Sustainable Development masters student Alicia was matched with an Environment and Sustainability Advisor at the University of Exeter.

This mentor’s main responsibility is improving the University’s environmental performance through the development and delivery of sustainability strategies and change management with specific responsibilities for environmental compliance, pollution prevention and ISO14001.

At the end of the partnership, Alicia gave us an insight of what she had achieved through the Career Mentor Scheme. Apart from significantly improving her job hunting skills and developing personal skills and abilities, she also achieved career objectives, such as finding our more about the good and bad aspect of a career in Sustainability and learning about the entry requirements. Alicia also got hints and tips about the Green Consultants Programme and possible project options.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

The most important knowledge I gained from my mentor was the opportunity to practice mock interviews and build my confidence skills. She also talked about her experience as a consultant within the energy sector and clarified many doubts about working within that field and what to expect from consultancy.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The insight of my chosen profession, CV Review, and interview tips [provided].

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

It is very useful to clarify doubts about your career path and to get reassurance that you are going in the right way. It is also very useful to gain confidence in yourself when it comes to interviews and preparation for graduate jobs.

Her mentor said:

  “[It was] rewarding to see Alicia reflect on discussions [we have had] and apply those reflections!”