Category Archives: Geography

Barnaby, Environment and Natural Resources

Agriculture Farming and Animal Care, Environment and Natural Resources, Geography, Science

Barnaby, Geography student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to develop confidence with attending interviews and gain an understanding of working in this sector. Through the scheme, Barnaby was matched with a Biology graduate from the University of Exeter who is now an Associate Director at Atkins Plc.

Barnaby tells us more about his experience below:

What objectives did you achieve?

Barnaby achieved all of his objectives including:

  • Increased knowledge in finding internships and work experience in this sector
  • Improved personal development skills
  • Increased knowledge of sector entry requirements

Barnaby was also able to improve his understanding of key legislation affecting the industry.

What were your highlights of the scheme?

The noticeable increase in my confidence when attending job interviews, largely due to the unique insights into the sector my mentor was able to provide me.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The opportunity to ask industry specific questions about the application/interview process that would be difficult to ask while networking.

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

The scheme provided me with an amazing opportunity to gain unique insights into my desired industry, and helped me to stand out when attending interviews. I’d advise every student to take part in the scheme to gain new contacts and an understanding from professionals who have been there before.

 

Emily, Management and Consultancy

Geography, Management and Consultancy

Emily, Geography student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain real world advice and insight into the different job roles that exist. She also wanted to build a network and develop her CV. Through the scheme, Emily was paired with a Business Economics graduate from the University of Exeter who is now a Management Consultant at Accenture with over six years’ experience in the consulting sector.

Emily tells us more about her experience below:

What objectives did you achieve?

Emily achieved all of her objectives including:

  • Increased knowledge of effective application forms in this sector
  • Improved knowledge of further education and professional courses related to this sector
  • Increased knowledge of good and bad aspects of the profession

What were your highlights of the scheme?

I really enjoyed getting a professionals perspective on my CV. It was interesting to see the changes my mentor made and the comments he had. I also enjoyed maintaining a relationship/ communication with my mentor, it is clear that my mentor is now a connection for life and if I ever need to reach out to them, I am more than welcome.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

My mentor gave a really honest insight into the world of consulting. This along with an internship helped me decide that perhaps it wasn’t the sector for me, and therefore the help my mentor gave me in making this decision was very helpful.

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

Really take your time to decide who you want and what you want them for. Some aren’t willing to give internship and work experience opportunities so don’t have your heart set on this. Think about the wider benefits they can give you.

Naomi, Education, Training and Research

Education Teaching and Research, Geography

Naomi, Geography student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to interact and learn from a current practicing teacher and find out more about how their career progressed. Through the scheme, Naomi was matched with a Teacher of Mathematics at Charterhouse. This mentor teaches students across ages 13 to 18, include IGCSE, Cambridge Pre U and IB diploma.

“Anybody considering applying to the scheme should do so”

Naomi achieved all of her objectives including to learn more about teaching in different types of schools, such as independent and state-sector, receiving academic support and increasing knowledge of finding internships and work experience in this sector.

Naomi shared her experience:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

The highlight of my time during the scheme has to be the honest and real insight into teaching I gained from my mentor. She discussed the highs and lows of the job with me, not to scare me but to make me aware of all the different aspects of teaching that I must consider. I can use this knowledge to develop suitable skills before I start applying for my PGCE and teaching positions. My mentor was lovely and always more than happy to answer any of my questions and help me with my CV. She is extremely personable and really well suited to the role of being a mentor.

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

The Career Mentor Scheme is an extremely worthwhile venture and anybody considering applying to the scheme should do so. Personally, I think the biggest benefit of being a mentee is having the opportunity to gain a real and honest insight into a career/job that you are hoping to get into, the highs and lows. This is really important when developing skills that will strengthen job applications and interviews. My mentor was extremely friendly and was always happy to answer any questions I had and advise me on my CV. I had a really good experience with the Career Mentor Scheme and now feel more prepared for a career in teaching.

Koren, Politics and Government

Geography, Politics and Government

Koren, Geography student, was interested in a career in politics and government and so applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain confidence in graduate applications and gain an understanding of what a government career entails. Through the scheme, Koren was matched with the Bill and Policy Lead for Scotland Office, UK Government. This mentor’s main responsibilities is managing the Scotland Bill which involves regularly briefing Ministers, engaging with stakeholders and the media.

“I have learnt how to effectively demonstrate the key skills”

Koren has achieved all of her objectives including improved personal development skills, knowledge of effective interview techniques in sector and received help with her CV.

What were your highlights of the scheme?

I now feel a lot more confident when I apply for graduate jobs, and I have learnt how to effectively demonstrate the key skills and attributes that are required in my chosen sector. I was also very impressed with the commitment that my mentor demonstrated to answering any questions that I had and proofreading job and internship applications. My mentor has also continued to help me even though the scheme has now finished, so I believe that this scheme has given me a really valuable contact that I would not have had otherwise.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The opportunity to speak to someone with experience in my chosen sector, learning about Civil Service interview techniques and how to answer interview questions effectively.

Victoria, Financial Markets and the City

Financial Markets and the City, Geography

Victoria, Geography student, was interested in a career in Financial Markets and so applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain insight into the industry. Through the scheme, Victoria was matched with a Partner in Corporate Finance for KPMG who has previously worked as Head of European Project Finance for HSBC.

“There is nothing to lose”

Victoria achieved all of her objectives including to utilise her 8 week internship most effectively in order to be considered for a graduate role at the end of it, increase her knowledge of job hunting resources and increase her knowledge of effective application forms.

Victoria shared her experience in more detail:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

My mentor was great at supporting me throughout. Most significantly, having someone to discuss work-related topics that isn’t in your field really helps – it gives an outsiders view. He was great at supporting me in making decisions whilst I was working and gave me contacts to discuss insurance related products. Moreover, having my mentor to discuss work related topics means that I was kept on my toes and kept focused.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Having someone to discuss work-related topics to, someone who has so much information about work environments and can provide insights into sectors.

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

University is fundamentally about getting qualifications to get a job afterwards – so be prepared and get an insight into a sector whilst at university, there is nothing to lose!

Noor, Charity and Development

Charity and Development Work, Geography

Noor, Geography student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to gain a better understanding of the Charity sector and have specific career related questions answered. Through the scheme, Noor was matched with the Chief Executive at The Haven. This mentor has also worked for the Royal Navy, Civil Service and Breast Cancer Haven.

“Take this opportunity and really engage with it”

Noor achieved all of her objectives, including a personal objective of gaining some understanding of the public sector which was achieved through meeting with her mentor and having in-depth conversations.

Noor shared her experience:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

The highlight for me was going to the workplace of my mentor for a face-to-face meeting. This gave me the opportunity to ask questions and for a conversation to flow much more naturally than it would have over the telephone.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I found the detailed insight into my chosen sector the most useful part of the experience.

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

Having a mentor not only allowed me to develop my potential in regard to employability but made me more confident in my own abilities. I feel, thanks to the career mentor scheme, I am now in a more advantageous position to be filling out applications and attending interviews. I would definitely advise future students considering the scheme to take this opportunity and really engage with it!

Nicola, Science

Geography, Science,

Nicola, a Geography student, was looking for guidance through the job hunting and applying process, along with building a professional . Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Nicola was matched with the Head in the Centre for Research Services for Forest Research, the researching agency of the Forestry Commission. This mentor has many qualifications including BA Geography, MSc Environment Forestry, PhD Remote Sensing of Forests and Fellow Institute of Chartered Foresters.

“A valuable experience which I fully enjoyed”

Nicola achieved all of her objectives including receiving help with postgraduate education choices and the application process, widening her contacts and networking opportunities and increased knowledge of good and bad aspects of the profession.

Nicola shared her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

  • Gaining an insight into the Forestry Commission, including a tour of the research centre.
  • Help with gaining an internship in Iceland through advice from career mentor in a subject related to my academic dissertation.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

  • Postgraduate advice
  • Insight into possible future profession
  • Help with gaining an internship

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

I would express the importance of always staying in contact with your mentor, and using the opportunity fully. For example visiting the work place and asking questions about their work. This was a valuable experience which I fully enjoyed and appreciated.

Olivia, Education, Teaching and Research

Education Teaching and Research, Geography, , ,

Olivia, a Geography student, wanted to gain insight into the teaching sector and thereby begin to develop the relevant skills for this profession. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Olivia was matched with a Geography Co-Ordinator for KS3 and KS4 at Gravesend Grammar School. Through this mentor’s role, he coordinates the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, monitors student progress and develops schemes of work.

“Advice that was specifically tailored to me”

Olivia achieved all of her objectives including increased her knowledge of the career by conducting a careers mentor interview, received academic support and increased knowledge of finding internships and work experience in this sector.

Olivia shared her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

The scheme was very beneficial to me, especially in helping me to gain information about many different ways into teaching and my careers mentor helped me a lot by providing many resources on this.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into my chosen profession and resources to help me into this. Also advice that was specifically tailored to me rather than just general advice about the sector.

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

The career mentor scheme is hugely beneficial in giving students the chance to get one to one advice from a professional that has been in their position.

Olivia, Advertising, Marketing and PR

Advertising Marketing and PR, Geography, , ,

Olivia, a Geography student, had carried out multiple work experience placements in a variety of sectors but wanted to learn more about the possibilities of employment with a BA Geography degree. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Olivia was matched with a Senior Business Development Executive for Pinsent Masons, International Law firm. This mentor’s previous work experience includes BD Assistant and Admissions and Communications Officer.

“It opens your eyes into the world of work and applications”

Olivia achieved many objectives including how to write professionally, maintaining contact with people, and improved her knowledge of further education related to this sector.

Here is what Olivia thought about the scheme:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

They sent me their CV which meant that I could use this as a template when writing mine and they gave me good and useful constructive feedback on my CV.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into the profession and understanding what a Geography BA from the University of Exeter can enable you to do.

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

Do it because it opens your eyes into the world of work and applications and really allows you to learn about different work sectors.

James, Logistics, Supply Chain and Operations

Geography, Logistics Supply Chain and Operations, , , , ,

James, a Geography student, was interested in a career in logistics and transport but was keen to build up a network of a variety of related industries such as Science and Aviation before pursuing one career path. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, James was matched with the Deputy Director of High Performance Computing Programme at the Met Office. He has a BSc in Mathematics and an MSc in Operational Research. This mentor works with super computers, ensuring funding delivers the given socio-economic benefit target.

“1 on 1 conversations about many aspects of finding a career”

James achieved many of his objectives including an understanding of how to deal with tests that you often undergo when starting a new job, widened contacts and networking opportunities and received help to improve his CV.

James shared his experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

Having 1 on 1 conversations with my mentor about many aspects of finding a career and personal development.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into professions and networking opportunities