Career Zone Podcast

Making the most of career opportunities at university

In this week’s episode, Will King, Programme Officer, is joined by current student Frederick Proctor to discuss how to make the most of career opportunities. Frederick shares his experiences with the various events and programmes he has got involved with including Create Your Future, the Exeter Award and attending conferences. Frederick shares his tips on planning, prioritising and saying yes to different opportunities.

Links:

• Create Your Future
• Exeter Award
• Exeter Leaders Award
• Green Consultants
• Aspiring Teachers
• Professional Pathways
• Careers and Employability sessions including Networking Essentials and LinkedIn Essentials
• Employer Events in Exeter and Cornwall and Careers Fairs

Benny’s PhD Journey, part 1

Thinking of doing doctoral research?

In this episode, Kate Foster, Employability and Careers Consultant, talks with Benny, a first year PhD student. Benny shares what motivated him to study a PhD, some of the challenges he has faced so far and his advice to students considering doctoral research.  

We’ll be catching up with Benny  regularly to hear how his PhD journey is going. Follow the Career Zone Podcast to stay up to date with Benny’s experiences, insights and reflections along the way.

The importance of being curious

In this episode, Dawn Lees, Student Employability and Development Manager, explores the importance of being curious, how it can help you in the workplace and Dawn shares how you can develop your curiosity.  

 

Useful Links:

• Planned Happenstance podcast (https://pod.fo/e/33a7e9) 
• Employer and alumni events in Exeter and Penryn.
• Exeter Students' Guild and The Students' Union societies.
• Attend a Careers and Employability session

Law Mini-Series: International Law: In conversation with Felix Tang, Young barrister Hong Kong, Chairman of the Standing Committee of Young Barristers of the Hong Kong Bar Association

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.

Interested to work as a barrister internationally? Felix Tang talks about the life of a barrister in Hong Kong, and the experiences he had at Exeter which helped him get there. A must-listen to podcast for every student who is interested in the bar internationally.

In addition to this episode you can find more information to help with career planning here; University of Exeter Career Zone ,  Law and legal services and Employability for Law Students

Working in Higher Education: In conversation with Graham Perkins, Associate Dean for Education within the Business School

Graham Perkins is the Associate Dean for Education within the Business School and an Associate Professor in Human Resource Management. Graham has both professional and academic experience within the field of Human Resource Management, having completed both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the subject, and having worked in industry in several HRM roles. 

Graham came from a family in which no-one had been to university before him. Graham attended a state school, growing up in a neighbourhood with one of the lowest rates of entry to higher education. Listen to the podcast to learn how Graham went from not getting the A Level grades to attend the university of his choice and going through Clearing, to becoming an Associate Professor. 

Inside the world of Bid Writing: In conversation with Matt Light, Director at AscellaHealth.

In this episode, Dawn Lees, Student Employability and Development Manager, chats with alumnus Matt Light, Director at AscellaHealth, about building a career in Bid Writing.

With 15 years experience leading bid and proposal teams across both the public and private sector, Matt shares his journey from a junior bid writer to team leader. Matt explains the various career pathways within the profession, the key skills for success and how teamwork helps win contracts, as well as what excites him about his job.  

Law Mini-Series: Securing a Training Contract: In conversation with Grace Light, current Law student.

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 Grace Light, a current Law student. Grace shares her journey to securing a training contract, highlighting the value of attending events, using resources like the Career Zone and developing commercial awareness.

In addition to this episode you can find more information to help with career planning here; University of Exeter Career Zone , Law and legal services: Information for Law and Non-Law Students  and Employability for Law Students. 

How to network at a careers fair

In this episode, Employability and Careers Consultant Sunny Lalli, is joined by BSc Human Sciences graduate Zack Islam. Recipient of the University of Exeter Student of the Year award at  2024 Success for All conference, and also the Academic Success Award at the 2025 Student Social Mobility Awards, Zack shares his insights on the art of networking and how preparatory research can power conversations at careers fairs.

 

Useful Links:

• Career Zone information on careers fairs (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/events/careersfairs/)
• Employer engagement information on careers fairs at University of Exeter (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/employer-engagement/fairs-events/careers-fairs/)
• Career Zone Help with Networking (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/explore/networking/)

Other podcasts you might be interested in:

• How to prepare for Career Fairs - https://pod.fo/e/2d536d 
• Preparing for career fairs and employer events - https://pod.fo/e/2d53c6 

Law Mini-Series: Community Law Clinic. In conversation with Evalyn Anstiss, recent Law graduate

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 Evalyn Anstiss, a recent Law graduate, about her experience working with the Community Law Clinic. Evalyn shares the benefits of working at the Community Law Clinic and how it helped to develop her professional skills and confidence.

Useful links:

• Exeter Award,
• Community Law Clinic
• Access to Justice clinic (module)

In addition to this episode you can find more information to help with career planning here; University of Exeter Career Zone ,  Law and legal services and Employability for Law Students

Exploring sustainability at a careers fair

In this episode, Sunny Lalli, Employability and Careers Consultant and Rachel Haddy, Employability and Placements Adviser, explore ways to investigate values of sustainability at a careers fair.

Useful Links

• B Corp: https://bcorporation.uk
• Windo: https://csrwindo.com

Listen to associated Career Zone podcast episodes:

• What is a B Corp and why might you want to work for one? https://pod.fo/e/2be941