In September we were delighted to welcome experienced careers and recruitment expert Jo Donelan to the OMBS tutoring team. Here we catch up with her on her career to date, the knowledge and expertise she brings to her new role, and which job sectors she believes represent an opportunity to young professionals…
Tell us a little bit about your career up until this point.
After leaving school, travelling on a gap year, and gaining a degree in English Literature, I fulfilled a lifelong ambition to be an air stewardess for Virgin Atlantic. It was the toughest job of my career to date, but hugely rewarding. I learned about the power of a brand and the importance of exceptional customer service — both of which I’m still passionate about today.
I then fell into recruitment by accident (!) and for 17 years co-owned a London-based boutique business support recruitment consultancy, providing graduate PAs, EAs, Office Managers, and HR Managers to media, corporate, and sports brands.
One of the best parts of my job was my relationship with Oxford Media & Business School. I immensely enjoyed giving careers talks and mentoring young students as they began their early careers. When I decided to leave the recruitment world, it felt like a natural progression to join OMBS as their Personal Development Planning Tutor and Careers Adviser.
I’ve also studied to become an Intuitive Psychology Coach, and I love blending my coaching into my lesson plans so that students see transformational results in both their professional and personal lives while studying with us.
What are you aiming to bring to your new teaching role at OMBS?
Employers increasingly report that younger candidates are not yet “job-ready.” In one UK survey, only 28% of employers believed young people aged 18–24 were well prepared for the work environment.
Skills gaps — especially in soft skills, digital readiness, and self-management — are often flagged as missing. Employers say young workplace entrants sometimes lack the understanding of “how to behave professionally,” beyond simply knowing what to do in their role.
Employers and educational institutions also have a role to play: better onboarding, mentoring, and structured early-career pathways all help bridge the gap between education and full employment. This is where I see my opportunity.
I am now in an incredibly privileged position to be able to teach this unique Personal Development Planning course, which underpins the four core modules of IT & Digital Literacy, Business, Digital Marketing, and Event Management — giving students the confidence to flourish beyond the classroom and into their early careers.
What are your top three tips for every young professional?
The absolute basics:
- Be on time.
- Work hard to build a positive mindset.
- Turn your phone off!
What do you see as the biggest challenge for young professionals entering employment in 2025 and beyond?
Many entry-level jobs are shrinking or being redefined due to the economic climate and the emergence of AI. Firms are hiring fewer new graduates and placing more emphasis on experienced workers.
Young professionals may struggle to secure meaningful roles — rather than low-paid or under-employed positions — because there are fewer open “junior” slots, or those roles require more experience than in the past.
The “experience paradox” then emerges: you need experience to get the job, but you need the job to get experience. Entry planning now matters more than ever, particularly in being proactive about gaining relevant experience. Internships, side projects, and developing key skills — both technical and behavioural — are critical, along with understanding what employers truly value.
Financial and structural pressures amplify the challenge: the rising cost of living, fewer entry opportunities in certain regions, and mental health and confidence issues all combine to make early employment less stable and more daunting for young people.
This is where Oxford Media & Business School can bridge the gap. We offer an exciting alternative to university at a fraction of the cost, providing our students with a practical and robust suite of business and employment skills for life.
Which job sectors in the market are growing and therefore represent an opportunity for young professionals to prepare for?
It’s all about tech! Green energy, renewables, engineering, construction, cybersecurity, insurance, and pharmaceuticals are all sectors to aim for.
If you’d like to know more about the Professional Business Diploma, contact our Director of Admissions here, and learn more about the curriculum here.