Career Zone Podcast

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

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/