Category Archives: Degree Subject

Lisa, Law and Legal Services

English, History, Law and Legal Services, , ,

During her final year of doing an English Literature and History degree Lisa had many career paths she could go down. She successfully applied to be mentored by a solicitor at Umbricht Attorneys.

After graduating with a LLB degree from Exeter, this mentor started his career at Pritchard Englefield in London. Firstly, he was a Trainee solicitor and then an Assistant Solicitor there. He progressed in the firm eventually becoming a Head of German Group, responsible for German clients and a Partner before moving to Zurich, Switzerland.

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At the end of the scheme Lisa had some great things to share with us about the positives of the partnership!

What were the highlight of the scheme for you?

A highlight of the scheme has definitely been meeting my mentor at his offices, it was really wonderful to see how his firm operated and meet personally to discuss career options. The opportunity to receive one-to-one guidance was invaluable.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Work experience, network opportunities, insight into the chosen profession, and guidance on how to approach applications/emails.

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

The scheme is an absolutely amazing way to gain insight into a chosen career and receive professional guidance from an expert. It has really helped my job opportunities, make sure you take advantage of it.

Her mentor said:

“Meeting Lisa was invaluable!”

Emily, Law and Legal Services

History, Law and Legal Services,

In her third year, Emily, doing History, was mentored by an Associate  Solicitor at Trowers & Hamlins LLP, in the Real Estate, Housing and Regeneration sector.

At the end of the six-month mentoring partnership we got really positive feedback from Emily about the ways in which the scheme had helped her.

Emily received help from her mentor in effectively completing application forms for the Law sector and that was most useful to her in her job search. She also improved her interview techniques through the Career Mentor Scheme and improved her CV with the help of her mentor. On top of that, Emily managed to widen her contacts and find out more about the entry requirements in the Law industry.

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What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I enjoyed meeting trainees at my mentor’s work place, who were informative, friendly and offered great advice.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Helping with applications, and understanding what key words employers were looking for.

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

Definitely go for it, you don’t realise the amazing opportunities this scheme can offer you.

Sophie, Science

Science, Sport and Health Sciences, , ,

At the end of her penultimate year Sports and Health Science student Sophie was matched with a previous Vice President of GSK.

This mentor’s range of experiences is extremely wide. 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.purple-pills-1-1539648

Sophie had some excellent feedback to give about her experience of the scheme. She achieved every single objective she had set, including gaining professional experience to put on her CV and developing her interview techniques.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Really useful to guide me in the right direction and increase my confidence about my future.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into the sector and help with CV, covering letter etc. Very useful to talk through future plans with my mentor.

Her mentor said:

“It was so rewarding to share my experience”

Wing, Education, Teaching, Research

Education Teaching and Research, Psychology, , ,

Wing, completing a Psychology degree was looking to go into Education, Teaching, Research. During her second year she was accepted to participate in the Career Mentor Scheme and matched with an Associate Research Fellow at the University.

An experienced professional, this mentor’s previous experience includes being a Research Assistant in Psychology at the University of Manchester, Transcriber at Max Planck Institute and Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Manchester.

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Wing had some really positive feedback to share about the scheme!

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

When I went to the memory clinic to do a job shadowing and chatted with an assistant psychologist.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I found the insight into my chosen sector and the advice in job hunting most helpful.

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

It is an opportunity to learn more about of a sector that you couldn’t learn about in lectures. A mentor would give you a lot of advice from job hunting to CV proof reading.

Rhiannon, Media, Publishing and Journalism

English, Media Publishing and Journalism, , ,

Rhi was doing an English degree and was interested in going into Media, Publishing and Journalism. In her second year she applied for the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with a consultant at Project Unleash.

This mentor has a wide range of professional experiences. He has been an editor at various organisations, including Woman and Home, BBC Good Food and Olive Magazine. He spent nearly 10 years working in the South of France as a Chef and Hotelier before moving on to be a Consultant, specialising in media and hospitality industries.

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From Rhi’s feedback it became evident that she completed all her objectives, some of which include having her CV proofread, obtaining help to prepare for her next steps after graduation and developing her interview techniques.

What was the highlight of the scheme for you?

My mentor was extremely knowledgeable about the kinds of professions I was interested in and gave me great advice on which career would suit me best, after listening to what was important to me in a career.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into chosen career.

The mentor shared:

“It is interesting to work with young people and see how they tackle the challenge of finding a job.”

Shiryn, Regulation and Consumer Protection

law, Regulation and Consumer Protection, , , ,

At the end of her penultimate year Shiryn was matched with the Head of Data Protection at Guardian News and Media Group as part of the Career Mentor Scheme.

An Exeter graduate, this mentor has a lot of experience in the Regulation and Consumer Protection sector. He has previously worked at Deloitte as a graduate and then was a Data Protection Manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland and Regional Head of Privacy at the Royal Bank of Canada. At the Guardian his responsibilities include managing legal data protection/privacy compliance for the Guardian’s operations in the UK, Australia and the USA.

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Here is what Shiryn told us about how the scheme was beneficial to her:

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Having my CV checked, speaking to people in a broad range of areas of Law.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Being put in touch with other professionals that my mentor knew and having phone calls with them to discuss their careers and advice.

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

It’s a fantastic opportunity to make contacts that you would have real difficulty meeting outside of the university scheme and is especially useful if you’re feeling confused about your next steps – the insight you get from people already in the industry is invaluable. I would really recommend this scheme to other students as there’s no downside – you gain information and contacts through just a few conversations without having to set aside hours and hours of your life.

James, Banking and Financial Services

Banking and Financial Services, economics, ,

In May of his final year James, studying Economics with International Study applied to the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with a Management Consultant at IHM Associates Ltd.

This mentor studied Economics and Economics History at Exeter. Some of his previous employers include Union Bank of Switzerland, PwC, WJ Calder Sons & Co and Sutton Valence School.

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Through the scheme James achieved all his objectives, such as obtaining job hunting resources in the sector and obtaining help with application forms. He told us more details about his experience.

Were there any other objectives you achieved?

Gaining  knowledge on a specific programme – The Mountbatten Institute and assessing whether it was suitable for me.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

It was very useful to have somebody to talk to and bounce ideas off, somebody who knows the industry standards and workings. I particularly liked the critical side and the fact that my mentor would challenge me and was happy to say if he disagreed with my ideas. This was very useful!

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

Apply! Whether you’re looking for answers to specific questions or just somebody to chat to because you’re totally lost like I was, it’s a great scheme and well worth the small amount of time it takes to apply.

The highlight for his mentor was:

“…meeting someone different. Not just a new person but a student who had already graduated, so the focus was really on his employability and getting him in front of potential employees.”

William, Management and Consultancy

Art History and Visual Culture, English, Management and Consultancy, ,

William was in his second year of doing English and Film Studies when he applied for the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with a Revenue Director at Microsoft Corp.

After graduating from Exeter, this mentor went into Management and Consultancy. His recent previous employment includes being Head of Business Development at MSN Asia between 2008 and 2012 and Head of Commercial Partnerships between 2012 and 2014.

During the mentoring partnership William achieved all objectives he had. He improved his confidence to seek graduate level employment and obtained help to prepare for the next steps. He also developed his interview techniques and gathered information about the sector entry requirements. He shared some insight with us at the end of the scheme.

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What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Gaining insight into the world of media and advertising from an inside perspective.

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

The scheme is a great way to gain a different perspective on a chosen career path, from a professional who has experience in the field you are interested in. Even if the result is that you decide that this career is not for you, it is better to have learnt this before you actively pursue that path.

 

 

Susannah, Media, Publishing and Journalism

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

Susannah did a Philosophy and Politics degree. In her second year she applied to the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with a mentor in Media, Publishing and Journalism – Home Affairs Correspondent at BBC South West.

Her mentor is an experienced professional in this sector. He has previously worked as a radio newsreader and presenter and as a news reporter at ITV.

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Susannah gave us more details about their successful 6-month partnership.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

My mentor, is amazing – he’s a constant source of support for me and always there when I need his help. He’s come onto campus and filmed friends and I for a segment on a BBC report he was doing, taking the time to show me how all the equipment and filming works. When I mentioned I was interested in journalism internships in America, he introduced me to a friend of his who offered invaluable advice and help with my applications.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into entry requirements for masters courses, what I should be doing now.

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

You’ll learn invaluable advice through taking part in the scheme, and it gives you a huge heads up on your chosen profession.

Her mentor said:

“[The highlight for me has been] seeing Susannah grow, develop and extend her abilities and experience in media.“

Paige, Charity and Development Work

Business and Management, Charity and Development Work, Computer Science, , , , , ,

During her second year Paige, Computing and Management student, was matched with the Communications and Project Manager at Oxford Brookes University.

This mentor is experienced in Advertising, Marketing and PR, Charity and Development Work, and HR. Her previous employment includes HR Emergency Coordinator at Oxfam and Internal Communications Adviser at Oxfam. Since 2010 she has been working at Oxford Brookes University.

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Paige revealed more details about the ways in which the scheme helped her.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I thoroughly enjoyed the work shadowing opportunity. It gave me great insight into the working day and job sector and I felt that I learned more on that day than if someone simply told me about it.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The work shadowing and insight into my chosen profession were most useful. It was helpful to find out the pros and cons of the chosen profession and the work shadowing opened up some more job options that I hadn’t previously considered.

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

Throw yourself into it. By doing so you will gain the most from it.

Her mentor said:

“[The highlight for me was] helping to shape my mentee’s thinking around her career direction”