Tag Archives: Geography

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.

graduation-1311237

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.

Emma, Purchasing and Procurement

Geography, Purchasing and Procurement, , ,

Emma participated in the Career Mentor Scheme during her second year. Interested in purchasing and procurement, Emma was matched with a procurement officer for Cornwall Council. This mentor, an alumnus of the University of Exeter, is interested in sustainability, environmental management and climate change. At the council, his main responsibilities were developing and delivering the Council’s Responsible Procurement Programme which governed how the council considered agendas such as environmental sustainability, safeguarding and equality and diversity in their purchasing. At the time, he was also working on the procurement of Children’s Social Care Services and had launched the Cornwall Supplier Development Programme.

Both Emma and her mentor felt that their main objectives had been achieved through the scheme. Emma felt her confidence in applying for graduate jobs had grown, she had successfully developed professional contacts and gained an insight into the field. This mentor felt that he had given back to the university through the scheme and was pleased to have facilitated her work experience at TFL.

Headshot(eb457)

Emma shared some insights into the ways in which the scheme was beneficial to her:

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I enjoyed being able to visit my mentor at his place of work as I was able to get a feel of his working environment and meet colleagues in relevant sectors to discuss potential career opportunities.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Through my mentor I have acquired two weeks work experience at Transport for London (TFL) in June and so hope that this will be one of the most useful outcomes of my mentoring experience. Also the recommendation to go to IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) networking events has been another useful outcome of this mentoring experience.

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

The career mentor scheme provides a unique and invaluable opportunity to engage with a professional within a sector of the job market which interests you. It is a way of gaining an ‘inside account’ of what skills you will need, what employers look for in applicants and also the upsides and downsides of working in such a sector. Not only this but there is the chance that your mentor may be able to provide you with some form of work experience, something which is greatly valued in the current job market. I would therefore strongly recommend taking this opportunity.

 

Rebecca, Education, Teaching and Research

Education Teaching and Research, Geography,

Rebecca applied to the Career Mentor Scheme in order to get guidance and advice about getting into Education, Teaching and Research. Her mentor was a Geography Teacher at Rookwood School. This mentor is an Exeter alumnus who has had a wide variety of experiences in the industry. Prior to joining Rookwood School she was a Geography Teacher at George Stephenson High School Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Apart from achieving all objectives Rebecca had set, such as developing professional contacts and preparing for the next steps after graduation, she also managed to see what teaching on a daily basis is like by visiting her mentor at her school and learning more about the profession from Hannah.

black-and-white-1423545

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I really enjoyed visiting the school, I sat in in some lessons and was really able to understand what it is like to teach a lesson, and everything else that goes with it. Visiting a school other than the one I went to also helped me to see how different schools operate, and overall I really enjoyed the experience.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I wanted to gain insight into teaching, and I definitely achieved that. My mentor was able to show me all of the work she does on a daily basis, from planning a lesson through to teaching it. This was incredibly useful as I was able to learn what it really takes to be teacher, which has helped to guide my work experience and internship choices to see if I am suited to the job.

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

Taking part in the career mentor scheme is such a valuable experience; not only did it give me a brilliant networking opportunity, but it also allowed me an insight into my chosen profession that is so difficult to find elsewhere.

“Really good to keep in touch via email – asking and answering emails -felt that I got to know Becky.  It was also great that she got to come to my school and meet with me in the work environment.” – Rebecca’s Mentor

Alexandra, Media, Publishing and Journalism

Geography, Media Publishing and Journalism, , , ,

Alexandra was interested in going into Media, Publishing and Journalism. A Geography student she decided to apply to the Career Mentor Scheme in the second term of her first year. She was successfully matched with Assistant Editor at BBC Radio Cornwall.

interview-1478239

This mentor provided a lot of support and guidance to Alexandra. Apart from achieving personal development, such as improving her confidence, Alexandra also obtained help with application forms, developed professional contacts and got an insight into the good and bad aspects of the sector.

Were there any other objectives you achieved?

More commercial awareness of radio industry, observation of the different ways shows are presented and produced.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

  • Visiting BBC Radio Cornwall and being trusted to go out into the public, record sound clips and edit them together to be played on the radio. 
  • Being allowed to be in the same room when the news was being read out live.
  • Sitting with the producer during a call in show, learning how the technology worked as well as customer service skills.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Real life work experience; the opportunity to see a working radio station throughout various points of the day, what the staff do, the different jobs/positions they have and the efficiency of running from one show to the next.

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

You really get an insight into a career and gain invaluable knowledge and contacts.

Her mentor said:

“Meeting such enthusiastic, clever youngsters and assisting them in their future development [was the highlight of the scheme for me]!”

James, Purchasing and Procurement

Geography, Purchasing and Procurement,

Between May of his penultimate and October of his final year James was mentored by Procurement Officer at Cornwall Council. This mentor has a variety of experiences in the Purchasing and Procurement sector. He has previously worked as a Project Manager at Heart of Borneo Project and as a Project Officer at the Cornwall Development Company.

american-west-from-the-air-1370322

Here is what James shared with us about the benefits of the scheme to his career development.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

  • Getting to understand first hand the work undertaken by my mentor and seeing how he dealt with certain problems.
  • A good understanding of what the next stage is after University.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Having someone to guide me through the graduate scheme application stage.

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

Definitely do it as having someone to push you will mean you make quicker progress when looking for a job.

His mentor said:

“It’s been great to work with a mentee who is a little less confident, to try and grow his confidence.”

Joshua, Mining, Environment and Natural Resources

Environment and Natural Resources, Geography, ,

Joshua, second year Geography student was matched with the Head of Energy & Environment at Bicton College.

This mentor has previously worked as a Section Leader Environment & Sustainability and Founding Associate at Catalys. Prior to that he was Head of Energy & Carbon Policy at West Midlands Development Agency and Partnership Development Manager at East Midlands Development Agency.

Screen Shot 2015-12-01 at 14.58.31

Joshua had some really positive feedback to give on the ways in which the scheme was beneficial to him:

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Massively improved application techniques and had far higher success rate than prior to the scheme.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Someone in my desired sector who could give me information and tailor my applications to what companies desire from candidates. 

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

Definitely apply for somebody within your desired career sector, they can provide you with both insight and personalised application tips for that sector.

 

 

Rosie, Advertising, Marketing and PR

Advertising Marketing and PR, Geography, , ,

Rosie participated in the Career Mentor Scheme in her final year of studying Geography. She was interested in getting into the Advertising, Marketing and PR industry and was thus matched with a Strategy Director at BBH London.

This mentor graduated from Exeter with an English Literature degree in 2005 and has gained a variety of experiences at a number of organisations, including working as a Planner at Lowe for 3 years, as Head of Planning at Edelman for 20 months and then as a Planner at Anomaly. In 2013 he started as a Senior Planner at M&C Saatchi, where he spent over a year and then moved on as a freelance planner at Nonsense London.

rosie

Rosie informed us of the way the Career Mentor Scheme helped her.

She achieved various job hunting objectives, amongst which finding work experience, and personal development objectives, such as getting help in improving her CV. She also increased her knowledge of the entry requirements for the Advertising, Marketing and PR sector and learned more about what the good and bad aspects of the profession are.

Were there any other objectives you achieved?

Better understanding of different levels/sizes of marketing/advertising agencies.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Meeting with my mentor in person, whilst emailing was an effective form of communication, meeting was a more personal experience.

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

It is definitely a rewarding and worthwhile experience. It is very straightforward to apply for, and there are many potential benefits to gaining a first-hand insight into your industry of choice.