Career Zone Podcast

Personal Responsibility in the workplace - What does it really mean?

Personal responsibility is about acting with integrity, honesty and self-awareness – owning your actions and learning from your mistakes.

In this week’s episode, Rachel Haddy, Employability and Placements Adviser, highlights three key aspects of personal responsibility: accountability, following through on commitments and authenticity.

Rachel shares how admitting mistakes, managing your workload honestly and owning both your strengths and weaknesses can empower you to take ownership of your performance and personal growth.

 

Useful Links:

• Importance of saying no podcast. (https://pod.fo/e/26d7a3)

What is the graduate labour market looking like, May 2025

We last looked at the Graduate Labour Market in December 2024 and a lot has changed since then. In this episode, Dawn Lees, Student Employability and Development Manager, looks at the current state of the graduate labour market, focusing on the relationship between politics and the economy.* Dawn shares insights on how the global situation has impacted the graduate labour market as well as sharing advice to help you succeed if you’re looking for a graduate job.

Links and Resources :

• If you would like help making career decisions or exploring your career/further study options, please contact the Career Zone to book a Guidance appointment.
• Public sector page (Is it currently social guidance and services?)
• How to research an employer page
• Book onto a CV/Application form advice session via Handshake
• Book onto a skill session via Handshake, topics include Problem Solving, Communication and Collaboration and Personal Resilience.
• Attend one of our Employer Events, book via Handshake.

*Data mentioned in this podcast is from May 2025

Developing the skills you need for a placement, internship or graduate role.

In this week’s episode, Andrea Hodges, Employment Schemes Manager, is joined by second year student Olivia Osborne, to discuss how you can develop your skills, gain experience and build your connections. Andrea and Olivia share their advice on how you can demonstrate the skills you have when applying for jobs. Andrea also highlights the schemes you can utilise at the University, whether you are looking for a placement, internship or graduate role.

Although this episode focuses on the South West, the skills and experience discussed are relevant to all work experience opportunities.

Useful Links:

• University of Exeter - Internships (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/internships/)
• University of Exeter - Work Placements (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/jobsandworkplacements/workplacements/)
• Book onto a CV/Application form session via Handshake.
• Book onto a skills sessions via Handshake.

Listen to our Placements 101 podcast episodes. 

• Prioritising your wellbeing whilst in placement
• Being money smart

Placements 101: Being Money Smart

The second episode of Placements 101 focusses on money – how to manage your finances while on placement. Everyone’s financial situation is different and how you manage money is a personal choice. In this episode Anya and Immy share their experiences and offer practical advice on how they handled their finances during their placements. 

 

If you're unsure what you want to do with your third year, or need some extra support/guidance from students who have recently returned from a year out, then check out our new placements 101 mini-series. Join Anya and Immy, fourth year students as they share their experiences of placement life.

• Find more support on our work placement webpages: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/jobsandworkplacements/workplacements/
• Explore wellbeing support for Streatham students: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/
• Explore wellbeing support Penryn students:  https://fxplus.ac.uk/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support/

What is a B Corp and why might you want to work for one?

In this week’s episode, Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Career Consultant is joined by Scott James, Partner of Ward Williams Associates – a certified B Corp. Scott explains what it means to be a B Corp, how it has shaped Ward Williams as a business, and  the benefits of working for one. He also shares valuable insights on what prospective job applicants should know about B Corps when preparing for interviews.

 

Useful Links:

• Ward Williams Website: https://wardwilliams.uk/
• The BCorp Directory: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/
• BCorporation website home page: https://bcorporation.uk/
• Green Consultants: (ex.ac.uk/greenconsultants)
• Scott James, Partner, Ward Williams Associates LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottjamesprojects/

Placements 101: Prioritising your wellbeing whilst on Placement

If you're unsure what you want to do with your third year, or need some extra support/guidance from students who have recently returned from a year out, then check out our new placements 101 mini-series. Join Anya and Immy, fourth year students as they share their experiences of placement life.

The first episode of Placements 101 focuses on prioritising wellbeing whilst on placement - a really important topic. Life abroad or working can be a huge shift from student life and many struggle with the initial adjustment period. Take reassurance in the fact that you are not alone and the majority are feeling the same way. Anya and Immy discuss what they did whilst on placement and what they would appreciate knowing in hindsight with regards to wellbeing and mental health.

Useful Links:

• Find more support on our work placement webpages: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/jobsandworkplacements/workplacements/
• Explore wellbeing support for Streatham students: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/
• Explore wellbeing support Penryn students:  https://fxplus.ac.uk/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support/

Green Consultants: What's in it for you?

Helen Hicks, Programme Officer, talks with Bella and Raishal, students who have completed Green Consultants. Bella and Raishal explain what the Green Consultants programme is and share the skills and benefits they gained from completing the programme.

 

Useful Links: 

• Green Consultants: (ex.ac.uk/GreenConsultants) Find out more and start the training now.
• Book onto skill sessions via Handshake. 

Introducing Aspiring Teachers

Helen Hicks, Programme Officer at the University of Exeter, introduces the Aspiring Teachers programme and the range of opportunities available to you. Helen is joined by Leanne Galloway, an Early Years Adviser and Ofsted Inspector, who shares her top 5 skills that you need if you are thinking about a career in teaching. Helen also discusses how you can go about gaining teaching experience to work out where your passion lies.

Useful Links

• Start the training now on the Aspiring Teachers webpage. (ex.ac.uk/aspiringteachers)
• Find out more about the Learning for Teaching module. (https://education.exeter.ac.uk/study/teachingexperience/)
• Book onto a skills session via Handshake

Becoming a Student Campus Partner (SCP)

Current fourth year students, Immy and Anya, share their experiences of working within the Placements Team in their role as Student Campus Partner (SCP), a paid internship with the University of Exeter. They discuss how they secured their roles, what they enjoy most about the position, and the benefits it offers students. SCP roles are available in other sections of the Career Zone and across the university.

 

The Student Campus Partnership (SCP) is exclusively for Exeter UK and international students who want to secure paid work on campus. The scheme promotes paid internships that are available across the university's campuses in Exeter and Penryn.

 

Useful Links:

• Find out more about Student Campus Partner (SCP) roles and sign up to the Student Internship Bulletin:  https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/internships/scp/
• Find out more about Student Business Parnter (SBP) roles and sign up to the Student Internship Bulletin: 
• View current vacancies on  Handshake by searching for SCP or SBP in the job search.
• Sign up to a CV or Application form session via Handshake.

Thinking of leaving or changing your course

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 from James a Finalist on the BA Film Studies course. James shares his own experience of the decision to switch both subject choice and institution before finally coming to Exeter. We explore how he felt about making the decision and what influenced his next steps before talking about the support he received and sharing his own advice and tips for anyone finding themselves in a similar situation.

For more information and advice about the options you have and signposted support  listen to podcast 1 or read our dedicated Career Zone webpages Thinking of Leaving or Changing Course | Career Zone | University of Exeter ‘

Other useful articles on this topic

• Changing or leaving your course | Prospects.ac.uk also addresses the FAQs asked by students on this topic.

Further Support from Exeter University Students’ Union – Guild or SU: Offer advice and support.  For more information about the support available:

• Changes to your studies - Student Life Knowledgebase (exeterguild.com)
• Interruption - Student Life Knowledgebase (exeterguild.com)
• Exeter - Advice Service (exeterguild.com)
• Penryn - Advice (thesu.org.uk)