Category Archives: Degree Subject

Victoria, Retail

Business and Management, Retail, ,

During her second year Management with Marketing student Victoria was lucky enough to be matched with the CEO of the White Company.

This mentor has various professional experiences within Retail and Marketing. He has previously been President of MIM, who have 300 stores in France and Belgium and also a Group Managing Director of New Look Retailers.

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Victoria had an outstanding experience being mentored. She shared details of the ways in which she benefited from the scheme.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

The highlight for me was getting to work for The White Company as my part of my placement year. My mentor has been incredibly helpful and I cannot thank him enough.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The Career Mentor Scheme has provided me with invaluable experience. I was lucky enough to get the CEO of The White Company as my mentor. My mentor allowed me to participate in a work shadowing day where I saw different parts of marketing and how they run; from insight and analysis to multichannel and social media. I enjoyed this so much and knew this was somewhere I wanted to work in the future. Through the help and support of my mentor, I was able to work for The White Company as my placement year. I am continually learning on the job and feel I have really broadened my perspective and insight into the multi-faceted marketing industry.
My mentor has continually helped me to explore different parts of marketing even on my placement year, encouraging me to explore the world of PR and Social Media. My mentor is without a doubt a role model for me.

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

My advice to anyone thinking of applying to this scheme would be to go for it! If I hadn’t participated in this scheme I would not have broadened my skill-set during my year in industry as much as I have done at The White Company.

The highlight of the scheme for the mentor was:

“Victoria now has a clearer understanding of Marketing by [getting] real time paid experience“

 

 

Leah, Charity and Development Work

Charity and Development Work, Psychology, ,

Between May of her penultimate year and October of her final year, Leah, doing Psychology was mentored by a Fundraising and Communications Manager at Headway Devon.SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA

Leah shared some insights from the scheme with us.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

My highlight was meeting my mentor in person, and being able to discus my career options, and gain insight a specific sector.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

It was really useful to gain personal feedback on my CV and to practice application forms.

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

The Career Mentor Scheme is really worthwhile, and I would urge all students to participate. It enabled me to receive personal feedback and advice for the future, gain an insight into the sector, and build a friendship with my mentor.

Oliver, Banking and Financial Services

Banking and Financial Services, History, , ,

Oliver, a History student participated in the Career Mentor Scheme and his mentor was a Global Head of Equities & Strategy at Jupiter Asset Mgmt.

This mentor has previously held a variety of positions in his career. He started off as Fund Manager at Sun Alliance Insurance Group and then moved to Senior Portfolio Manager at Fleming & Co. In 1999 he became head of Japan Portfolios Group at JP Morgan Asset Management until in 2007 he became Chief Investment Strategist for EMEA at JP Morgan Private Bank. In 2011 he joined Caledonia Investments plc as Head of Global Equity Income & Growth Team before moving to Jupiter Asset Mgmt.

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Oliver had some really great feedback to give about the scheme. The mentoring partnership with his mentor helped him obtain job hunting resources and gain an insight into the career. He also developed professional contacts and learned more about the entry requirements.

What was the highlight of the scheme for you?

Meeting my mentor – this was beneficial in a way that is often hard to achieve simply via email.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

My mentor’s advise was very honest and showed me how best to approach a career in the sector from the position that I was in.

Katie, Management and Consultancy

English, History, Management and Consultancy, , , ,

Katie wanted to go into the Management and Consultancy sector. Through the Career Mentor Scheme she was matched with a Revenue Director at Microsoft. This mentor went into Management and Consultancy. His recent previous employment includes being a Head of Business Development at MSN Asia between 2008 and 2012 and Head of Commercial Partnerships between 2012 and 2014.

Katie benefited hugely from the mentoring partnership. She achieved all personal development and career development objectives, such as improving her listening and confidence building skills and receiving help with application forms.

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What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Learning about the Marketing sector from an experienced marketer.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Gaining useful contacts that have enabled me to secure work experience and a summer internship.

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

Don’t be afraid to ask your career mentor for something you want [i.e. work shadowing].

Josephine, Education, Teaching and Research

Education Teaching and Research, Modern Languages, , , ,

Josephine wanted to get into the Education, Teaching and Research sector. Through the Career Mentor Scheme she was matched with Headteacher at Ratcliffe College.

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Being mentored really helped Josephine develop her career path.

My mentor helped me to consider different pathways into teaching and which was most suited to me.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

The advice my mentor gave me about what Head Teachers look for when employing staff was invaluable as he also encouraged me to further my personal development in order to stand out in the future.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The insight my mentor gave me into the interview and application process from the point of view of an employer.

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

Mentors can give you invaluable information about what employers look for and how you can make yourself stand out from the field.

The highlight of the scheme for the mentor was:

“Hearing my mentee report back with audible excitement on work experience she had undertaken at my advice, that reinforced her desire to entire the teaching profession.” 

Anna, Science

Biosciences, Science, ,

Anna, a Biosciences student applied for the Career Mentor Scheme and was lucky enough to be matched with previously a Vice President of GSK. This mentor has a range of experiences with some of her previous employment includes Head of Pathology at Unilever, Scientific Director at Quintiles England and Director of Non-Clinical Development at Oxford GlycoSciences.

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Anna was really positive about the experience of being mentored and gave us some really great feedback.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I loved working with my mentor as she was very friendly and open to help about everything. All conversations and discussions with her were useful and relaxed.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Being supported by someone who is important in the field. It is good to know that someone who has already established themselves in that area is willing to help you do the same.

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

It is an amazing opportunity and I do not regret taking it. I met an amazing person, who helped me focus on what I need and realise what it is that I really want to achieve.

Jessica, Agriculture, Farming and Animal Care

Agriculture Farming and Animal Care, Biosciences, ,

Jessica was interested in going into Agriculture, Farming and Animal Care. A Zoology student she successfully applied to the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with Head of Marine Species Conservation at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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Jessica shared some details with us on the advantages of the scheme.

What was the highlight of the scheme for you?

The mock interview I had with my mentor in London.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Receiving help with my CV and creating competency based questions and answers.

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

Learnt so much from the experience would definitely recommend to anyone.

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.

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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]!”

Amy, Science

Medical Sciences, Science,

Between May of her first year and October of her penultimate year Amy, a student  doing Medical Sciences with Professional Training Year was matched with Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at the University.

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Their partnership achieved many objectives. It made Amy more confident and prepared for her next steps after graduation. Amy also gained an insight into further professional courses related to the sector and gathered information about the sector’s entry requirements.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Help discussing how to create an ideal CV and emailing through current copies, where my mentor proofread and gave me tips. My CV is fully up to date and I have used it to gain a part time job, and in applications for a profession training year.

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

An excellent tool for improving CV and getting help with application forms. A great way to hear the ins and outs of a particular field from a professional. You may discover whether their line of work is something you could be interested in and find out the requirements for achieving the position.

Nick, Politics and Government

law, Politics and Government,

Law student Nick participated in the Career Mentor Scheme, and his mentor was Head of International and EU Law at the Attorney General’s Office.

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Nick shared more details about the success of his mentoring partnership with us.

What was the highlight of the scheme for you?

Visiting my mentor at Downing Street.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

My mentor was exceptionally helpful in assisting me with guidance for a future legal career. He has given me the opportunity to meet a number of his colleagues, both in and out of Government. Without his help, I doubt I would have been able to decide on a particular career path.

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

The Career Mentor Scheme has given me such a unique opportunity and opened many more options that I never knew were possible. As a result of the CMS, I was able to visit my Mentor at No. 10 and also meet a number of his colleagues who have offered me work experience and further connections. I would urge every student to apply for the CMS as you never know where it may lead you!