Micro-Placement students Krina and Alisa reflect on their time at Crest

Careers

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Krina Jeshani and Alisa Jumazada

This summer, Crest Advisory welcomed Krina and Alisa. Krina is studying International Political Economy, while Alisa is studying Criminology at City St George's, University of London. Over the course of their placement, they supported our communications team across research, media monitoring and public inquiry work. In this blog, they reflect on their time at Crest and share what they learned along the way.

Why Crest?

Krina: Studying International Political Economy has given me a strong grounding in how governments, markets and institutions shape society through policy and economic incentives. What I had not had was the chance to see that real-world social impact up close. Taking part in a placement at Crest let me bridge that gap, gaining practical insight into how policy is implemented in practice and how institutions can either mitigate or reinforce social inequalities, strengthening my ability to contribute to evidence-based research.

Alisa: As a criminology student, criminal justice and public safety have long interested me, making Crest the ideal place to gain an understanding of the sector. I am keen to move into the human rights and policy space after graduating, and Crest's track record of impactful research and policy engagement made it the most suitable place to understand how policy shapes public safety and policing in the UK. 

What work did you do with Crest? 

Together, we supported public inquiries, helping with media planning and attending public hearings towards the end of our placement, an experience that gave us real insight into the behind-the-scenes work of high-profile public inquiries. We also contributed to media monitoring across a range of policy areas and major political announcements, and reviewed wider press and social media coverage to understand how different inquiries were being reported on.

We also conducted research and analysis on policy developments, examining government announcements, consultations and legislation, and presenting our findings clearly for use in ongoing projects. We worked on a presentation exploring women in prison and the mental health challenges they face, examining the social, psychological and structural factors involved. 

What did you enjoy most about working at Crest?

Krina: What I enjoyed most was contributing to work that had a genuine purpose, rather than simply observing. Being trusted with real responsibilities made the experience engaging and fulfilling, and the variety of the work meant no two days were the same. The team made the experience welcoming, approachable and generous with their time, always happy to explain unfamiliar concepts and encourage my curiosity. The hybrid working model also gave me a great introduction to professional life, combining the collaborative atmosphere of the office with the flexibility of remote working.

Alisa: I enjoyed contributing to meaningful projects in a supportive, professional environment. The work was varied and intellectually stimulating, letting me explore areas of criminal justice and communications well beyond my studies. The team's calm, welcoming approach meant I felt part of the team from the start, despite only being at Crest for a short time. As my first office-based role, the hybrid working system, including two days working from home, gave me a valuable and flexible introduction to professional life, and reinforced my ambition to build a career in human rights and policy.

We have hosted placement students from a variety of different organisations. In recent years we've welcomed graduates from the Police Now and Unlocked programmes. Every summer we welcome Micro-Placement students from City, University of London. You can read about their experiences on our Careers page.

If you're interested in doing a placement with us, please get in touch at contact@crestadvisory.com, and we can discuss in more detail.