Category Archives: Management and Consultancy

Angel, Management and Consultancy

Accounting and Finance, Management and Consultancy, , ,

Angel applied to the Career Mentor Scheme in order get advice and guidance into Management and Consultancy. Her mentor was the Director of Investment at Dusit International. As such his main responsibilities include studying the investment market for hotels & real estate, raising financing, developing financing structures and negotiating deals.

bank-building-1223895

Angel talked to us about the benefits of the scheme.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

My mentor has a similar academic background as me, so I found  connection and comfort when talking to him (as we were both oversea students). Knowing what he went through in his career path gave me insights of how I should plan my short term and long term goals in order to stay away from working overtime without this having a purpose.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I did not know enough about the industry as real world experience is always different from myths. He gave me insights into the industry and his comments on my prospective path were really useful.

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

This scheme is definitely a really good platform for students who are graduating soon and are not sure what to do. The mentor will guide you, inspire you, help you, just like a good academic tutor would but the mentor does so in your career path.

Jessica, Management and Consultancy

History, Management and Consultancy, , , , ,

History student Jessica was interested in going into Management and Consultancy. Through the Career Mentor Scheme she was matched with a Management Consultant at Hisley Consulting. This mentor also has experience in the Pharmaceutical and Supply chain sectors. Her previous employment includes General Manager of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Site and Director of Regional Outsourced Manufacturing organisation.

P1000332 1

Jessica gave us an insight into the ways in which she benefited from the scheme.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Being able to meet with her and talk about consultancy with a neutral person (not family or friends) who was very knowledgeable and really helped me gain a perspective of what was expected of me and what I need to do to achieve such a position.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience? 

Insight into my chosen career. You don’t ever get an opportunity like this to talk to someone in depth about a certain career path which was invaluable experience.

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

It is a perfect way to get inside knowledge on a particular career and discuss your own ambitions and opportunities with someone neutral

 

Katie, Management and Consultancy

English, History, Management and Consultancy, , , ,

Katie wanted to go into the Management and Consultancy sector. Through the Career Mentor Scheme she was matched with a Revenue Director at Microsoft. This mentor went into Management and Consultancy. His recent previous employment includes being a Head of Business Development at MSN Asia between 2008 and 2012 and Head of Commercial Partnerships between 2012 and 2014.

Katie benefited hugely from the mentoring partnership. She achieved all personal development and career development objectives, such as improving her listening and confidence building skills and receiving help with application forms.

business-advertisement-1542952

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Learning about the Marketing sector from an experienced marketer.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Gaining useful contacts that have enabled me to secure work experience and a summer internship.

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

Don’t be afraid to ask your career mentor for something you want [i.e. work shadowing].

Helena, Management and Consultancy

Management and Consultancy, Politics and International Relations, , ,

An International Relations student Helena applied for the Career Mentor Scheme in order to get advice and guidance into the Management and Consultancy sector. Her mentor was the Managing Director at EFS Consultants.

After graduating from Exeter with a Politics degree, this mentor gained a variety of professional experiences. His previous employment includes being a Business Development Director at Citibank and Retail Banking Partner at Unisys.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Hannah learned a lot about the sector through her partnership and achieved many objectives, such as having her CV proofread, gaining information about the sector entry requirements and making a future professional contact in her mentor.

Were there any other objectives you achieved?

I learnt more about how the sector was divided and how best to enter it.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

For me, one of the highlights was meeting my mentor in person and hearing both his advice and useful anecdotes.  I could not have obtained this kind of insight and information any other way.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Learning more about the industry and the day-to-day reality of what it is like to work as a consultant.

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

The Career Mentor Scheme is a highly valuable experience: not only does it give you the opportunity to make a lasting professional contact but it also opens up a source of sector-specific information that would otherwise be inaccessible.

 

“There is no substitute for a face to face meeting with no time limit. We met in a cafe in London and chatted  for three hours. Perfect.” – Martin Dale

Nathan, Management and Consultancy

economics, Management and Consultancy, ,

Nathan, studying Economics was looking to go into the Management and Consultancy sector. Being matched with an Associate Consultant at BCS Consulting through the Career Mentor Scheme really helped Nathan get into the industry.

At the time of their partnership this mentor’s main responsibilities were helping organisations to solve issues, create value, maximise growth and improve the business performance by providing objective advice, expertise and specialist skills which an organisation may be lacking. His previous work experience includes working as an Analyst at Accenture between 2011 and 2013.

business-1466690

Nathan benefited from the scheme in various ways. He improved his personal skills needed for graduate employment and obtained help with application forms and covering letters. Richard proofread Nathan’s CV and helped him with job hunting resources.

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

The mentoring scheme is an invaluable opportunity to learn about an industry, get support with your applications and improve your skills. I am currently on my year in industry and I was able to walk through any workplace problems with my mentor such as how to get time from my managers when they were so busy. I gained so much confidence being able to write specific and tailored information in my applications, going through interview practise and setting goals. I also performed well in my recent performance review at work and have successfully secured a consulting summer internship for 2016, both of which would not have been possible without the support of my mentor.

His mentor said:

“[The highlight for me was] Nathan winning a summer internship at Deloitte and seeing how much that meant to him.”

Madalina, Management and Consultancy

Business and Management, Management and Consultancy, ,

Madalina, Business and Management student, was interested in going into Management and Consultancy. Through the Career Mentor Scheme she was matched with a Group Operations Director at Catlin.

This mentor’s main responsibilities include managing Process Change, Education, Knowledge and Programme. She has a wide range of experiences including previously working as an Associate Partner at IBM and as Learning Solutions Consultant at PwC.

business-web-1232960

Madalina benefited from the scheme and being mentored in a number of ways. Madalina got an insight into her chosen career and found out more about the good and bad aspects of the sector. She also received help preparing for the next steps after graduation and gathered information about the sector entry requirements.

Were there any other objectives you achieved?

I receive the personal opinion of my mentor through a professional perspective in regards to office situations and the corporate environment.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I appreciated my mentor’s patience and guidance […] and her care in providing a balanced answer.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I enjoyed learning of my mentor’s experiences through her perspective at this point.

What were the highlights for the mentor?

“Madalina was looking for more than just career coaching, also looking to apply her academic learning through my business experiences”

William, Management and Consultancy

Art History and Visual Culture, English, Management and Consultancy, ,

William was in his second year of doing English and Film Studies when he applied for the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with a Revenue Director at Microsoft Corp.

After graduating from Exeter, this mentor went into Management and Consultancy. His recent previous employment includes being Head of Business Development at MSN Asia between 2008 and 2012 and Head of Commercial Partnerships between 2012 and 2014.

During the mentoring partnership William achieved all objectives he had. He improved his confidence to seek graduate level employment and obtained help to prepare for the next steps. He also developed his interview techniques and gathered information about the sector entry requirements. He shared some insight with us at the end of the scheme.

collection-business-3-1236863

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Gaining insight into the world of media and advertising from an inside perspective.

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

The scheme is a great way to gain a different perspective on a chosen career path, from a professional who has experience in the field you are interested in. Even if the result is that you decide that this career is not for you, it is better to have learnt this before you actively pursue that path.