Tag Archives: Media

Annie, Media, Publishing and Journalism

8th Mar, 2018English, Media Publishing and JournalismBBC, Broadcasting, English, journalism, Media, TVpac217

Annie, an English student, was interested in a career in TV Broadcasting and wanted to use the scheme to answer questions she had regarding the industry and learn how to create an extensive professional network that would open up further employment opportunities. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Annie was matched with the Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC South West. This role involves researching, preparing, writing and presenting new stories for three channels of media: radio, television and online. This mentor has also worked as Deputy News Editor for BBC South West, News Reporter for ITV and as a Radio Newsreader and Presenter.

“An unparalleled insight”

Annie achieved all of her objectives including widening her contacts and professional network, receiving help to improve her CV and knowledge of application forms to increase her chance of gaining internships and graduate roles.

Annie shared her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

Finding out the type of person my mentor’s company would be looking to employ, successfully gaining a job with the invaluable help from my mentor

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Just getting more information about the industry and company from someone so experienced

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

Do it because you will gain an unparalleled insight into the working life of someone within your chosen industry.

Yasmin, Media, Publishing and Journalism

8th Mar, 2018English, Media Publishing and JournalismEnglish, journalism, Media, Publishingpac217

Yasmin, an English student, was interested in pursuing a career in publishing. She wanted to learn more about the typical day in this industry, tasks an editor would complete and how to be successful in such as competitive industry. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Yasmin was matched with a Content Executive for Lyst. This role involves writing and researching daily online fashion content, social media management and attending events such as Fashion Week. This mentor has also worked for M&S Press Office, ASOS, Sunday Times Style Magazine, Vogue and InStyle.

“Planning for the future is invaluable”

Yasmin achieved all of her objectives including receiving general support with getting into this area of work, increased her knowledge of sector entry requirements and improved her knowledge of further educational and professional courses related to the sector.

Yasmin shared some insight into her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

Just having a contact is invaluable

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight/contact

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

Insight is invaluable. Contacts are invaluable. Planning for the future is invaluable. You never know where life might take you.

Alice, Media, Publishing and Journalism

8th Mar, 2018Biosciences, Media Publishing and JournalismBBC, Bioscience, Mediapac217

Alice, a Biological Sciences student, knew that she wanted to pursue a career with the BBC and so applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to improve her applications and learn more about working there. Through the scheme, Alice was paired with the Assistant Editor for BBC Radio Cornwall. Her responsibilities include the day to day running of the BBC Radio Cornwall, overseeing staffing and campaigns, and programming.

“This is an opportunity not to be missed”

Alice achieved all of her objectives including received advice on application forms for work experience, increased knowledge of sector entry requirements and received work experience within the media sector.

Alice talked about her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

Receiving feedback on my CV face to face was invaluable. The advice was directed towards the work experience I was trying to gain from somebody who knew what the application process was like.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

CV advice and job shadowing

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

Do it! If you know what you want to achieve (i.e. job or work experience) and there is a mentor that suits you then this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Phoebe, Media, Publishing and Journalism

8th Mar, 2018Media Publishing and Journalism, Modern LanguagesFrench, journalism, Languages, Media, Publishing, Spanishpac217

Phoebe, a French and Spanish student, was interested in a career in the Publishing sector but wanted to learned more about distinguishing herself from other graduates, begin networking and growing her confidence. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, Phoebe was matched with a Digital Feature Editor for GQ Plus and a Freelance Writer for the Times, Glamour, Brides, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce magazines. This mentor has also worked as a Senior Writer for Top Gear Magazine and written for The Observer and the Telegraph.

“The ideal opportunity to delve deeper into a particular sector”

Phoebe achieved many objectives including insight into possible master qualifications in Journalism, increased knowledge of sector entry requirements and received help in improving her CV..

Phoebe discussed her experience:

What were the highlights of the scheme?

The ability to have an honest opinion from somebody already working in the sector I intend to enter after graduation.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Further insight into advantages and disadvantages of career
How to progress after graduation in terms of finding internships and applying for jobs

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

The scheme provides the ideal opportunity to delve deeper into a particular sector/insight into the working world.

Jack, Media, Publishing and Journalism

31st Mar, 2017Media Publishing and Journalism, Politics and International RelationsBBC, journalism, Media, politics, TVBozhana Miteva

Jack, a second year Politics student, interested in Media, Publishing and Journalism was assigned a mentor who is the Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC South West, based in Exeter.

This mentor graduated with a Natural Sciences degree in 1990 and went onto do a Postgraduate diploma in Broadcast Journalism. Previous to his current position at the BBC he was a Deputy News Editor and before that he worked as an ITV news reporter.

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Jack said that he felt he’d achieved his objectives through the Career Mentor Scheme. The following are a few that he mentioned:

It improved my confidence to seek graduate level employment and helped to prepare me for my next steps after graduation
It improved my personal skills needed for graduate employment
The scheme developed my professional contacts and networking opportunities as well as making a professional contact with my mentor
I gained an insight into the profession/sector as well as receiving advice and tips for applications and CVs
Gained academic support from mentor for degree programme

What was the highlight of the scheme for you?

Meeting with my mentor was both enjoyable and insightful. Having him as my mentor was a huge highlight in itself!

When we asked Jack for his feedback he said he’d like to stay in contact with his mentor after the scheme had finished and would recommend the Career Mentor Scheme to a friend.

We spoke to Jack’s mentor who said that some of the highlight of the scheme for him was:

“Meeting and getting to know an excellent, highly motivated young man who wanted to do his best in the world and being able to help in that.”

Flora, Media, Publishing and Journalism

20th Mar, 2017English, Media Publishing and JournalismEnglish, GQ, journalism, magazine, Media, work experienceBozhana Miteva

In the beginning of her second year Flora successfully applied to the Career Mentor Scheme and was as a result matched with a Features Editor at GQ. After graduating from a Sociology degree at the University of Exeter, this mentor was first a freelance journalist, writing for the Telegraph, the Observer, Classic Cars and Autocar. Between 2011 and 2014 he was a Senior Writer at BBC’s Top Gear Magazine.

The mentoring partnership was really helpful to Flora. She received help from her mentor with application forms, learned more about the next steps after graduation and developed her networking opportunities. This mentor also managed to arrange some work experience for her at GQ.

What was the highlight of the scheme for you?

My main highlight – work experience at GQ – is yet to take place. I will be working with my mentor for those 2 weeks during August.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I’ve gained an insight into journalism, and my mentor has been particularly keen to help me prepare for my application to do an MA in Journalism.

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

It’s an excellent way of gaining an insight into your chosen sector.

Holly, Media, Publishing and Journalism

9th Mar, 2017History, Media Publishing and Journalism, Politics and International Relationshistory, journalism, Media, politics, Publishing, TV, Warner BrosBozhana Miteva

Holly was studying History and Politics and was looking for guidance into the Media, Publishing and Journalism sector. She applied to the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with a Rights Administrator at Warner Bros. This mentor’s main responsibilities include managing the pre and post-sales administration of deals including output and volume agreements. negative-1531346

Holly had an amazing experience being mentored. She achieved every single objectives she had set at the beginning of their partnership, including gaining professional experience to put on her CV and obtaining help with application forms.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

My highlights from this scheme was the work experience that my mentor helped me to get at Lionsgate. I spent the week helping various departments and also shadowing my mentor.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

My mentor’s insight into the TV and Film industry was one of the most helpful parts of the scheme for me. However, the work experience I did at Lionsgate where he works was really interesting and helpful. The CV and application advice was also very helpful.

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

This is the best opportunity to get a real-life insight into the career you’re interested in.

The highlight for the mentor was:

“Having my mentee to do some work experience with my company was great – especially as she proved herself to be friendly and hardworking.”

Alexandra, Media, Publishing and Journalism

27th Feb, 2017Geography, Media Publishing and JournalismBBC, Geography, journalism, Media, RadioJoanna Louise McCreedie

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.

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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]!”

Hannah, Media, Publishing and Journalism

27th Feb, 2017English, Media Publishing and JournalismEnglish, Hospitality, MediaJoanna Louise McCreedie

Between May of her penultimate year and October of her final year, English student Hannah participated in the Career Mentor Scheme and was mentored by a Consultant at Project Unleash. The mentor’s main responsibilities at the time of their partnership included being a consultant, a coach and a business trainer specialising in media and hospitality industries.

Her mentor really helped guide Hannah in the Media, Publishing and Journalism sector. She gave us an insight to the advantages of the scheme to her career path.

feel-not-1315297 What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Highlight was meeting my mentor and having really productive meetings which had open discussions that allowed me to make positive, well informed decisions about how to approach my future career plans.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Learning about the industry of my interest from someone with actual experience and valuable advice that has helped me be more definitive in my future career plans/goals. Also, genuinely gaining a respectful working relationship with an industry professional has helped my confidence and networking prospects.

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

The best way to learn is through experience, and the career mentor scheme allows you to gain invaluable insight from others experiences and definitely gives you a kick start into your career search!