Finding a career in PR, social media and events

A Southampton Solent University graduate has built a thriving career in PR, social media and events, just over a year after graduating.

Becca Cristofaro graduated from BA (Hons) Fashion Management with Marketing in 2025, having joined Solent through Clearing after initially deciding against going to university.

Everything changed after a visit to an open day in the March before she was due to leave school. "I'd had a really good chat and got to properly talk about the course, and I loved the idea of it." Still, the pressure of A-levels left her unsure about committing to more study, and she didn't apply.

It wasn't until results day, with no firm plan for September, that things shifted. "My mum sat me down and said, what are you doing in September? I had no idea." She got back in touch with the lecturer she'd met at the open day, who guided her through clearing. "I started three weeks later and sort of dove in headfirst. It's the best thing I ever did."

What drew her to the course itself was how much ground it covered. "I liked the fact that my course touched base on a lot of different sides of the industry; a bit of design, a bit of business, a bit of buying, a bit of marketing," she says. "It allowed me to open up my options and see what I like and don't like, which is really important."

Becca credits her degree with shaping how she approaches her career. "It taught me how to work hard and be resilient, and how to take on constructive criticism. Nothing can fully prepare you for the big wide world, but having those stepping stones to get there has been really helpful."

Practical skills proved just as valuable as the mindset. A struggle with Adobe software early in her course pushed her to improve, and that skill set later landed her work experience in a design department and remains directly relevant in her current role.

Work experience alongside her studies also played a defining role. A three-week internship in the design department at Karen Millen showed her a side of the industry she hadn't expected to enjoy, while a separate internship with a wholesaler gave her valuable insight into the buying side of fashion.

Now working across PR, influencer marketing, events and social media, Becca continues to grow into new areas of the industry.

Find out more about Solent's Fashion Business with Marketing course here.