Tag Archives: education

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.

Huijian, Education, Training and Research

Education Teaching and Research, Modern Languages, , ,

Huijian, a TESEOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) student, was interested in a career in teaching and wanted help to improve her English teaching skills and classroom management. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Huijian was matched with a retired Head teacher with employment history as a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for the Yellow Pages and Education Manager at Young Offenders Institute. This mentor has a Certificate in Education and a National Professional Qualification for Headship.

“I got the job I want in China by the end of this scheme”

Huijian was able achieve all of her objectives including improving her professional skills, such as designing a lesson, classroom management and was able to observe a lesson given by her mentor.

Huijian shared her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

The knowledge and experience I gained from the scheme was helpful in my job application. I got the job I want in China by the end of this scheme.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

More confidence and understanding the commitment of being a teacher.

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

The scheme will be a great help to your career if you are willing to take advice and use them.

Megan, Education

Education Teaching and Research,

Megan, Geography student, was interested in a career in Environmental Education after carrying out work experience with the Essex Widelife Trust. Through the Career Mentor Scheme she was matched with the Managing Director of Exeter Outdoors Ltd. He has a wide variety qualifications such as a PGCE, Adventure Activity and Outdoor Education and Safeguarding. This mentor’s previous employment includes Team Leader and Co-ordinator for NEET courses at Exeter College and Outdoor Education Teacher and Behaviour Centre Manager at St James School.

“Great insight into the sector and an understanding of what more I need to do in order to enter it”

Megan achieved all of her objectives including increased knowledge of job hunting resources in this sector, gaining and understanding of what she needed to do next to enter the sector and received work experience.

Megan’s highlights of the scheme were being able to meet with her mentor and shadow him at work. She shared some insights of her experience:

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

  • Networking with the employees at Exeter Outdoors
  • On my shadow day speaking to parents of children and seeing the benefits for the children of attending Forest school.
  • Great insight into the sector and an understanding of what more I need to do in order to enter it

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

That university is a great time to test the waters of potential career paths and see what’s a good fit and the career mentor scheme offers an opportunity to do just that.

Katherine, Education, Training and Research

Education Teaching and Research, Geography, , ,

Katherine, a Geography student, applied to the scheme to gain an understanding of what she needed to achieve in the Education sector and improve employability. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Katherine was matched with a Geography Teacher and Head of Department at Rookwood School. This mentor is also a Chartered Geographer, a fellow of the Royal Geography Society and qualified in PGCE Secondary Geography. Her main responsibilities include organising and implementing field trips, teaching key stage 3 and 4, and looking after her tutor group.

“Insight into job prospects that you wouldn’t consider.”

Katherine achieved all of her objectives including increased awareness of other job prospects after university, evaluating the benefits of travelling after graduation and received academic support.

Katherine discussed her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

It was really useful to see what other graduates had done in the years after university

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I found help on my CV the most useful aspect.

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

It is a great opportunity to gain an insight into job prospects that you wouldn’t consider.

Asri, Education, Training and Research

Education Teaching and Research, , ,

Asri, a M.Ed TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to learning more about teaching and training strategies, experiences and methods. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Asri was matched with a self-employed Education Consultant and Freelance Musician. His previous job roles include National Coordinator of Applied Learning and Vocational Education Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, Head of Applied Learning Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and Teacher Trainer for the Open University.

“I can share my dreams as well as learning from my mentor.”

Asri achieved all of her objectives including learning from the mentor’s experience about the field interest in, received work experience and job shadowing thereby increasing her knowledge of sector entry requirements.

What were the highlights of the scheme?

I could network in Exeter related to my job field. I had contact with teachers and some schools as well.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I got an idea of how the job that I want is implemented in UK, and I can share my dreams as well as learning from my mentor.

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

Students have to really sure that they have enough time to manage their mentoring program with their assignments, so that the program will work well.

Asri intends to stay in contact with her mentor beyond the scheme and would recommend the scheme to a friend.

Emily, Education, Training and Research

Education Teaching and Research, History, , , ,

Emily, a History and German student, was interested in studying for a PGCE and working in the teaching profession. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Emily was matched with the Headteacher of Ratcliffe College, an independent school, with previous employment including Senior Deputy Head of Kingswood School and Assistant Director of Reading Blue Coat School. This mentor is also studying for his Phd at Sheffield, alongside achieving a variety of qualifications prior.

“This is an excellent scheme to participate with as it gives you impartial support and understanding”

Emily achieved all of her objectives including increased knowledge of finding internships and work experience in this sector, increased knowledge of good/bad aspects of the profession and increased knowledge of effective application forms in the education sector.

Emily shared her experience:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

Getting an insight into the positives of teaching and the mood of the profession in light of government involvement has been an interesting and informative experience. Just being able to speak to a teacher who had been in teaching at all levels was very rewarding and a highlight of the scheme for me.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I found insight into entering the profession and possibly looking at moving towards education policy useful.

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

If you’re looking for an insight into a profession you are interested in but uncertain about, this is an excellent scheme to participate with as it gives you impartial support and understanding. I found it to be a valuable experience but I would recommend further participants to engage themselves better than I did.

Charlotte, Education, Teaching, Research

Education Teaching and Research, Geography, ,

Charlotte undertook the Career Mentor Scheme in November 2014, during her first year at university. She is a geography student who was interested in pursuing a career in education and research, which allowed us to match her with the Head of Employability Services at the University of Exeter. This mentor’s main responsibility is to lead various teams through a period of significant change, to meet the professional development needs of 16,000 students and key staff groups, across 3 locations, to significantly improve graduate employment outcomes in order to place Exeter amongst the best UK universities for graduate skills development and employment.

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Through the scheme, Charlotte was able to get an insight into the profession she was interested in and obtained job hunting resources which helped her further determine the path of work, which she wanted to take upon graduation. She pointed out that finding out about both the good and bad aspects of the profession was really beneficial as well, and that she was able to build up her personal skills which will help her employability in the future.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I enjoyed meeting my mentor for the first time at the event organised by the Career Zone. There was a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere and it was a good way to get to know each other before fully taking part in the mentor experience.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I gained a lot of advice on how to develop my own personal skills and relate them to my professional development.

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

Don’t be afraid to be honest about what you want to gain out of the experience as you never know what expertise and knowledge your mentor may have beyond their current profession that could be of interest to you.

Harry, Education, Teaching and Research

Education Teaching and Research, English, ,

Harry, English student was matched with Head of Classics at Exeter College through the Career Mentor Scheme. This mentor teaches Classical Civilisation and Ancient History at AS and A2 level. He has previously also worked at the Open University and the University of Exeter, where he taught Ancient Greek.

Harry had a superb experience being mentored. The scheme helped him gather information about the entry requirements and the good and bad aspects of being a teacher. At the end of the partnership Harry also felt  better prepared to seek graduate level employment and he had developed professional contacts in the sector.

preschool-hands-on-activities-1565839

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Going to Exeter College to see my mentor teach and also being able to chat to some of the staff there was definitely a personal highlight.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into teaching as a career.

“The ability to be of real practical use to my mentee was the highlight for me.” – Harry’s mentor

Josephine, Education, Teaching and Research

Education Teaching and Research, Modern Languages, , , ,

Josephine wanted to get into the Education, Teaching and Research sector. Through the Career Mentor Scheme she was matched with Headteacher at Ratcliffe College.

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Being mentored really helped Josephine develop her career path.

My mentor helped me to consider different pathways into teaching and which was most suited to me.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

The advice my mentor gave me about what Head Teachers look for when employing staff was invaluable as he also encouraged me to further my personal development in order to stand out in the future.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The insight my mentor gave me into the interview and application process from the point of view of an employer.

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

Mentors can give you invaluable information about what employers look for and how you can make yourself stand out from the field.

The highlight of the scheme for the mentor was:

“Hearing my mentee report back with audible excitement on work experience she had undertaken at my advice, that reinforced her desire to entire the teaching profession.” 

Stephanie, Education, Teaching, Research

Education Teaching and Research, Philosophy, , , , ,

Stephania, a Philosophy and Theology student was interested in going into teaching and was mentored by a Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University.

After graduating with a Politics degree from Exeter and completing a PhD in History, this mentor became a Lecturer and then a Senior Lecturer at the Department of History.

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Stephanie shared insights about her experience. She achieved many objectives, such as improving her confidence to seek graduate level employment and getting academic support. She also got information about the good and bad aspects of the profession and made a future professional contact in her mentor.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Being coached on how to make a good LinkedIn page and join academia.edu

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Being able to learn about the requirements in the sector.

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

If you have any questions about what the future holds for you and your chosen career then the career mentor scheme is worth doing. I am now so much more aware of the path I have to go down in order to achieve what I am aiming for.