Category Archives: Degree Subject

Lauren, Law and Legal Services

History, Law and Legal Services, Politics and International Relations, ,

During her third year Lauren, History student, applied for a mentor in the Law and Legal Services sector, in which she was interested in pursuing a career. Her mentor, Group Leader, at Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co. LLP has many years of experience in the industry.

After graduating from Exeter, this mentor worked at Simmons & Simmons for five years and then moved to Slaughter and May, where he spent ten years, the second half of the period as a Partner. In 2000 he joined Wragge & Co as a partner and in 2009 he became a Group Leader. As such his responsibilities are to manage a group of 27 partners in three offices and working in the commercial, employment, pensions and projects area.

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Lauren had an outstanding experience being mentored. She achieved all objectives which were set at the beginning of their partnership, including learning about the sector entry requirements and improving her confidence. What she found most useful were the interview tips Michael gave her.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

My mentor was very accommodating and made himself available whenever I had any questions. The immediacy of professional advice was invaluable and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing his perspective of the recruitment process as an employer.

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

Absolutely do it! The scheme is incredibly flexible and you are completely in charge of your contact with your mentor – you can work this out with them to suit both of you. You can get invaluable viewpoints from a working professional in a sector you are interested in at the drop of a phonecall or email and may have a contact for life.

Andrew, Healthcare and Wellbeing

Healthcare and Wellbeing, Sport and Health Sciences, , ,

In his final year Exercise and Sport Sciences student Andrew was looking for an insight into the Healthcare and Wellbeing sector. Through the Career Mentor Scheme he was matched with a Clinic Director at Flex Physical Health.

An Exeter graduate, this mentor has previously been employed at Devon and Cornwall Police as a Force Physiotherapist.

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Andrew discussed with us some of the advantages he felt the scheme gave him. He achieved all of his job hunting objectives such as improving his interview techniques and increasing his knowledge of finding work experience. Andrew also developed personal skills, such as confidence building and received help with his CV as well as academic support. What is more, Andrew received work experience and developed an understanding of the entry requirements for the sector. He found the insight into his chosen profession to be the most useful benefit from the Career Mentor Scheme.

Please let us know some of the highlights for you during the scheme.

Meeting with an established expert allowed me to discuss and uncover more information about their specific field and how to be successful in applying for jobs within it.

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

An insightful experience to communicate personally and informally with an expert in their field which you otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to do.

Katie, Customer Service

Customer Service, economics, , ,

Whilst in her second year of doing Economics with Industrial Experience Katie applied to the Career Mentor Scheme and was matched with a Centre Manager at Land Rover Experience, as her mentor.

This mentor has a wide experience of working in Customer Service, having worked in positions such as a Support Team Leader at Barclays Bank, Senior Partner at Clydesdale Bank and Relationship Manager at Santander.

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Katie told us more about the experience of being mentored for six months. Through the scheme she managed to achieve many career objectives, such as gaining a better understanding and insight into the industry.  What she found most useful from the mentoring experience was the networking opportunities, getting recruitment information along with developing her interview techniques and gaining work experience.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Attending a networking Chamber of Commerce lunch with my mentor and setting up work experience in a bank for summer.

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

It’s a really worthwhile scheme and it’s really great to be able to have an outside perspective on careers from someone who is in your chosen industry and who has done it all before you. Make the most out of it and be enthusiastic, if you are willing to put more into the scheme with your Mentor then it’s likely you’ll get more out of the process – don’t just take the scheme as something to put on your CV and say you’ve done.

 Her mentor’s personal highlight of the scheme was:

“It was an honour to be part of this University scheme and what worked well for me was the ability to meet my mentee in person, on campus, to work through their objectives.”

Laurel, Media, Publishing and Journalism

Drama, English, Media Publishing and Journalism, , , ,

During her second year English and Drama student Laurel successfully applied to be mentored by a freelance journalist and PR consultant. Her mentor guided Laurel into the Media, Publishing and Journalism sector for a period of half a year.

This mentor has a wide variety of professional experiences. She started as a reporter for the Falmouth packet weekly newspaper and then for the Harrow Observer. She then moved on as a Chief Sub-Editor at Travel Trade Gazette to then become a freelance feature writer for women’s magazines, writing for Prima, Business Travel World, Easyjet Inflight, Mother & Baby amongst others.

Laurel found being mentored extremely useful and shared more about the experience with the Career Mentor Scheme team.

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What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

It was so interesting to hear about my mentor’s experiences and to receive advice about the field of journalism. I learned lots of new things and feel like I also improved my own skills. Meeting my mentor in person was the highlight as it enabled me to put a face to the name and get to know her better. She set me different tasks, gave me lots of feedback and answered all my questions about the industry of journalism; it was a really enjoyable day.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I received guidance from my mentor on my CV and applications, which helped me secure a work experience placement with a magazine in London this summer.

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

Taking part in the Career Mentor Scheme has greatly improved my confidence. It was extremely useful to learn from an industry professional; I am hugely excited by the things I have learned and look forward to putting them into practice in my future endeavours. There’s really nothing to lose!

The highlight for her mentor was:

“Felt I helped, and she secured two work placements at the end of it!”

Emma, Retail

English, Retail, , ,

During her final year of doing English, Emma Pegg was mentored by the CEO of the White Company. Emma was looking to go into Retail and she received guidance and advice for getting into the sector.

This mentor has great experience in the industry. An alumnus of the University, 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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Emma gave us details of her experience of the scheme.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Two weeks work experience at The White Company’s head offices in Kensington.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The work experience and the networking opportunities.

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

Go for it! Through the scheme, I’ve been able to work in a fantastic company and use it as a launch-pad for further opportunities. The experience is what you make of it though, so be proactive when networking.

Kelly, Healthcare and Wellbeing

Healthcare and Wellbeing, Sport and Health Sciences, , ,

During her Paediatric Exercise and Health postgraduate study Kelly applied for a mentor in the Healthcare and Wellbeing sector. She was matched with a retired Chief Executive of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

This mentor has accomplished a Masters of Philosophy from Nottingham and a Masters of Science from Oxford after he graduated from Exeter.  He has also got a PhD from Sheffield. His previous employment includes working as a Trustee and Advisor for Sentebale charity and as a Deputy Chief Executive at Barnardo’s. He also worked as a Chief Executive at Thomas Coram Foundation.

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At the end of the six months, Kelly discussed with us the benefits of the scheme to her personally.

She achieved all job hunting, personal development and career objectives she had set to herself. An additional outcome she achieved was improving her presentation skills with the help of her mentor.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the career mentor scheme. It was so valuable to receive help and advice from a caring and friendly mentor. I feel that I have a vastly improved CV, in addition to gaining a wealth of advice in other areas including interview techniques and presentation skills.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

The whole experience was useful! It was really helpful to receive guidance in compiling a strong CV and to create networks and contacts for both now and the future.

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

The career mentor scheme is such a fantastic opportunity that will prove beneficial in both the short and long term. You will have an opportunity to engage with a willing professional and receive a broad range of support, from learning how to compile an effective CV to gaining valuable contacts and networking opportunities. Simply just having somebody to discuss your thoughts with regarding both your current studies and future career is hugely beneficial. I would definitely recommend this scheme to all students, and the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it!

The highlight of the scheme for her mentor was:

“The opportunity to understand, a little more, the pressures experienced by university students in 2012 and to offer some support”

Natasha, Law and Legal Services

Law and Legal Services, Philosophy,

During her third year Natasha Methven was looking to enter the Law and Legal Services sector after graduating. Coming from a Theology degree, she applied to the Career Mentor Scheme in order to get advice and help from a mentor in her sector of interest, and she was matched with a Solicitor at Payne Hicks Beach.

This mentor has graduated from Exeter also with a non-Law degree. He did English and then went to the BBP Law School in London. When he joined Payne Hicks Beach as a Trainee Solicitor he did four 6-month seats across four different departments.

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At the end of their 6-month mentoring partnership Natasha told us more about the advantages she got from the scheme: “[The scheme] increased my desire to go into that profession.”

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Being able to attend my mentor’s place of work was highly beneficial as I had a detailed chat with him and also gained a feel for the firm.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Insight into my chosen profession.

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

It is an excellent opportunity to gain insight into your chosen profession and gain expert advice from people who have been through the same process.

Neel, Law and Legal Services

law, Law and Legal Services,

Neel Rokad, second-year LLP Law student was matched with a Partner at Ropes & Gray LLP for a 6-month mentoring partnership.

This mentor has worked for a variety of different law firms in his career. He started off at Slaughter and May, where he was first a Trainee and then became an Associate. After spending 11 years there, in 2005 he moved to Wickersham & Tarf, where he spent 3 years as a Partner.

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Neel achieved all pre-set objectives, such as increasing his knowledge of job hunting techniques and improving his personal development objectives. He gave us an insight of his mentoring experience.

Were there any other objectives you achieved?

Getting help on soft skills such as networking.

Please let us know some of the highlights for you during the scheme.

Getting personalised advice on how my mentor got to where he was.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Really helpful advice on how to approach being rejected from interviews etc.

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

I didn’t realise how much the Scheme would help me until I finished. The fact that you have someone who is at the apex of their field taking time out to discuss how you can improve and garner your own success is something that really motivates you.

His mentor also shared with us his excitement for the scheme:

“Neel was delightful and very much looking for advice!”

Felix, Leisure, Sport and Tourism

Leisure Sport and Tourism, Sport and Health Sciences,

Felix, a final year Exercise and Sport Science stydent, was looking to get into the Leisure, Sport and Tourism sector. Through the Career Mentor Scheme, he was matched with the Senior Development Manager at Active Devon.

This mentor has graduated from Exeter in 2003. Since 2005 he has held various roles within Active Devon and when he began mentoring Felix his main responsibility was managing and developing sport and physical activity participation programmes in Devon.

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After being supported and guided for a period of six months, Felix informed us of the advantages of the scheme to him apart from achieving all job hunting, personal development and career objectives which were set at the beginning.

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Visiting my mentor’s workplace, learning about day-to-day activities and the position of the company within the sector. Getting involved with an ongoing project which provided first-hand experience of the work done by Active Devon [was another highlight].

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

What I found most useful was the insight I got into the sector and the work experience opportunity I was provided.

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

The Career Mentor Scheme is a great way to gain an insight into a career sector whilst offering the opportunity to build your network. The scheme is well-organised and definitely worth taking advantage of, if there is a suitable mentor that can add to your knowledge and experiences.

 

Anastasiya, Law and Legal Services

law, Law and Legal Services,

During her second year Anastasiya was accepted onto the scheme. Studying LLB Law she wanted to get first-hand advice about how to get into the industry and she was matched with a Solicitor at Thomson Snell & Passmore.

anastasiya

At the end of their 6-month partnership Anastasiya discussed with us the ways in which she benefited from the scheme.

What was the highlight of the scheme for you?

The highlight for me was the personal meeting with my mentor and the help I received with application forms.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I found the insight into my chosen profession most useful.

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

I’d strongly encourage everyone to apply as this experience is invaluable – mentees can get an insight which is beyond any attendance of an open day.