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Zoe Truchy, international marketing

6 years after graduating from Manchester... 5 years in marketing at Gravograph head office in France, a series of 4 different bosses, 3 restructures, 2 children and 1 French husband later...

Gravograph is an international group specialising in the design and manufacture of machines, software and consumables for a vast range of engraving and marking applications: from the personalisation of jewellery, business gifts or trophies, and the production of signage, with Braille translations, to industrial marking for traceability.

My job with Gravograph has evolved gradually over my five years with company, though my fields of activity remain essentially the same: the group intranet, which we are currently redeveloping, and promotional tool design (leaflets, press releases, flyers, photography and kits of engraved samples). To support me on the creative side of this work, I received training in brochure and logo design and also photography at the end of 2007.

Translation remains a fundamental part of my workload. With the new horizontal and international management structure in place, translation is proving indispensable to effective communication throughout the group. And, to be honest, it is one of my favourite activities. I also have a new sideline in consecutive interpreting for video-conferences between the US and French offices.

The French, 35-hour working week is a great advantage to me now that I have children. The excellent childcare available in France has enabled me to go back to work (French) "full-time", over 4.5 days a week. Likewise, my husband works a 4.5-day week, meaning that the children have a 3-day weekend with us.

This is the first time in my life that I have had so little free time - between work, travelling for work, the children, renovating our house and standing for the local elections next month. Never a dull moment. My Masters degree really set me up for this: reinforcing my language skills, my translation skills, providing me with new IT and web knowledge, and rewarding me with a qualification in translation that is recognised worldwide. I know for a fact that my Masters was a definite clinch factor in getting my current job. And, last but not least, I met my husband in Manchester...if I dare say so, on a pub-crawl during Freshers' Week!