Career Zone Podcast

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)

Global Leaders in action: Student experiences and stories that inspire

This week Zuzanna Radecka, Partnerships and Global Employability Officer, is joined by students Hannah and Josh, to discuss their experience of taking part in the EAIE Conference. Hannah and Josh share how they have applied the skills they developed from their Global Leaders Experience to real life situations, how their experience has influenced their career aspirations and provide advice to students considering applying for a Global Leaders Experience.

The Global Leaders Experience is a unique opportunity to develop your intercultural skills as part of a short, outbound mobility experience. Typically a week in duration and covering themes such as sustainability, human rights and digital heritage, you will travel to a significant city or location outside of the UK and be immersed in the local environment, presented with real-world challenges and work closely with a diverse range of other students and professionals.

Understanding Commercial Awareness

In this week’s podcast, we consider commercial awareness in your job search and future career: what is it, why employers value it and how it can benefit you. Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, explores how you can improve yours and how your commercial awareness will be assessed when you are applying for jobs. 

Useful Links:

• Explore sectors and opportunities on the Career Zone website. 
• Use the University Library Guides to find company information. 
• Access Industry Reports on My Career Zone Digital. 
• Find out more about the range of employability schemes available to Exeter students. 
• Forage provides access to virtual work experience programmes with some of the world’s leading companies. 
• For more advice on finding internships and work experience and finding a part time job, sign up for an advice session on Handshake. 
• Use Glassdoor to discover what an employer is really like through reviews and ratings from people who have worked for them. 
• The Student Room has forums where students discuss work in different industries and sectors. 
• Use you Exeter email address to register and explore Employer Job Guides on Graduates First. 

This episode was written by Melissa Benson and recorded by Rachel Sloan.

Law Mini-Series: Getting a placement and a training contract with no family background in Law: In conversation with Molly Miles, Fourth Year LLB with Professional Placement student.

In this episode Tess Read, Employability and Career Consultant, talks to undergraduate Molly Miles, on her experience of getting a placement and a training contract. Molly shares her experience of how she found a placement just by speculative asking, how much she enjoyed her year, and how it led to that prized goal - a fully funded training contract.

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

Other links:

If you're a current Exeter student, you can book onto a Time and Stress Management session via Handshake. 

How can upReach help you?

Kate Foster, Employability and Career Consultant, is joined by recent alumni Evie to discuss upReach, a social mobility charity that partners with the Career Zone to support students in receipt of the Access to Exeter bursary to develop their employability. With 28% of current students receiving a bursary, Evie shares how she found out about upReach, the activities she got involved with and the advice she would give to her first year self.

You can find out more about upReach and whether you are eligible for support on the upReach website.

What is a master CV and why should you keep one?

In this week’s episode Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Career Consultant, focuses on the importance of having a master CV. Nicky explains what they are, why it is good practice to keep one and explores the kind of experiences you can include in yours.

 

Useful Links:

• Sign up and complete The Exeter Award
• Book onto a skill session via Handshake
• Access the online training for Green Consultants
• Find out more about Professional Pathways
• Check out out Help with CVs webpage
• Listen to our CV of Failure  episode.