Career Zone Podcast

The advantages of working for small medium enterprise (SME): In conversation with Chloé Bayliss of Cornish Lithium

In this week’s podcast, Sunny Lalli and Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Career Consultants, are joined by Chloé Bayliss of Cornish Lithium.

In this episode Chloé as then Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator and now Senior ESG Coordinator at Cornish Lithium, discusses some of the work roles at Cornish Lithium and the experience of working in a small medium enterprise (SME). In this conversation Chloé draws on her own experience to differentiate the experience of working in a small medium enterprise with working at larger enterprises.

Cornish Lithium is a private British mineral exploration company focussed on the sustainable extraction of lithium and other battery metals in the historically significant mining district of Cornwall, UK. These metals can be utilised to the global goal of decarbonisation through clean growth and a transition to a green economy. Thus, supporting UN sustainability goals of affordable and clean energy (goal seven), and climate action (goal thirteen). 

Useful Links:

• Listen to Transitioning from study into a first role: In conversation with Chloe Bayliss, Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator at Cornish Lithium PLC - https://pod.fo/e/237162
• University of Exeter Career Zone sector page on energy and natural resources (renewables): https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/sector/energyandnaturalresources/

• University of Exeter Career Zone sector page Earth Resources:https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/sector/earthresources/ 

• Cornish Lithium: https://cornishlithium.com/

• Green Futures Solutions blog article on sustainability and mining: https://greenfuturessolutions.com/news/sustainability-and-the-need-for-mining/

• Gov UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)  Action Plan: 2022-2025: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63d418638fa8f5188ae8f77b/beis-sme-action-plan-2022-to-2025.pdf

• UN sustainable development goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals

8 Surprising Sources of Career Inspiration

In this episode, Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Career Consultant shares top tips and ideas for inspiration to help you to think of your next steps.

 

Useful links:

• Explore options with your degree by visiting the What can I do with my degree? webpages.
• Explore different sector and occupations 
• Help with researching  career options  
• Help with researching sectors and employers 
• Attend one of our guidance sessions including ‘Get started with thinking about careers’, ‘Research your career options and ideas’ and ‘Discover your strengths to find a job that suits you’. Book via Handshake

What are you going to do when you graduate?

At some point as a student, you’ve probably been asked ‘what are you going to do when you graduate?’. It can be a daunting question and it’s ok not to know. In this episode, Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Careers Consultant, shares tips and advice on how to answer this question and explores what you can do to be a proactive explorer, developing your self-awareness and skills.

Useful Links:

• Green Consultants
• Attending skills sessions such as Problem Solving, Networking Skills, Presentation Skills. These also count towards the Exeter Award, our employability achievement award.
• Volunteering with the Students’ Guild or Students’ Union.
• Future 17
• Grand Challenges

Considering a PHD: Is it right for you?

In this week’s episode, Rachel Coombes, Employability and Career Consultant speaks with Jasmine Thomas-Campbell, a current PhD student, about her journey to studying for a PhD. Jasmine shares what led her to pursue a PhD, how she found and applied for the right opportunity and why transferable skills really matter.

Useful Links:

• Choosing postgraduate study webpage (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/pgstudy/)
• Help with applying for Postgraduate Study (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/helpwith/helpwithapplyingforpostgraduatestudy/)
• Book onto skills sessions via Handshake including: Personal Resilience; Time and Stress Management and Networking Skills. 
• Find a PHD website (https://www.findaphd.com/)

AI and Sustainability: Balancing Innovation and Impact in the Workplace

Rachel Sloan, Employability and Careers Consultant explores how AI is shaping sustainability policies and procedures in the workplace. Rachel looks at both the positive and negative impacts of AI on sustainability in the workplace.

Useful Links:

• Help with researching an employer. 
• Help with using AI | Career Zone | University of Exeter

This episode was devised by Dr Dawn Lees with input from generative AI software ChatGPT, and was recorded by Rachel Sloan.

How to remain resilient during job applications

In this episode Employability and Placement Adviser, Alexa, speaks with Elly a current 4^th year Business and Management with Industrial Experience student who completed her placement year at Unilever. 

 

Here Elly and Alexa discuss how you can remain resilient and keep yourself motivated throughout recruitment processes.

 

For further support, why not book onto one of our upcoming sessions on; Personal Resilience skills sessions

Networking Essentials

Re-energising your job search sessions

LinkedIn | Career Zone | University of Exeter

Careers in Product

In this week’s episode, Oliver Laity, Careers Information and Systems Manager, is joined by Eve Carney and Allan Stewart from the University’s Digital Transformation Team, to discuss product management as a career. Eve, Head of Product, and Alan, Product Manager, share what is meant by a product management role and share their career journeys. They offer advice to students on how to get into this field, the skills to develop and where you can find opportunities.

Useful Links:

• Book onto a skills session via Handshake. Find out more on the sessions we run on our Personal and Professional Development webpage. (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/events/personalandprofessionaldevelopment/)
• Contact the University’s Digital Team to find out about work experience opportunities in product management

Law Mini-Series: International Law: in conversation with Ben Ainsley Gill, International Law Arbitration Lawyer

In our Law podcast mini-series of Autumn 2024, our Law Employability and Careers Consultants; Rachel, Tess and Sunny, talked to experienced professionals from both legal and non-legal sectors to hear their career experiences and advice.

In this bonus episode, Sunny Lalli, Employability and Career Consultant, talks to Ben Ainsley Gill, an international law arbitration lawyer.

Ben and Sunny seek to define arbitration in international business law, examining the skill sets required to work in international arbitration, discussing differentiation between practice in private international law and public international law. Together they recount tips on how to prepare a for a career in arbitration.

Further resources touched upon in the episode:

• University of Exeter Career Zone sector page on law: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/sector/law4nonlaw/
• Listen to our podcast episode on International Law with Maria Smirnova, Human Rights Officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (https://pod.fo/e/27ea18)
• You can book onto a Career Zone Networking Skills session via Handshake. 
• Vismoot: https://www.vismoot.org/
• Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court: https://www.investmentmoot.org/

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