Category Archives: Career Sector

Chris, Financial Markets and the City

economics, Financial Markets and the City, , ,

Economics student Chris had a passion for the Financial Markets and the City and wanted to pursue this career path. He was accepted onto the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with an Investment Manager at Risk Capital Partners LLP.

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Chris had some amazing feedback to give about the way the Career Mentor Scheme helped his career development.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Being able to gain a thorough insight into the area of finance that my mentor works in. It is very difficult to get first-hand experience through the internet, so having a contact within the industry was an invaluable opportunity. My mentor helped me with techniques and gave me fantastic advice for EY’s internship scheme and assisted me throughout the process.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Discussion about work experience are ongoing, but the insight that I have gained about the daily work life that my mentor participates in gave me a fantastic ground to base my future career decisions upon.

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

Participating in the Career Mentor Scheme is one of the most rewarding opportunities you will get in your time at Exeter. If you have any questions or concerns about a specific career path, a mentor can provide you with real-life experience and help guide you through these doubts, ensuring that you make the most informed decision about your post-graduation choices. If you are applying for internships or industrial placements, mentors are experienced professionals who often employ workers, so there is no one better to help support you and provide you with advice on how to succeed in your applications. There is absolutely nothing to lose by partaking in the programme and it will help you on your first step in the career ladder.

Cherrina, Law and Legal Services

law, Law and Legal Services,

Whilst in her first year, Cherrina applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to be mentored by a Partner at Ropes & Gray LLP. At the time of their mentoring partnership, this mentor was focusing on private equity, public and private M&A and innovative special situation deals. He also provided advice on all aspects of domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and on a broad range of corporate finance, joint venture, restructuring, and corporate governance issues.

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Cherrina benefited from the mentoring experience in a number of ways. She achieved all objectives she had, including improving skills needed for graduate employment and gaining work shadowing. Here is what Cherrina shared with us.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

One of the highlights was going into my mentor’s office for a meeting. Received his comments on application forms, which later helped me secure an open day, was also really great.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into law.

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

It is a hugely useful opportunity if you can take full advantage of it.

 

Beth, Creative Arts, Design and Crafts

Creative Arts Design and Crafts, English, , , ,

Postgraduate student Beth was looking to gain an insight into the Creative Arts, Design and Crafts sector. The Career Mentor Scheme matched Beth with a freelance arts consultant. After completing an MA in Drama at Exeter, this mentor also got a Post-graduate Certificate of Education from Oxford University.

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Beth gained a lot from the Career Mentor Scheme, including improving her confidence and developing professional contacts. The scheme also helped Beth obtain job hunting resources and prepare for the next steps after graduation.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

-Meeting my mentor in person.
-Undertaking work experience at an arts festival in Bristol.
-Networking via phone with one of my mentor’s contacts.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

-Insight from someone with lengthy industry experience.
-Work experience off the back of their contacts.
-Insight into other ways of gaining relevant experience.

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

An invaluable chance to gain insight from industry professionals whilst still studying.

Joseph, Human Resources, Recruitment and Training

Human Resources Recruitment and Training, , , ,

Joseph was a Materials Engineering student who applied to the Career Mentor Scheme in his second year. Due to his interest in the  Human Resources, Recruitment and Training sector he was matched with a Director and owner of management consultancy company Dartington Associates Ltd.

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Joseph had a suburb experience being mentored. He achieved various objectives including obtaining job hunting resources and gaining professional experience to put on his CV.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Mentor set up a visit to Becton dickinson; got to see the manufacture of medical equipment.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Work experience, feedback from CV and interview.

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

Do it – what have you got to lose? Potentially lots to gain.
Know what you want to get out of it.

“I was able to assist with CV and interview techniques and to arrange a one day work experience for my mentee.” Joseph’s mentor

Samantha, Charity and Development Work

Charity and Development Work, Psychology, , , ,

Samantha, a postgraduate Social & Organisational Psychology student was interested in going into Charity and Development work. Through the Career Mentor Scheme she was matched with a Communications and Project Manager at Oxford Brookes University.

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Samantha shared with us what the advantages of the scheme were to her. She felt she achieved every single objective she and her mentor set at the beginning of the scheme, such as developing her interview techniques, gathering information about the sector and improving her personal skills needed for graduate employment.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Visiting my mentor, sorting out my CV, and identifying how to network and build networking skills.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Going to visit my mentor and shadow her/others with her employer as it helped me understand precisely what I did and didn’t like about the sector.

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

Definitely apply as you learn lots about the job area and why it is or isn’t right for you which is something research alone won’t tell you and importantly you make a friend you can keep in contact with in the future.

“I enjoy helping my mentee develop her confidence and reassure her that she doesn’t need to have every single answer just yet.” – Samantha’s mentor

Jaime, Human Resources, Recruitment and Training

Accounting and Finance, Human Resources Recruitment and Training, ,

Coming from an Accounting and Finance degree Jaime wanted to get into the Human Resources, Recruitment and Training sector. She successfully applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to be mentored by a Publicity Manager at Acas.

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Jaime benefited from the mentoring partnership in various ways. This mentor helped Jaime consider the next steps after university and assisted Jaime in developing her professional contacts. Jaime also had her CV improved and received help with application forms.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

The opportunity given to me by my mentor to meet professionals in my sector. She did a lot to give me such opportunities.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Work shadowing, networking opportunities, insight into future graduate career application.

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

Really helpful as long as you do not demand too much of your mentor, and appreciate every opportunity he/she creates for you.

Madeleine, Accounting and Auditing

Accounting and Auditing, economics, , , , ,

Whilst in her final year Madeleine was undecided in terms of whether she should apply to graduate jobs or go travelling. She applied to the Career Mentor Scheme in order to get more guidance and career advice and was matched with the director at the Old Mill Accountancy LLP. This mentor has had a varied career within accountancy, working in different sized organisations and both in and outside London.pic-01

Madeleine found the Career Mentor Scheme really helpful. It helped her improve her confidence and make the decision to apply for graduate schemes. She developed her interview techniques and learned more about what is good and bad about the industry. She also developed her commercial awareness significantly.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The thing I found most useful was what I learned about the accountancy sector. My mentor explained to me about the huge range of challenges facing the accountancy sector which meant that when I got to the interview stage of my assessment centres I was able to really impress the interviewer.

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

The mentor scheme is a great opportunity to get a deeper insight into a certain sector that you are interested in. What I learned from my mentor was very useful when I got to interview, as I had more of an understanding of challenges facing the industry. I discussed my professional experiences with my mentor which helped me develop my responses to competency questions and we also discussed the importance of and methods for becoming more commercially aware.

“By debriefing after interviews/assessment centres, I helped her to understand how employers view things and to refine her approach. She succeeded in getting a job offer from the best of the firms that she had applied to, which was a great result.” – Madeleine’s Mentor

James, Theatre and Performing Arts

Drama, Theatre and Performing Arts, , ,

James was matched with a freelance actor and theatre practitioner, through the Career Mentor Scheme. This mentor specialises in theatre-in-education, working mostly with children and young people. The majority of her work is in schools, providing curriculum-enhancing drama workshops and creative days to children and young people.

This mentor’s experience and guidance was really useful to James. He gave us an insight into their mentoring partnership.

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What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Meeting my mentor was incredibly worthwhile as it made it easier to discuss the career I am interested in and therefore I got a lot out of it.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Gaining insight into working in the creative industries (the employment sector I am interested in) including the good/bad aspects of the industry, as well as the many different possible careers there are within the industries.

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

Make sure you have a plan of what you want to discuss/find out. Always reply promptly. Always try and meet your mentor at least once if you can.

“It was wonderful working with a student who was so keen, and who was really prepared to take advantage of the scheme. I very much enjoyed meeting and working with James, and thought his enthusiasm was admirable.” – James’ Mentor

 

Luke, Accounting and Auditing

Accounting and Auditing, Business and Management, , ,

Luke was mentored by an Executive Director at EY, as part of the Career Mentor Scheme. In his role this mentor’s main responsibility is to ensure quality of service delivery to EY’s clients and continued growth of the business.

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Luke had a superb experience participating in the scheme.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

During the scheme I was looking for an industrial placement and my mentor gave me a significant degree of support throughout each of my applications, being willing to read over my applications, give advice on what different companies will be looking for and helping to develop strong examples where I show the competencies they are looking for. I now feel like I am much more competent in the application process and when it comes to applying for graduate roles I should be in good stead.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into the industry I was applying for, which you wouldn’t get unless you speak to someone who is experienced.

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

The scheme is the best way to get a true insight into whatever field you are looking to go into.

 

Sarah, Purchasing and Procurement

Business and Management, Purchasing and Procurement, , , ,

During her second year Sarah, doing Business and Management, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme. She was matched with mentor a Commodity Buyer at Ford Motor Company.

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Through the scheme Sarah increased her confidence and obtained job hunting resources.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

My mentor provided me with a breakdown of his daily role.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Expert insight into the sector I was interested in – I am in fact now continuing into a similar sector for my placement year in Procurement!

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

It is especially useful to get a real insight into the sector; more of an understanding of the daily aspects and undertakings the role the mentor has in his/her workplace. Very key when considering an area that there is not much information on online.