Category Archives: Management and Consultancy

Maya, Management and Consultancy

Business and Management, Management and Consultancy

 Maya, Business and Management student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain a better understanding of the consulting and management sector and the job opportunities available. Through the scheme, Maya was matched with a mentor with a PhD in Agriculture, BSc in Horticulture and Diploma in Management and Leadership, who is now a Management and Leadership Consultant at S Barrett Consulting.

Maya tells us more about her experience below:

What objectives did you achieve?

Maya achieved all of her objectives including:

  • Increased knowledge of finding internships and work experience in this sector
  • Received help to improve CV
  • Increased knowledge of good and bad aspects of the profession

Maya also had a personal objective of networking with a professional in the sector she is interested in and gain insight to her mentor’s career.

What were your highlights of the scheme?

Meeting with an established professional was invaluable to learn directly first-hand about their job, including from an employer and employee as my mentor is now self-employed. The insight into my chosen sector was the most useful part of my mentoring experience.

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

It’s such a good opportunity that professionals are volunteering their time to help you. I’ve found it so useful to be able to talk to a professional in a more informal/casual setting, and I’m so grateful for the guidance I’ve received.

Lauren, Management and Consultancy

Accounting and Finance, economics, Management and Consultancy

Lauren, Economics and Finance student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain knowledge and advice about both specific sectors and working life in general. Through the scheme, Lauren was matched with a History graduate from the University of Exeter who is now a Director at MJCL Consultancy Ltd with experience as a CFO and COO.

Lauren tells us more about her experience below:

What objectives did you achieve?

Lauren achieved all of her objectives including:

  • Increased knowledge of finding internships and work experience in this sector
  • Improved knowledge of further education and professional courses related to this sector
  • Widened contacts and networking opportunities

What were your highlights of the scheme?

  • Meeting my career mentor
  • Adding to my network of professionals and meeting with a colleague to discuss career options in para planning
  • Reviewing CV advice
  • Gaining an offer work for experience next summer

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

All round provided very useful advice and guidance to a range of career related questions and problems.

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

Definitely do it – especially first head/anyone who is in the early stages of their career development.

Emily, Management and Consultancy

Geography, Management and Consultancy

Emily, Geography student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain real world advice and insight into the different job roles that exist. She also wanted to build a network and develop her CV. Through the scheme, Emily was paired with a Business Economics graduate from the University of Exeter who is now a Management Consultant at Accenture with over six years’ experience in the consulting sector.

Emily tells us more about her experience below:

What objectives did you achieve?

Emily achieved all of her objectives including:

  • Increased knowledge of effective application forms in this sector
  • Improved knowledge of further education and professional courses related to this sector
  • Increased knowledge of good and bad aspects of the profession

What were your highlights of the scheme?

I really enjoyed getting a professionals perspective on my CV. It was interesting to see the changes my mentor made and the comments he had. I also enjoyed maintaining a relationship/ communication with my mentor, it is clear that my mentor is now a connection for life and if I ever need to reach out to them, I am more than welcome.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

My mentor gave a really honest insight into the world of consulting. This along with an internship helped me decide that perhaps it wasn’t the sector for me, and therefore the help my mentor gave me in making this decision was very helpful.

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

Really take your time to decide who you want and what you want them for. Some aren’t willing to give internship and work experience opportunities so don’t have your heart set on this. Think about the wider benefits they can give you.

Jessica, Management and Consultancy

Business and Management, Management and Consultancy

Jessica, Business and Management student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to learn more about starting her own business and gain advice from an experienced professional. Through the scheme, Jessica was paired with the Founder of International Dance Supplies Ltd, specialising in Entrepreneurship. This mentor has been running her own businesses for over 30 years and has experience across the business departments.

“My mentor provided an inspiring life story, and I hope to follow in her entrepreneurial footsteps”

Jessica achieved all of her objectives achieved including gaining an understanding of how a mail order/online business operates in all of its many areas, increased knowledge of sector entry requirements and increased knowledge of the good and bad aspects of the profession.

Jessica told us more about her experience:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

Visiting my mentor at work for two days and spending time with her talking her talking about the growth of her business, as well as mine.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into life as a successful entrepreneur.

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

It’s a unique opportunity to connect with a successful mentor who is more than willing to help you achieve your own goals.

Oliver, Management and Consultancy

Business and Management, economics, Management and Consultancy, , , , , ,

Oliver, Business Economics student, was in the process of applying to graduate roles in trading but was unsure about exploring other areas such as Private Equity aswell. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Oliver was matched with a Economics and Political Development alumnus who is now a Consultant for Chestnut Advisory Group in the USA. His previous experience includes roles at Knight Capital, UBS London and New York and Citibank London and New York.

“His advice was useful and no doubt helped me get the job .”

Oliver achieved all of his objectives including securing a exciting graduate job while also improving his personal development skills and increasing his knowledge of effective interview techniques in the finance and consultancy sector.

Oliver provided some insight in his experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

He went to the same school as me (as well as Exeter) so we had a lot to relate too.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

He gave broad recommendations and had knowledge outside the area of expertise which proved really helpful.

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

Give it a go, gaining a perspective on your career from someone with years of industry knowledge is invaluable. I ended up getting a job in something unrelated to my mentor’s career but his advice was still useful and no doubt helped me get the job (at Amazon).

Charles, Management and Consultancy

Business and Management, Management and Consultancy, ,

Charles, a MSc International Management student, was interested in a career in management and strategy consulting and applied to the scheme to improve his networking skills, receive help with applications and learn about the importance of innovation and creativity in this sector. Through the scheme, Charles was matched with an Exeter alumnus who is now a Managing Consultant for IBM, focusing on Delivery Project Management. He has also worked for IntelliQ Ltf and DERA/QinetiQ.

“My mentor spent lots of time helping me to prepare the assessment centre”

Charles achieved many objectives including gaining a deeper understanding about the importance of client’s satisfaction, improved his own personal development skills and increased his knowledge of sector entry requirements.

Charles shared his experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

My mentor spent lots of time helping me to prepare the assessment centre. I got 80% for M&S’s graduate scheme’s assessment mentor. I also passed Deloitte’s AC, and am preparing the 2nd interview.

Amy, Management and Consultancy

Advertising Marketing and PR, Geography, Management and Consultancy, , , , ,

Amy, Geography student, was interested in a career in Entrepreneurship after being inspired by the work of entrepreneurs, such as Casey Neistat, CEO of Beme. Through the Career Mentoring Scheme, Amy was matched with the Founder of City Mixology. This mentor has worked as a Corporate Lawyer for Slaughter and May before progressing into PR and Marketing and then working with start-ups. He has worked in London, New York and Tokyo, among other key business cities.

“The Career Mentor Scheme is the best extracurricular activity I have taken part in this year.”

Amy achieved her personal objectives of setting up a Linkedin profile, completing applications for Law vacation schemes and setting weekly goals as a means of time management. She also improved her personal development skills, widened her networking opportunities and increased her knowledge of sector entry requirements.

Amy shared her experience:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

Meeting my career mentor in person was a highlight of the scheme; it gave an opportunity to continue conversations face-to-face which had only been conducted over email previously.

Being able to increase my confidence in formal communication on a professional level from emails and phone calls, to meeting in person has definitely been a highlight over the whole scheme for me.

Despite not being successful in obtaining a law vacation scheme, being able to submit multiple applications and cover letters to magic circle law firms and making it through the initial stages of application in some cases has been a huge achievement considering my complete lack of experience in the sector beforehand.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Being able to receive first hand insight into my chosen sectors (law and entrepreneurship) was immeasurably useful. It is so different to simply reading about that particular career, I am now able to fully appreciate both the pros and cons associated with the sector. It has helped me narrow down my career path moving forward.

Perhaps most useful, has been the transferable skills I have gained from the scheme. I now have fully functioning LinkedIn and RiseTo profiles as well as hugely improved CV. I am now able to conduct formal and professional emails, phone calls and face-to-face meetings – these skills have vastly increased my confidence and will be extremely useful in future professional settings.

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

The Career Mentor Scheme is the best extracurricular activity I have taken part in this year. It helps to start you on your career path well before graduation is even on the horizon and has provided me with numerous transferable and valuable skills which I can apply into everything from everyday situations to more formal interactions and interviews. It is an extremely rewarding way to spend your time and gives the opportunity to network and boost employability skills.

Elizabeth, Management and Consultancy

Management and Consultancy, , ,

Elizabeth, a first year economics student, interested in Management took part in the Career Mentor Scheme in 2013. Through the scheme, Elizabeth was assigned an Industry Strategy & Transformation Consultant for Accenture who graduated from the University of Exeter in 2009.

elizabeth

Elizabeth said she felt she had achieved all of the objectives she had set for the Career Mentor Scheme, including:

  • Gaining understanding of how to get in to the management sector and an insight into the good and bad aspects of the industry
  • Improving personal skills needed for graduate employment e.g. confidence building
  • Obtaining help to improve her CV and getting help with application forms, cover letters and interview techniques

We asked Elizabeth a few questions about her experience. Here’s what she said…

What was your highlight of the scheme?

The adaptability of my mentor to suit my needs, as well as obtaining exceptionally useful knowledge from an individual who is high up in the sector I wish to enter.

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

Think carefully about which type of mentor will give you advice around an area that you are really interested in. This will mean you can obtain advice about entering a sector that really gives you motivation and enjoyment from any future opportunities that may arise.

Toby, Management and Consultancy

Classics and Ancient History, Management and Consultancy, , ,

Ancient History student Toby applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to be matched with a Director at Inspired Exchange. This mentor has been in the Management and Consultancy sector for a long time. Previous positions he has held include Assistant Director of Leisure at Hackney Borough Council,  Independent Leisure Consultant and Projects Director at  London Events Agency.

Toby Gladwin

Toby had a lot of positive feedback to share with us regarding how the scheme helped his career development.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

My mentor was incredibly friendly yet always professional. He set the precedent and he seemed to respect and enjoy the enthusiasm and engagement that I came with. On leaving my first meeting I felt like I could have walked into any interview and got the job. My mentor installed confidence in my through an understanding of the process and the requirements of employers and belief in my abilities and suitability. He is an excellent mentor to have and I am incredibly thankful to him for his time, energy and continuing support.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

My mentor was very direct, when working through my CV, career path or any interview questions, he would always answer in an incredibly transparent fashion. He verbally ranked my experiences/attributes on my first CV and helped explain how ‘facts and stories’ make the most convincing reading. I know have full confidence in my CV and am excited for the next stage.

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

My mentor helped me get from a shaky CV and a rough idea of jobs after university to a solid CV I have full confidence in and a job offer when I graduate. What have you got to lose?

 

Maximilian, Management and Consultancy

Business and Management, law, Management and Consultancy,

Maximilian is a Management and Law student who was mentored by a Senior Consultant at Altus Ltd, as part of the Career Mentor Scheme. This mentor has a lot of experience of working in this sector. Between 2003 and 2008 he worked at AON Hewitt as a Business Systems Analyst. He then moved on to IMS Health Ltd at the same position. In 2009 he became a Director and Co-founder of What’s My Pension Ltd before joining Altus Ltd.

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The scheme helped Maximilian in various ways. He received help improving his CV and learned more about the good and bad aspects of the profession. He also developed his networking opportunities.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

One of the highlights for me was being able to present a 20 minute Skype presentation to my mentor. I was lucky to find out that his CEO was also attending so I received some really valuable feedback from both of them. I was able to raise some questions regarding their opinion about the developments of financial services which might in fact really influence my career decision.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I think having a relevant professional contact is very useful/will be even more useful when it comes to researching graduate opportunities.

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

I would advise them to make the most of their time with the mentor, definitely meet in person and try to tackle as many issues as possible.