Tag Archives: international relations

Joel, Defence and Public Protection

Defence and Public Protection, Politics and International Relations, , ,

Joel was interested in a career in Defence and Public Protection and wanted to get an insight into the profession. He therefore applied to be mentored by a Civil Servant at the Ministry of Defence. Working at the Ministry of Defences since 2003, at the time of their partnership this mentor’s main responsibilities related to project management, ministerial and parliamentary business and International Relations.

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Joel had set a number of ambitious objectives at the beginning of the scheme and managed to achieve all of them, including gaining work experience and developing his interview techniques.

What was the highlight of the scheme for you?

Going to the Ministry of Defence in Bristol for work experience was very enlightening.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Work experience, networking and understanding what it takes to get the job that I want and other non-academic skills I would need.

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

Use every opportunity you get to learn, from their mistakes and successes.

Gemma, Charity and Development Work

Charity and Development Work, Politics and International Relations, , , , , ,

Gemma was interested in getting into Charity and Development Work. Studying towards a Politics and International Relations degree she applied for the Career Mentor Scheme and was as a result matched with a Fundraising (Development) Manager at the University of Exeter.

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Gemma found the mentoring partnership extremely helpful. She shared with us how the Career Mentor Scheme has helped her career development.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

The highlights of the scheme were gaining a real insight into the advantages and disadvantages of the not for profit sector, in particular the area of fundraising. My mentor was able to provide me with detailed information that is impossible to just find online. I was able to really consider what work experience I need to gain to prepare for my career and the steps required to gain a job.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I found that insight into the not for profit sector was the most useful aspect of the mentor scheme.

 

Helena, Management and Consultancy

Management and Consultancy, Politics and International Relations, , ,

An International Relations student Helena applied for the Career Mentor Scheme in order to get advice and guidance into the Management and Consultancy sector. Her mentor was the Managing Director at EFS Consultants.

After graduating from Exeter with a Politics degree, this mentor gained a variety of professional experiences. His previous employment includes being a Business Development Director at Citibank and Retail Banking Partner at Unisys.

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Hannah learned a lot about the sector through her partnership and achieved many objectives, such as having her CV proofread, gaining information about the sector entry requirements and making a future professional contact in her mentor.

Were there any other objectives you achieved?

I learnt more about how the sector was divided and how best to enter it.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

For me, one of the highlights was meeting my mentor in person and hearing both his advice and useful anecdotes.  I could not have obtained this kind of insight and information any other way.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Learning more about the industry and the day-to-day reality of what it is like to work as a consultant.

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

The Career Mentor Scheme is a highly valuable experience: not only does it give you the opportunity to make a lasting professional contact but it also opens up a source of sector-specific information that would otherwise be inaccessible.

 

“There is no substitute for a face to face meeting with no time limit. We met in a cafe in London and chatted  for three hours. Perfect.” – Martin Dale

Lavanyaa, Media, Publishing and Journalism

Media Publishing and Journalism, Politics and International Relations, , ,

Whilst in her second year, Politics and International Relations student Lavanyaa, who was looking to get into the Media, Publishing and Journalism sector was mentored by a freelance journalist.

This mentor graduated from Exeter with a Biology with Animal Behaviour degree, but then pursued a Journalism career. After working as an Essayist at the Kernel and as a Reporter at Real Business, he became a freelance journalist working for various organisations, such as New Scientist, Observer and Vice. This was also his position  at the time of his partnership with Lavanyaa and as such his main responsibilities were in technology and business journalism, copyediting, PR, research and client relations.

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Lavanyaa told us of her experience of the Career Mentor Scheme:

She improved her personal development skills and her knowledge of further professional courses related to the Journalism sector. She increased her knowledge of the sector entry requirements and found out more about the good and bad aspects of the profession. Furthermore, she learned how to write, to get inspired and how to source information and facts.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Learning about my mentor’s experiences, getting advice on my writing style, and learning how to write an article.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Learning how to pitch to editors and how to freelance.

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

Do it, it gives you a wealth of information particularly for professions like journalism that are hard to get into and there is no direct route.