Category Archives: Sport and Health Sciences

Sophie, Science

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At the end of her penultimate year Sports and Health Science student Sophie was matched with a previous Vice President of GSK.

This mentor’s range of experiences is extremely wide. Some of her previous employment includes Head of Pathology at Unilever, Scientific Director at Quintiles England and Director of Non-Clinical Development at Oxford GlycoSciences.purple-pills-1-1539648

Sophie had some excellent feedback to give about her experience of the scheme. She achieved every single objective she had set, including gaining professional experience to put on her CV and developing her interview techniques.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Really useful to guide me in the right direction and increase my confidence about my future.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into the sector and help with CV, covering letter etc. Very useful to talk through future plans with my mentor.

Her mentor said:

“It was so rewarding to share my experience”

Andrew, Healthcare and Wellbeing

Healthcare and Wellbeing, Sport and Health Sciences, , ,

In his final year Exercise and Sport Sciences student Andrew was looking for an insight into the Healthcare and Wellbeing sector. Through the Career Mentor Scheme he was matched with a Clinic Director at Flex Physical Health.

An Exeter graduate, this mentor has previously been employed at Devon and Cornwall Police as a Force Physiotherapist.

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Andrew discussed with us some of the advantages he felt the scheme gave him. He achieved all of his job hunting objectives such as improving his interview techniques and increasing his knowledge of finding work experience. Andrew also developed personal skills, such as confidence building and received help with his CV as well as academic support. What is more, Andrew received work experience and developed an understanding of the entry requirements for the sector. He found the insight into his chosen profession to be the most useful benefit from the Career Mentor Scheme.

Please let us know some of the highlights for you during the scheme.

Meeting with an established expert allowed me to discuss and uncover more information about their specific field and how to be successful in applying for jobs within it.

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

An insightful experience to communicate personally and informally with an expert in their field which you otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to do.

Kelly, Healthcare and Wellbeing

Healthcare and Wellbeing, Sport and Health Sciences, , ,

During her Paediatric Exercise and Health postgraduate study Kelly applied for a mentor in the Healthcare and Wellbeing sector. She was matched with a retired Chief Executive of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

This mentor has accomplished a Masters of Philosophy from Nottingham and a Masters of Science from Oxford after he graduated from Exeter.  He has also got a PhD from Sheffield. His previous employment includes working as a Trustee and Advisor for Sentebale charity and as a Deputy Chief Executive at Barnardo’s. He also worked as a Chief Executive at Thomas Coram Foundation.

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At the end of the six months, Kelly discussed with us the benefits of the scheme to her personally.

She achieved all job hunting, personal development and career objectives she had set to herself. An additional outcome she achieved was improving her presentation skills with the help of her mentor.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the career mentor scheme. It was so valuable to receive help and advice from a caring and friendly mentor. I feel that I have a vastly improved CV, in addition to gaining a wealth of advice in other areas including interview techniques and presentation skills.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The whole experience was useful! It was really helpful to receive guidance in compiling a strong CV and to create networks and contacts for both now and the future.

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

The career mentor scheme is such a fantastic opportunity that will prove beneficial in both the short and long term. You will have an opportunity to engage with a willing professional and receive a broad range of support, from learning how to compile an effective CV to gaining valuable contacts and networking opportunities. Simply just having somebody to discuss your thoughts with regarding both your current studies and future career is hugely beneficial. I would definitely recommend this scheme to all students, and the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it!

The highlight of the scheme for her mentor was:

“The opportunity to understand, a little more, the pressures experienced by university students in 2012 and to offer some support”

Felix, Leisure, Sport and Tourism

Leisure Sport and Tourism, Sport and Health Sciences,

Felix, a final year Exercise and Sport Science stydent, was looking to get into the Leisure, Sport and Tourism sector. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, he was matched with the Senior Development Manager at Active Devon.

This mentor has graduated from Exeter in 2003. Since 2005 he has held various roles within Active Devon and when he began mentoring Felix his main responsibility was managing and developing sport and physical activity participation programmes in Devon.

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After being supported and guided for a period of six months, Felix informed us of the advantages of the scheme to him apart from achieving all job hunting, personal development and career objectives which were set at the beginning.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Visiting my mentor’s workplace, learning about day-to-day activities and the position of the company within the sector. Getting involved with an ongoing project which provided first-hand experience of the work done by Active Devon [was another highlight].

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

What I found most useful was the insight I got into the sector and the work experience opportunity I was provided.

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

The Career Mentor Scheme is a great way to gain an insight into a career sector whilst offering the opportunity to build your network. The scheme is well-organised and definitely worth taking advantage of, if there is a suitable mentor that can add to your knowledge and experiences.