My message to the LGBT + student community on getting that all important first job.

Recently I had the opportunity to attend and speak at a brilliant event hosted by myGwork, a leading global LGBT+ professional network.

This event was billed as a networking and career mentor experience for students who are looking for advice on their first step into the big bad world of work. Over 70+ students from all backgrounds, universities and courses attended and it was a really diverse crowd, not just LGBT+ but also a great mix of UK and international students - many of which came from more conservative countries than Britain.

I spoke alongside eight senior LGBT+ business leaders from the mainly professional services sector; including from banking and law firms like Reed Smith and Clifford Chance. The set up was really relaxed - we all had stands with branded goodies from our respective organisations – one business even had free DVDs from recent films like Suicide Squad! The event set up was similar to speed dating, so every 15 minutes a different group would visit your stand – who asked questions about everything and anything.

My message to the students was clear: I wanted to share my own personal career experience; recommendations for how to get into a creative career and how to do a job that will keep you happy and rewarded. I emphasized the importance of hard work and not to expect to be running your office in 6 months. Being humble and willingness take on new projects is key, especially at the early stage of your career. Being entrepreneurial, creating new ideas and projects to add value will also get your noticed, along side doing the bread and butter basics of any entry level or if you're lucky enough, a Grad job.

What you sometimes don't realise in an industry like marketing communications is that we take the fact that being LGBT+, on the whole, is not an issue. I think that's because it's a very young already diverse demographic, especially in the digital sector and in a global city like London.

A lot of the other business leaders at the event talked about their strong diversity and inclusion programmes and how they are well funded and a key strategy to drive diversity into their businesses. Which is all brilliant to hear! Law-firms and banking have traditionally been a male dominated sector and as such have a very traditional, masculine culture. This would potentially be less accepting or more intimidating to young LGBT+ students or grads, experiencing their first leg on the career ladders. So in sectors like that it's great to know the they are really driving the LGBT+ agenda and providing a community of people in their businesses, and a safe place.

Throughout my career I have always championed diversity and inclusion, of all kinds, not just LGBT+. I firmly believe that where possible we should drive positive discrimination to create diverse teams and give people from all background an opportunity. In the creative and digital sector, I'd say we're intrinsically and naturally good at this, but could always be better, especially as the wider media and traditional advertising sector has a reputation for being very white and middle class. But that's a whole other conversation.

Creativity and innovation comes from empowering all people, of all background and perspectives, to collaborate and challenge each other. Without this a creative business based on ideas just wouldn't survive – at Isobar this is part of our DNA and way of working.

Because we believe in the power of diversity, and power of creativity, Isobar is now collaborating with myGwork on a consultation project. Stay tuned to @isobaragency to hear more about our partnership!

Nick Bass is the Global People & Development Director at Isobar, a digital marketing agency, and a mentor for myGwork.

Twitter: @DigitalHRGeek

Isobar is part of the DAN Network who have a thriving LGBT+ group in the UK called &Proud.

About myGwork

myGwork is the leading online recruitment and networking hub for LGBTI professionals and organisations to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond. However, we're far more than a website and a social network. myGwork is a movement representative of the professional LGBTI community and its members who want to work and live in a truly diverse and inclusive environment.

Launched in 2015 myGwork is the global leading hub for the LGBTI professional community: a one-stop resource in the promotion of diversity and inclusion, job search, news, views and networking for the LGBTI.