Career Zone Podcast

Working in Higher Education: In conversation with Nathan Mayne, Professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Climates.

In this week’s episode, Dawn Lees is joined by Professor Nathan Mayne, as he shares his journey from a working class background to a successful career in academia. Nathan explores how he overcame adversity, navigating university life without a roadmap and how he has built a successful career as an academic whilst championing mental health, collaboration and support for current students. 

Nathan is a Professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Climates in the Astrophysics Group of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Exeter, U.K, and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow. He is also the Academic Director of Research Computing Infrastructure for the University of Exeter. Nathan is interested in understanding how climates evolve and how life and the planetary climate systems interact. 

Part of the Working in Higher Education mini-series

Benny's PhD Journey, Part 2

Thinking of doing doctoral research? In this episode, Kate Foster, Employability and Careers Consultant, catches up with Benny, a first year PhD student. Benny shares how his PhD is going and what he is enjoying about studying. Benny also shares the different activities he is involved with including teaching seminars, attending conferences and supporting the Mature Access Pathway programme.  

 

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.

Risk assessments: What they are and why they matter

In this episode we explore what risk assessments are, why they matter and the key skills needed to carry them out effectively. Here we explore how risk assessments play a vital role across a range of graduate careers including engineering, finance, IT and environmental roles. We share advice on how to develop your skills and gain experience, whether through societies, internships or graduate roles.

This episode was written by Dawn Lees and recorded by Rachel Sloan.

Useful links:

• Get involved with a Guild or SU or AU society.

Top Tips from International Alumni: In conversation with Bhumika and Rutuja.

In this episode, Employability and Careers Consultant Joan Wright chats with alumni Bhumika Mathkar and Rutuja Lokare, about their journeys from Mumbai to studying masters degrees and working in the UK. They discuss their experience of participating with the India Career Ready Programme and reflect on how work experience and university support shaped their journeys. They also share insights as to what it’s like to navigate the UK recruitment process as an international student.

 

Useful links:

• India Career Ready programme: The India Career Ready Programme combines a bespoke online learning programme and live workshops to give Indian students at Exeter tailored guidance with their career planning, whether they want to work in the UK or back in India after graduation.
• Book onto skills sessions via Handshake. 

Introducing Green Consultants

In this week’s episode Helen Hicks, Programme Officer talks with Harriet, one of our Student Programme Assistants about Green Consultants. Helen and Harriet discuss what is involved in completing Green Consultants, including the online learning, projects and internships. Helen shares her advice to students wanting to complete the programme and also shares how previous students have been able to use the learning they gained from completing Green Consultants in their future experiences.  

Green Consultants is an employability programme designed to provide students with skills and experience required to work in the sustainability sector. It is open to all students and you can start at anytime.

Useful Links

• Green Consultants: open to all students, start the online learning now.
• Book onto a Skills session via Handshake. 

Working in Corporate Sustainability: In conversation with alumni Mathys Reiss, Climate Action Associate

In this week's episode, Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Career Consultant, is joined by alumnus Mathys Reiss, now a Climate Action Associate working at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Mathys completed his Masters in Sustainable Business Management in 2024, and reflects on his academic journey and his transition into a career in sustainability. He shares his insights into what it's like to work within a global organisation at the forefront of corporate responsibility.

Mathys shares:

• His tips on how to stay resilient during the job hunting process.
• What he did to stand out from other applicants.
• The value of networking and making the most of local opportunities.

Useful Links:

• https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7261652140689936384/?originTrackingId=af%2F0EkrgTd%2B7%2B6NSQQv0Sw%3D%3D  - this is the video which Mathys made we referred to in the episode.
• This is the video which Mathys refers to which inspired his video https://scroll.in/video/1064546/watch-marketing-manager-gets-fired-creates-unique-video-to-present-herself-in-the-job-market
• Listen to our Planned Happenstance podcast: https://pod.fo/e/33a7e9
• Green Consultants is as an excellent opportunity to develop skills and enhance a CV in this area. Open to all students. 

Using LinkedIn without losing yourself

In this week’s episode we’re exploring the love-hate relationship many students have with LinkedIn. For some, it is a great place to find opportunities and connections. For others, it can feel like a stream of carefully curated posts that come across as performative. We explore how to use LinkedIn without losing your sense of self.  

Listen to hear:

• Top tips on promoting yourself in ways that feel natural, not forced.
• Simple steps to start engaging with posts
• How to set boundaries so LinkedIn works for you, and not the other way round.  

Useful links:

• Attend a LinkedIn Essentials session - Book via Handshake
• Sign up to the Exeter Award 
• Attend an employer event or alumni panel - book via MyCareerZone

This episode was devised by Dawn Lees and recorded by Rachel Sloan.

ADHD and Academia: In conversation with Sian Robinson, Senior Lecturer

In this week’s episode, Sian Robinson shares her career journey to becoming Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management. Sian reflects on her non-standard route into higher education and talks about the challenges and positives of having ADHD. Sian also shares the strategies that have helped her and explores how being open about neurodivergence has shaped the way she teaches and supports students.

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Sian is a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management. She is also the Programme Director for the BSc Business and Management and BSc Business Studies. 

Sian is passionate about improving the student experience, especially for inclusivity, linked with her experiences of having ADHD, and for widening participation, as a previous non-standard route entrant to higher education. She has developed inclusive programme-level initiatives, such as the 'Your Toolkit for Success' reframing student support project, introducing Focus/Writing retreats at a programme level, and the creation of a Programme Hub for information.   

Part of the Working in Higher Education mini-series

 

Global Leaders in action: Student experiences from the EAIE Conference

In this week’s episode, current students Zabi, Jeremy, Kunal and Owen, discuss their experience of taking part in the EAIE Conference. They 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.

What is EAIE? 

The EAIE is the European centre for expertise, networking and resources in the internationalisation of higher education. They are a non-profit, member-led organisation serving individuals actively involved in the internationalisation of their institutions.  

Each year, the EAIE visits an exciting city in Europe and organises a large Annual Conference for 7000+ professionals interested in international higher education. 

Useful links:

• Global Leaders Experience

Showcasing the skills from your degree

Often in careers, we talk about developing skills alongside your studies, through volunteering, societies, part time work or internships. In this episode we focus on  the skills you have gained directly from your degree and how you can articulate them with clarity and confidence.

Rachel Sloan, Employability and Careers Consultant, explores the technical, academic and personal skills you develop throughout your studies and how to demonstrate them effectively to employers in CVs, application forms and interviews using the STAR technique.  

Links:

• Attend a Careers and Employability session, book via Handshake.
• CV and Application Form support.
• Visit our 'Explore what Exeter graduates do' webpage.
• Interested in Green Consultants? Find out more (ex.ac.uk/greenconsultants)