STUDENT VIEW

LAW GRADUATE CHARLOTTE MORTON HAD NOT EVEN FINISHED HER MASTERS IN MARITIME OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT WHEN SHE SECURED A POST AS PORT OPERATIONS COORDINATOR WITH CMA CGM (UK) LTD.

“I applied for the Port Operations job in June,” recalls Charlotte. “Teaching on my programme had finished and we were all starting to write our dissertations. If I’m honest I was procrastinating a little about my dissertation and so I decided to start applying for jobs.” Charlotte was familiar with CMA CGM through her masters programme. “We had visited the company for a presentation,” she explains. “I immediately realised it was a really friendly place so, when the job was advertised, I knew I had to apply for it.” Despite her lack of work experience in the industry, Charlotte felt her interview went well. “As I expected it was a friendly interview but I still didn’t think I would be successful,” she smiles. “When I found out the following day I had got the job I was over the moon and the following week I started work!” Working first as Port Operations Coordinator and then as Cargo Readiness Assistant on temporary contracts, Charlotte went on to secure a permanent position as a Port Operations Coordinator. “I worked on the UK Feeder vessels ensuring that all export cargo was loaded on the vessels sailing out of Greenock, Grangemouth, Immingham, Liverpool and Teesport,” she explains. “It was a fascinating job and each day was different.” Keen to further her understanding of the industry and boost her commercial experience, Charlotte recently accepted a sales role at CMA. She also visited Malmö to attend the WMU Empowering Women in the Maritime Community conference. “I think it is really important to connect with like-minded people to create change,” says Charlotte. “I listened to so many speakers who really inspired me. It has made me even more determined to work towards a mentoring role. I have received so much help in my career and I now want to help others. I certainly made the right decision to go into the Maritime industry and my masters made that move possible. I don’t think you should ever hold back from trying something so long as you have the capability and knowledge required.” Charlotte has now continued her academic journey by starting her PhD at the University of Chester this year in Human Vulnerability, while working part time for the Yorkshire Cyber Security Cluster.