Lucas, a second year Geography student, was interested in Science and Geography. He was assigned the Head of Centre for Research at the Forestry Commission in Farnham. This mentor graduated from Exeter in 1998 with a BA (Hons) in Geography. From there he went on to further study an MSc in Environmental Forestry and then a PhD in Remote Sensing of Forests. He has been working at the Forestry Commission in the department of forestry research since 2007 where he has worked his way to the post of Head of Communications and Operations.

Lucas said that he achieved the objectives he was hoping for in taking part in the Career Mentor Scheme.

• It improved and required management skills, it was down to Lucas to set up and organise meetings with his mentor at a time that was suitable for both of them
• The mentor scheme improved the students confidence for seeking graduate level employment and gave guidance to help prepare for the next steps after University
• The mentor scheme gave a useful insight into the profession with helpful advice on good/bad aspects of a career from someone in the know
• Useful to understand if your current career ideas are right for you and how you can go about getting into that career

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

• Meeting with someone who is employed in the field you are interested in to give you useful insights and information about the career field to explain real life positives and negatives
• Having someone to discuss your future career with is very useful with someone asking specific questions about what sort of business size and team dynamic is important to define exactly what direction you want to go in and what kind of company is most suitable for you
• Expanding network and encouraging and helping student to find internship opportunities
• Mentor discussing University work with student and discussing ideas and progress to help with perspective of degree in career path

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Getting advice on the career I wished to go into from someone in the know and the wealth of resources and people I could talk to about career opportunities.