Xhorda Dervishi

• Year of graduation: 2025
• Current job title: Pharmacy Assistant
• Current employer: Superdrug

I am from Albania and chose to study at the University of Northampton because it’s a spacious university with great tutors and a lot of opportunities. My favourite aspects of my university experience were the lecturers, the library, and the on-campus Creative Hub building.

I currently work as a Pharmacy Assistant at Superdrug in the UK, where I’m part of a retail team in a busy health and beauty store. My responsibilities include assisting customers with finding suitable products, providing advice on skincare and cosmetics, operating the till, and ensuring the store is well stocked and organised. The role also involves maintaining good customer service, keeping displays tidy, and supporting promotional activities in the store.

My degree helped me develop strong communication, organisation, and problem-solving skills, which are valuable when interacting with customers and working as part of a team. The University supported me in finding a career in my chosen field by giving me experience in the laboratory, as well as many connections with different tutors or people with a successful career.

I found the role through an online job advertisement on the Superdrug website – the application process involved submitting an online application form outlining my experience and availability. I was then invited to attend an interview where I discussed my customer service skills, ability to work in a team, and my interest in the health and beauty industry. The process was straightforward and gave me the opportunity to explain how my skills would suit the role, and I felt very happy and excited when I was offered the job. It’s a great opportunity to gain work experience in a professional retail environment while developing important transferable skills such as communication, customer service, and teamwork. Also, the ability to manage my time and work under pressure during my studies has been useful when working in a busy retail environment.

Since graduating, alongside my job role, I’ve also been developing my skincare business idea. Studying a science course has given me a good understanding of skincare and health-related products, which helps when assisting customers with product choices.

I would advise any potential student looking to study at the University of Northampton that it will be the best decision you can make if you’re looking to increase your potential success in the world. To become successful after graduation, I would recommend creating lots of connections and participating in different group programmes.