that I actually enjoy doing for my career, rather than going down a traditional route.
During the summer of my second year of university, I did a six-week summer internship at Ernst and Young in their audit department and ended up receiving a graduate offer going into my third year of university. This was great because it meant that I had a job secured. But I realised that I didn’t enjoy my summer internship at all, and I shouldn’t do a job just because it’s a secure one, or a traditional one.
I was lucky enough to secure a job right out of university, working as an Account Executive at PR & Influencer agency Clifford French (now rebranded as 160over90). I worked on some of the biggest clients and campaigns in the world - from EA SPORTS to NFL to EA GAMES to Sky F1. I got to travel throughout Europe watching football games and attending games conferences. I got to play at Stamford Bridge. It was all amazing.
I was there for a year before trying my hand at advertising, working as an Account Manager at FCB Inferno where I worked on Premier League, BMW, and Arts Emergency. It was during this period where I was inspired to start my own initiative - Day of Wrk - and the support I received from my colleagues here is something that I will forever remember.
I left FCB in April this year, making a switch from Account Management to Content + Publishing, where my job now focuses more on strategy and ideation for campaigns, rather than client management.
How did you get into the position that you are in?
I said to a friend recently that I have been super lucky to get all the jobs that I’ve had. I found a job writing for Yahoo on Twitter and the same for Clifford French. And then for a couple of jobs after that, a recruiter reached out to me asking me to apply.
But the conversation I had with my friend definitely changed my perception of luck and what it means. Whilst there was definitely an element of luck, I’ve come to understand that it was also my own hard work and persistence which has got me in the position that I’m in. And I can’t forget the support that I’ve received from my friends, family, and colleagues over the past few years. There’s too many people to name but they have given me the confidence to believe in myself, and what I’m capable of, and push myself further and further to achieve bigger and better things.
What are your memories of NewVIc?
Sid’s Café. The Frappuccino combined with the cookies were a thing of beauty. I used to always get it before Government and Politics and it was a dream.
I enjoyed the fish and chips on Friday, having it on the bridge in between lessons with my friends. I miss those times.
What is your advice for students considering NewVIc and pursuing a career like you?
When it comes to NewVIc, use all the resources you have. It seems scary because there are so many students and it’s a completely different experience to that of secondary school, but everyone is there to help you. I know. Crazy right?
The teachers there are amazing and will be on hand to help guide you to make the best decisions for yourself. But most importantly, enjoy it. You don’t have to have your life figured out in college. I didn’t. Try your hand at a bunch of things and figure out what you like.
How did you find the teaching at NewVIc? Did it prepare you for your next educational step?
NewVIc prepared me to 100%. The teachers I had were some of the best I’ve had in my life. But it wasn’t really the teaching when it came to education which stands out in my mind. Rather, it’s the mentorship.
All of my teachers were always there to speak to me about things outside of college life, and helped me develop as a person and widen my understanding about wider societal and life matters. They gave me the confidence to believe in myself and my abilities, and push myself.
I want to give a special shout out to Alan Kunna. To this day we stay in touch, and he has acted as a mentor to me ever since I left NewVIc, and is someone I feel comfortable calling / messaging whenever to get his advice on something and it is something that I will be forever grateful for.
What were your next steps after leaving college?
After completing my A Levels at NewVIc, I went onto study a degree in History at Queen Mary University of London. I specialised in medieval Middle Eastern history and it was one of the best things that I have ever studied. I still want to do a masters in this period at some point in my life.
How would you describe yourself before you came to NewVIc?
Definitely shy. A bit cocky. Somewhat ignorant. All of which changed after my two years at NewVIc.
What are your future plans?
When it comes to my full-time role, I want to continue working on the biggest campaigns in the world. I want to work on a Nike / Adidas football campaign. I want to work on an eSports campaign. I want to create work which impacts lives and changes perceptions. I want to create work that makes people think differently.
A big part of my future plans revolves around Day of Wrk. If you don’t know what Day of Wrk is, check out the website below;
I want to continue growing Day of Wrk, getting more contributors on the site, partnering with more schools, colleges, and companies. I want to impact students lives and help them understand that they can do whatever role they want, and hopefully increase diversity and inclusivity in the professional space as a result.
But most importantly, I want to feel fulfilled. I want to know that the work I am doing makes me happy and that it has a purpose. This may change in a few years time but it is definitely where my head space is at right now, and I will do everything I can to try and achieve that.