Category Archives: English

Ruby, Law and Legal Services

English, Law and Legal Services

Ruby, English with Proficiency in French student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain advice and guidance in the next steps of achieving her career goals. Through the scheme, Ruby was matched with a Law graduate from the University of Exeter who is now a Partner at Fieldfisher LLP with over 15 years of experience in the industry.

Ruby tells us more about her experience below:

What objectives did you achieve?

Ruby achieved all of her objectives including:

  • Increased knowledge of job hunting resources in this sector
  • Received help to improve CV
  • Increased knowledge of sector entry requirements

Ruby also achieved a personal objective of securing a legal training contract with a London based law firm.

What were your highlights of the scheme?

  • Hints and tips to improve my written applications
  • Visiting my mentor at his offices in London
  • Having constant support through the application process

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

  • Help in determining my preferred area of law
  • Insight into the legal recruitment process
  • Gaining confidence in my interview technique and answers
  • Making a new connection in the legal sector

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

I would strongly recommend the Career Mentor Scheme to any student looking to get into law. The process of securing a job in the legal sector can often be challenging and intimidating, and there is a huge amount of competition for training contracts. My aspiration was to secure a training contract in London however, as an English student, I began the process with limited knowledge of law and the legal sector. I wanted to gain as much support and information as I could and the Career Mentor Scheme gave me this and more.

My mentor had significant experience of the recruitment process within his firm. He was able to give me useful hints and tips to improve my written applications, as well as an insight into what recruiters look for in a successful cover letter and CV. Although my meeting with him was informal, he asked me many similar questions to those I was subsequently asked in interviews which made these interviews less stressful and gave me confidence in my answers. Talking to him about my skills and career aspirations also helped me to narrow down on specifically where I saw myself within the legal sector, which I feel directly contributed to increased success with my applications and interviews.

My advice to any future mentee’s would be to make the most out of this opportunity by thinking about your objective before commencing the scheme, and keeping your mentor up to date with your progress throughout so they can give you appropriate advice and support.

I now feel that I have a valuable connection within the legal sector, and I know I can return to my mentor with any queries as I progress through my legal studies and training. I am very grateful for the time my mentor put into the scheme and the interest he showed in helping me build my knowledge and confidence. I believe his help was significant in helping me secure the training contract that I wanted.

Juliet, Media, Publishing and Journalism

English, Media Publishing and Journalism

Juliet, English student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to begin networking and learning about the work life balance of the industry and profession. Through the scheme, Juliet was matched with  a Global Rights and Permissions Manager for Cambridge University Press. This mentor’s main responsibilities in this role include operations management and overseeing permissions clearance.

“Extremely inspiring and motivating”

Juliet achieved all of her objectives including improved cover letter writing skills, increased knowledge of effective interview techniques in this sector and help with her CV.

Juliet shared her experience with us:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

One of my highlights was work experience. I found entering an organisation with an established contact easier for networking. My mentor set me up with other departments, allowing me to gain a varied experience of publishing.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Work experience and further insight into the profession from someone who had completed the same course as I am currently on.

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

Learning from someone else who has been in the same position that you are currently in is extremely inspiring and motivating, making you think: I can get my ‘dream’ career.

Ruth, Language and Translation

English, Language and Translation, Modern Languages

Ruth, English student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain advice on how to gain work experience in the industry and improve her employability. Through the scheme, Ruth was paired with a Self-employed Translator and Teacher at Sarah L. Kirkby Uebersetzungen. This mentor’s main responsibilities include translation of texts including quality and punctuality, and teaching of English to all levels.

“Well worth getting involved in”

Ruth achieved many objectives including received very good, detailed advice about the sector itself, increased knowledge of sector entry requirements and improved knowledge of further education and professional courses related to this sector.

Ruth shared her experience:

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I found the advice I was given about good and bad aspects and the logistics of working in that profession to be very useful.

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

If you are thinking of going into a specific sector this will give you so much more insight than a simple google search and yahoo answers! Well worth getting involved in.

Claire, Charity and Development

Charity and Development Work, English

Claire, English student, was interested in a career in the Charity sector and applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain an understanding of career progression and life working in the third sector. Through the scheme, Claire was matched with an Application Development and Support Manager at RSPB. Melissa’s main responsibility is on team management of the 2nd line IT team who support and develop the business applications.

“Insight into my chosen profession and sector”

Claire achieved all of her objectives including gained an understanding of the personal and day to day aspects of a career in the nature conservation sector, increased knowledge of sector entry requirements and increased knowledge of effective interview techniques.

Claire shared her experience:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

The highlight of my experience was how lovely and helpful my mentor was. She was both extremely friendly and professional, it was a pleasure to have discussions with her both over the phone and in person. She was also very proactive in obtaining me advice and information about working in public relations even though it wasn’t her specialism.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into my chosen profession and sector – my mentor obtained useful information from the public relations department in the RSPB which aided me in understanding how to best represent my work experience and answer interview questions in a focused and engaged manner.

Lucy, Law and Legal Services

English, Law and Legal Services

Lucy, an English Literature student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain insight into law, specifically the family law sector. Through the scheme, Lucy was paired with a Barrister at the Magdalene Chambers. This mentor has also been a Lecturer in Law at the University of Exeter.

“A fantastic networking opportunity”

Lucy achieved all of her objectives including increased knowledge of the good and bad aspects of the profession, knowledge of finding internships and improved personal development skills.

Lucy shared her experience with us:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

My mentor organised networking with a few of her solicitor friends. The evening was very informative and beneficial. I also helped out serving coffee to barristers at my mentor’s chambers prior to a lecture they were attending. This was a fantastic networking opportunity and we were also able to attend the lecture after.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Networking opportunities, lots of application help, general advice from somebody who has been through the process.

Annie, Media, Publishing and Journalism

English, Media Publishing and Journalism, , , , ,

Annie, an English student, was interested in a career in TV Broadcasting and wanted to use the scheme to answer questions she had regarding the industry and learn how to create an extensive professional network that would open up further employment opportunities. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Annie was matched with the Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC South West. This role involves researching, preparing, writing and presenting new stories for three channels of media: radio, television and online. This mentor has also worked as Deputy News Editor for BBC South West, News Reporter for ITV and as a Radio Newsreader and Presenter.

“An unparalleled insight”

Annie achieved all of her objectives including widening her contacts and professional network, receiving help to improve her CV and knowledge of application forms to increase her chance of gaining internships and graduate roles.

Annie shared her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

Finding out the type of person my mentor’s company would be looking to employ, successfully gaining a job with the invaluable help from my mentor

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Just getting more information about the industry and company from someone so experienced

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

Do it because you will gain an unparalleled insight into the working life of someone within your chosen industry.

Yasmin, Media, Publishing and Journalism

English, Media Publishing and Journalism, , ,

Yasmin, an English student, was interested in pursuing a career in publishing. She wanted to learn more about the typical day in this industry, tasks an editor would complete and how to be successful in such as competitive industry. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Yasmin was matched with a Content Executive for Lyst. This role involves writing and researching daily online fashion content, social media management and attending events such as Fashion Week. This mentor has also worked for M&S Press Office, ASOS, Sunday Times Style Magazine, Vogue and InStyle.

“Planning for the future is invaluable”

Yasmin achieved all of her objectives including receiving general support with getting into this area of work, increased her knowledge of sector entry requirements and improved her knowledge of further educational and professional courses related to the sector.

Yasmin shared some insight into her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

Just having a contact is invaluable

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight/contact

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

Insight is invaluable. Contacts are invaluable. Planning for the future is invaluable. You never know where life might take you.

Grace, Theatre and Performing Arts

English, Theatre and Performing Arts, , ,

Grace, an English Literature student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain an understanding of the auditioning process, increase her knowledge of the industry and receive guidance on how to improve her overall skillset. Through the scheme, Grace was matched with a Freelance Actor who has experience as a producer and actor. He has a vast portfolio of theatre work including multiple roles for the Cambridge Shakespeare Company, touring nationally with Ape Theatre and an award winning production by Illyria Theatre Company.

“The opportunity to discuss my future with someone”

Grace achieved all of her objectives, including receiving advice for applying to drama school as this is a very difficult and complicated process, ways to keep working when acting jobs are not always available, and increased knowledge in finding internships and work experience in this sector.

Grace her shared some of her experiences with us;

What were the highlights of the scheme?

Meeting with my mentor

What did you find most useful form the mentoring experience?

The opportunity to discuss my future with someone who had followed a similar path to the one I am now attempting to go down.

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

To do it, as any advice and guidance you can receive is helpful!

Lucy, Charity and Development

Charity and Development Work, English, , , ,

Lucy, English Literature student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain understanding of the Charity Sector and increase her employability. Through the scheme, she was matched with the Fundraising and Communications Manager for Headway Devon. Her role includes creating fundraising and marketing strategies, bidding for public sector contracts and disseminating press releases. This mentor also has a Certificate in Fundraising Management with the Institute of Fundraising.

“I was lucky to have a very motivated and involved mentor, who was well matched to what I wanted out of the scheme.”

Lucy achieved all of her objectives including increased knowledge of good and bad aspects of the profession, received work experience/ job shadowing and increased knowledge of sector entry requirements.

Lucy shared some of her experiences;

What were the highlights of the scheme?

I was offered work experience at Headway which I really enjoyed, insofar as I applied for a part-time job there and was successful. I am now working at Headway Devon 20 hours a week, which has been great having just finished my degree.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The work experience, as well as discussions with Holly, really helped me to gain an insight into the charity sector. Now employed in that sector, I feel more confident about working in the third sector, such as its demands, what skills are useful, and so on…

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

I would say that the amount that you put into the scheme is the amount that you will get out of it. Prepare properly for meetings and take the meetings seriously, otherwise you won’t get as much from it as you otherwise would. Respect your mentor. And finally, make sure you apply for a mentor or sector that you really are considering working in, otherwise you could waste your own as well as your mentor’s time.

Jessica, Advertising, Marketing and PR

Advertising Marketing and PR, English, ,

Jessica, doing a degree in English, needed advice and guidance into the Advertising, Marketing and PR sector. She participated in the Career Mentor Scheme and her mentor was Head of Sales and Marketing at the University of Exeter.

At the time the mentor’s main responsibilities were to maximise income and profitability through effective utilisation of space and service when not in use by staff and students and to develop and deliver business strategy across the team, identifying new opportunities and co-ordinating with other services.

Jessica McKenzie

Here is how her mentor’s support was helpful to Jessica:

How do you feel the career mentor scheme has helped you overall?

The scheme has helped me on a personal level; it has given me the confidence to apply and also interview for graduate positions, it has improved my knowledge of the marketing sector and has given me an idea of the career path I wish to take upon graduating. However, having a mentor has helped me on a very practical level; I was offered two weeks paid experience after my summer exams. Whilst this was not a reason for participating in the scheme, it enabled me to have a closer working relationship with my mentor. At the very least, I have made a valuable professional contact and it is these connections that will prove invaluable in my career.  

How do you feel the mentoring process has enhanced your employability?

I have signed a contract to begin a two year graduate scheme with Tesco this September, after completing a two month internship last summer. The confidence my mentor instilled in me to apply to such internships was really beneficial. I was initially worried that being an English student would mean I did not have the numerical aptitude to compete with the Economics and Maths students. But my mentor assured me I had other, equally useful skills and it was these that I tried to implement in my assessment centre. Her knowledge of what employers look for in candidates was really useful and this definitely helped in my preparation for assessment centres/ interviews.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The two weeks paid work experience was obviously a highlight, but not only for monetary perspective (it paid over half of my accommodation for my summer internship). It was a great insight into her career and it was particularly fascinating to see how the commercial side of the University is run in tangent with the academic. Apart from this, my mentor’s advice and support was really useful. Last year, I went a bit crazy applying for internships and work experience and my April I had been offered four placements, all of which I planned to take. My mentor kept reminding me to make sure I had time to relax and that to ensure I did not split my time too thinly; with hindsight this was the most useful advice anyone could have given me!

Why should students apply to have a mentor?

In this competitive job market students really need to know what they want to do before graduation, so having a mentor is a fantastic way to gain insight into a sector you are interested in. Just having somebody to talk to and listen to is incredibly useful in gaining this insight and planning a career beyond graduation. Even a few meetings can go a long was in determining what you want to do with your future. This can give you a higher level of confidence and insight when applying to graduate schemes, which can ultimately be the difference in you being offered a position – it worked for me!