Robert, Politics and International Relations student, applied to the Career Mentor Scheme to develop general employability skills after attending a variety of career zone talks which introduced him to areas such as constructing cover letters and impressing at interview. Through the scheme, Robert was matched with a Social Studies graduate from the University of Exeter, who is an elected Leader at Hampshire County Council.

Robert tells us more about his experience below:

What were your highlights of the scheme?

I am eternally grateful for the work experience opportunity that I was afforded during my scheme. Having the chance to experience life in local government was a truly enriching experience and I was given a varied experience by those who were supervising me; they allowed me to attend meetings and training shops in addition to gaining experience in doing some of the work that typically goes on.

The people were central to my enjoyment, with the whole department making me feel welcome in what was a new working environment for me. I would like to thank my mentor for not only offering this interning place, but for also meeting with me privately on many occasions to talk personal development and to chat about developments in Hampshire.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

• Work experience
• Networking opportunities
• Greater insight into the sector
• Greater awareness of future pathways into the field of work
• Assimilation of new knowledge

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

Know what you want from the experience before you apply, if its work experience, look for mentors who offer that. The scheme is tailored to what you need and should be a unique experience based on what you want. Don’t panic if other mentees are doing it differently – they will have different goals.