In our Law mini-series podcast, our Law Employability and Careers Consultants; Rachel, Tess and Sunny, talk to experienced professionals from both legal and non-legal sectors to hear their career experiences and advice.   In this episode Tess Read, Employability and Career Consultant, talks to Ben Gardner.  Recent graduate Ben Gardner shares his remarkable personal journey to successfully getting a much prized graduate role at Reed Smith in London.  Ben describes how he leveraged his work...

In our Law mini-series podcast, our Law Employability and Careers Consultants; Rachel, Tess and Sunny, talk to experienced professionals from both legal and non-legal sectors to hear their career experiences and advice.   In this episode Tess Read, Employability and Career Consultant, talks to Natasha Bellinger.  A fascinating insight into the life and work of one of Exeter’s leading barristers. Natasha Bellinger, joint Head of Magdalen Chambers. Natasha shares with Tess what drives her to...

In this week’s episode, Sarah Blunt, Employability and Careers Consultant talks with alumna Jen Stoneman, People (HR) Business Partner at Mencap, a UK-based charity that supports people with learning disabilities. Jen shares her journey from studying Politics and German to forging a successful career in the charity sector and reveals what she loves (and what she finds challenging) about her job. Throughout the episode, Jen offers invaluable insights into what it’s truly like to work in the...

In our Law mini-series podcast, our Law Employability and Careers Consultants; Rachel, Tess and Sunny, talk to experienced professionals from both legal and non-legal sectors to hear their career experiences and advice.   In this episode Tess Read, Employability and Career Consultant, talks to Susan Starr.  A must-listen to podcast for every budding solicitor – SQE expert Susan Starr from the University of Law attached to Exeter University sets out all the steps involved in successfully...

In this week’s episode, Rachel Sloan, Employability and Careers Consultant is joined by Rory a Student Programme Assistant to discuss how attending Create Your Future can help you with your career decisions. Rachel and Rory explore what you can expect at a Create Your Future session and how it can help you to get the most out of your time at university. Rory also shares how Create Your Future has helped to influence his career decisions.   Useful Links: Create Your Future Exeter Award Book...

The decision to change or leave your course will be something only a handful of students consider, but for those in their first year this is a decision that can weigh heavily on you. If you are not enjoying your studies or feeling that university currently is not for you then continue listening. In this episode we hear Careers Consultants Sarah Blunt and Fiona Hartley talking about the options and help available for those who find themselves uncertain if their degree is for them. We also hear...

In this episode of the Career Zone podcast, Rachel Haddy, Employability and Placements Adviser, explores how you can find part-time jobs and shares her top tips to boost your applications. Rachel discusses where to search for roles both on and off campus, exploring sectors like hospitality and retail, and highlights opportunities through the university's Handshake platform. Plus, Rachel provides insights on how to balance work with your academic schedule, visa considerations for international...

In this week’s episode Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant explores the concept of a CV of Failure. Employers will often ask you about the times when you have ‘failed’ in job interviews. They are not really interested in your failure, but they do want to see how you responded to it. Rachel discusses how developing a CV of Failure can help you prepare for interviews and how to best answer this question. Links: CV writing resources...

In this episode, Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, explores career management skills and how they can help you to manage your career throughout your life. Rachel discusses the different types of skills and attributes you need to manage your career including  decision making, adaptability and resilience. Links and resources: Build your self-awareness with the Profiling for Success assessments. Book onto a skill session via Handshake. Topics include negotiation skills  and...

In this episode, Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, discusses the importance of continuous development and lifelong learning in the workplace. Rachel shares how you can cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning and how this can help you to develop your confidence and positively impact your ability to take on new challenges. Useful Links:  Alumni can access Career Zone support for three years after you leave and you can access some of our online support forever....

In this week’s episode, Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, focuses on collaboration, a skill many employers want in their recruits. Rachel will explore the nuances between teamwork and collaboration, why having this skill is important for employers and how you can showcase your collaborative skills on your CV. Useful links: Grand Challenges (www.exeter.ac.uk/grandchallenges)   Green Consultants (www.exeter.ac.uk/greenconsultants)   Exeter Leaders Award...

Asking for help can feel daunting, but it's a huge strength that shows confidence and a commitment to progress. In this episode Rachel Haddy, Employability and Placements Adviser, explores how to ask for help in the workplace effectively, from identifying what you need to choosing the right person and timing.   Links: Book onto a skill session such as Problem Solving or Persuading, Influencing and Negotiation via Handshake  Listen to our episode on Transitioning from study into a first role....

In this episode, Bryanna, an Employability and Placements Adviser speaks to Charlotte who is a current fourth year Modern Languages student studying French and Spanish, about why working abroad can be a great option. Charlotte spent last year teaching English in France to secondary school students, and also spent some extra time in Spain Au Pairing. Bryanna and Charlotte will be discussing the topic of working abroad to understand a little more about the benefits of it and why others might...

In this episode of the Career Zone podcast, Mel Nearchou from Student Employability and Academic Success, introduces Student Circus, a valuable resource for international students at the University of Exeter. With insights from Tripti Maheshwari, Co-Founder of Student Circus, and Aryan Jain, a Student Circus ambassador, discover how this platform can help you navigate job-hunting in the UK. Learn top tips for using Student Circus and how to connect with ambassadors for further...

In this week’s episode Luke Graham, Deputy of Secondary Education at the School of Education, is joined by Simon Holmes, Assistant Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form at Purbeck School, to discuss what ECTs can expect when applying for a role. Simon shares what the recruitment process looks like, what they are looking for in candidates and they share their top tips. Acronyms and Links ECT - Early Career Teacher ITT - Initial Teacher Training TES, formally known as Times Education...

In this week’s episode, Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, looks at how the transition away from fossil fuels will affect careers in the energy industry moving forward. As the world commits to transition away from its fossil fuel habit towards cleaner and more sustainable options, what jobs and opportunities will become available and what does this mean for the oil industry?   Useful Links: Student Startups www.exeter.ac.uk/studentstartups. ...

In this week's episode, Employability and Career Consultants, Nicky Hutchinson and Sunny Lalli talk with Chloe Bayliss, Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator at Cornish Lithium PLC about transitioning from full-time study into the work world.  Chloe shares her strategies and tips on networking and mentoring which helped her secure her first professional opportunity which is based within a small to medium sized enterprise (SME), the benefits of which will be covered in greater detail in a...

In this week’s episode Olivia, a Student Programme Assistant, is joined by students who completed the Social Inequality Challenge in 2023. Ellen and Maya discuss their project that involved creating an informative and accessible booklet and campaign regarding safety in Exeter in order to help new students feel more confident and safe at university. They share their experiences of completing Grand Challenges, their motivations for joining and the skills they developed throughout the...

As part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Kate Foster, Employability and Career Consultant, is joined by Sharon Cant, Recruitment Marketing Specialist at Auticon, to discuss neurodiversity in the workplace. Sharon shares her advice on disclosing in the recruitment process as well as the accommodations you can ask for. Sharon also shares her advice on finding a supportive employer. Useful Links: Neurodiversity pages on the Career Zone website:...

In this week’s episode Christiana, Programme Assistant, is joined by students Ben, Lauren, Sam and Abbi who completed the Mental Health Challenge in 2023. Ben, Lauren and Sam discuss their project that involved creating an e-book aimed at parents of pre-teens/teens on navigating social media consumption.  Olivia, a Student Programme Assistant, is joined by Julia, Indira, Ronia and Lorenzo to discuss their experiences of working on a proposal for an accessibility widget on the iExeter...

In this episode, Dave Gyll-Murray, Employability and Placement Adviser is joined by University of Exeter alumna Amy Horn-Norris Bradbury, Director of Spalding Associates, an environmental consultancy based in Truro. Dave and Amy discuss career pathways, getting work experience, and some valuable skills that are sought after employers in the sector. Useful Links: Environment and conservation sector pages:...

In this week’s episode Kate Foster, Employability and Career Consultant, is joined by Lena Worwood, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Project Support Officer at the University of Exeter. Lena and Kate explore careers from the perspective of finding a supportive employer, navigating the recruitment process and the support available in the workplace.   Links and resources: Information and advice about your rights and help with finding LGBTA+ friendly employers and jobs -...

In this week’s episode, Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Career Consultant, shares a simple framework for writing application forms that answers the questions that are on employers’ minds when they are assessing candidates for a job.   Useful Links You can find more support on our Help with applications pages. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/helpwith/helpwithcvscoverlettersandapplications/ Book onto an Effective Application Form session via Handshake Book an appointment...