Category Archives: Business and Management

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.

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.

Victoria, Retail

Business and Management, Retail, ,

During her second year Management with Marketing student Victoria was lucky enough to be matched with the CEO of the White Company.

This mentor has various professional experiences within Retail and Marketing. He has previously been President of MIM, who have 300 stores in France and Belgium and also a Group Managing Director of New Look Retailers.

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Victoria had an outstanding experience being mentored. She shared details of the ways in which she benefited from the scheme.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

The highlight for me was getting to work for The White Company as my part of my placement year. My mentor has been incredibly helpful and I cannot thank him enough.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The Career Mentor Scheme has provided me with invaluable experience. I was lucky enough to get the CEO of The White Company as my mentor. My mentor allowed me to participate in a work shadowing day where I saw different parts of marketing and how they run; from insight and analysis to multichannel and social media. I enjoyed this so much and knew this was somewhere I wanted to work in the future. Through the help and support of my mentor, I was able to work for The White Company as my placement year. I am continually learning on the job and feel I have really broadened my perspective and insight into the multi-faceted marketing industry.
My mentor has continually helped me to explore different parts of marketing even on my placement year, encouraging me to explore the world of PR and Social Media. My mentor is without a doubt a role model for me.

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

My advice to anyone thinking of applying to this scheme would be to go for it! If I hadn’t participated in this scheme I would not have broadened my skill-set during my year in industry as much as I have done at The White Company.

The highlight of the scheme for the mentor was:

“Victoria now has a clearer understanding of Marketing by [getting] real time paid experience“

 

 

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.

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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”

Sam, Financial Markets and the City

Business and Management, Financial Markets and the City, , , , ,

Whilst in his second year Business and Management student Sam applied to the Career Mentor Scheme and was successfully matched with the Executive Director – Dept Investment Europe at IFM.

Having graduated from Exeter, this mentor then pursued a career in the Financial Markets and the City. He was a graduate trainee and a Manager at RBS and also Head of Infrastructure and Project Finance at Barclays Corporate.

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Sam’s experience of the mentoring partnership was great. Here are some of the details he shared with us:

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

It was great to meet with my mentor at his office and hear about his experiences in the industry. My mentor put me in touch with a wide variety of senior people from within the industry who I was able to meet with or speak to on the phone. It was great to receive advice when I was making a decision about which internship I wanted to do.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Networking opportunities – Extremely useful to be able to connect with senior figures in the industry.

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

It is a brilliant opportunity to find out more about a career that you are interested in. The opportunities that come with this scheme can really enhance your career prospects.

Paige, Charity and Development Work

Business and Management, Charity and Development Work, Computer Science, , , , , ,

During her second year Paige, Computing and Management student, was matched with the Communications and Project Manager at Oxford Brookes University.

This mentor is experienced in Advertising, Marketing and PR, Charity and Development Work, and HR. Her previous employment includes HR Emergency Coordinator at Oxfam and Internal Communications Adviser at Oxfam. Since 2010 she has been working at Oxford Brookes University.

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Paige revealed more details about the ways in which the scheme helped her.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I thoroughly enjoyed the work shadowing opportunity. It gave me great insight into the working day and job sector and I felt that I learned more on that day than if someone simply told me about it.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The work shadowing and insight into my chosen profession were most useful. It was helpful to find out the pros and cons of the chosen profession and the work shadowing opened up some more job options that I hadn’t previously considered.

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

Throw yourself into it. By doing so you will gain the most from it.

Her mentor said:

“[The highlight for me was] helping to shape my mentee’s thinking around her career direction”