Career Zone Podcast

Grand Challenges: Social Inequality - Students perspectives, part 2

In this week’s episode Olivia, a Student Programme Assistant, is joined by students who completed the Social Inequality Challenge in 2023. Ellen and Maya discuss their project that involved creating an informative and accessible booklet and campaign regarding safety in Exeter in order to help new students feel more confident and safe at university. They share their experiences of completing Grand Challenges, their motivations for joining and the skills they developed throughout the week. 

 Grand Challenges is a project week in which you work in interdisciplinary groups with other like-minded students to design innovative solutions to real world challenges. Top academics and invited speakers share their views and help you apply your skills and knowledge to a real-life problem. It’s open to all students and sign up for Grand Challenges 2024 is now open! Sign ups close on 28 March 2024.

Sign up for Grand Challenges or find out more on the Grand Challenges webpage.

Disclosing Neurodiversity in the recruitment process: In conversation with Sharon Cant, Recruitment Marketing Specialist at Auticon

As part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Kate Foster, Employability and Career Consultant, is joined by Sharon Cant, Recruitment Marketing Specialist at Auticon, to discuss neurodiversity in the workplace. Sharon shares her advice on disclosing in the recruitment process as well as the accommodations you can ask for. Sharon also shares her advice on finding a supportive employer.

Useful Links:

• Neurodiversity pages on the Career Zone website: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/equality/neurodiversity/
• University of Exeter Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2024 

• Auticon - auticon UK careers

• EmployAbility (employ-ability.org.uk): Employability is an organisation that helps disabled and dyslexic people with the transition from education to employment. 

• Evenbreak | Accessible job search site for disabled people: Evenbreak is a social enterprise that supports disabled people to find employment. 

• Enna: Enna offer support for neurodivergent people to find employment including a jobs board for roles at neuroinclusive employers. 
• Diversita: A recruitment agency that assists neurodiverse job seekers and works with organisations to hire neurodiverse applicants. 
• Exceptional Individuals: Another platform for neurodivergent job seekers where they offer support and provide a jobs board. 
• Leonard Cheshire Change 100 Internship Programme: A flagship programme of paid summer work placements, professional development and mentoring. It aims to remove barriers experienced by disabled people in the workplace, to allow them to achieve their potential. 
• SourceAbled by Rangam: a career portal and guidance for disabled, autistic and neurodivergent people
• MyPlusStudents Club: support disabled students and graduates into employment

 

Grand Challenges: Mental Health - Students perspectives, part 2

In this week’s episode Christiana, Programme Assistant, is joined by students Ben, Lauren, Sam and Abbi who completed the Mental Health Challenge in 2023. Ben, Lauren and Sam discuss their project that involved creating an e-book aimed at parents of pre-teens/teens on navigating social media consumption. 

Olivia, a Student Programme Assistant, is joined by Julia, Indira, Ronia and Lorenzo to discuss their experiences of working on a proposal for an accessibility widget on the iExeter app.    

Both groups discuss their experiences of completing Grand Challenges, their motivations for joining and the skills they developed throughout the week. 

Grand Challenges is a project week in which you work in interdisciplinary groups with other like-minded students to design innovative solutions to real world challenges. Top academics and invited speakers share their views and help you apply your skills and knowledge to a real-life problem. It’s open to all students and sign up for Grand Challenges 2024 is now open! Sign up for Grand Challenges or find out more on the Grand Challenges webpage.  

Environmental Consultancy: In Conversation with Amy Horn-Norris Bradbury, Director of Spalding Associates

In this episode, Dave Gyll-Murray, Employability and Placement Adviser is joined by University of Exeter alumna Amy Horn-Norris Bradbury, Director of Spalding Associates, an environmental consultancy based in Truro. Dave and Amy discuss career pathways, getting work experience, and some valuable skills that are sought after employers in the sector.

Useful Links:

• Environment and conservation sector pages: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/sector/environmentandconservation/ 
• Work Placements: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/jobsandworkplacements/workplacements/ 
• Green Consultants: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/employability-schemes/greenconsultants/ 

A focused employability lens for the transgender community

In this week’s episode Kate Foster, Employability and Career Consultant, is joined by Lena Worwood, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Project Support Officer at the University of Exeter. Lena and Kate explore careers from the perspective of finding a supportive employer, navigating the recruitment process and the support available in the workplace.

 

Links and resources:

• Information and advice about your rights and help with finding LGBTA+ friendly employers and jobs - https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/equality/sexualorientation/
• LGBTQ+ Staff Network at the University of Exeter https://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/inclusion/groups/networks/lgbtq+staff/
• Exeter Trans and Non-binary Café - https://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/inclusion/groups/networks/transcafe/
• Gendered Intelligence - https://genderedintelligence.co.uk/
• Stonewall - https://www.stonewall.org.uk/
• Intercom Trust, Devon - https://www.intercomtrust.org.uk/
• Proud2Be, Totnes - https://www.proud2be.org.uk/
• Not alone, Plymouth - https://www.notaloneplymouth.co.uk/
• LGBT Switchboard - https://switchboard.lgbt/ 

How to write an effective application form

In this week’s episode, Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Career Consultant, shares a simple framework for writing application forms that answers the questions that are on employers’ minds when they are assessing candidates for a job.

 

Useful Links

• You can find more support on our Help with applications pages. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/helpwith/helpwithcvscoverlettersandapplications/
• Book onto an Effective Application Form session via Handshake
• Book an appointment with the Career Zone to have your CV checked. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/about/contactus/

Grand Challenges: Climate and Environment Emergency - Students perspectives

In this week’s episode Rebecca, a Student Programme Assistant, is joined by students Savi, Marco and Anushka who took part in the Climate and Environment Emergency Grand Challenges 2023.  For their project, they developed a student organisation, the Student Sustainability Board, that provides a platform to address sustainability issues and promote positive initiatives.  They share their experiences of completing Grand Challenges, their motivations for joining and the skills they developed throughout the week.  

You can find out more about the Student Sustainability Board by following them on Instagram @ExeStudentSustainabilityBoard  

Grand Challenges is a project week in which you work in interdisciplinary groups with other like-minded students to design innovative solutions to real world challenges. Top academics and invited speakers share their views and help you apply your skills and knowledge to a real-life problem. It’s open to all students and sign up for Grand Challenges 2024 is now open! Sign up for Grand Challenges or find out more on the Grand Challenges webpage.  

In conversation with students who have completed the Green Consultants Internships

In this episode Helen Hicks, Programme Officer, is joined by students Pooja, Octavia and Bryony to talk about their experiences of completing a Green Consultants internships. Pooja, Octavia and Bryony share how they overcame feeling nervous and intimidated by the thought of their internship to enjoying their experience and recommending it to other students. They share what their internships involved, the skills they have developed and how completing a Green Consultants internship has helped them when applying for jobs.  

Green Consultants is an award winning programme designed to provide students with additional skills and experience required to work in the highly competitive environmental and sustainability sector. You can find out more about Green Consultant and access the training here.   

Grand Challenges: Future Food - Students perspectives

In this week’s episode Olivia, a Student Programme Assistant, is joined by students Hannah and Sophie who took part in the Future Food Grand Challenges 2023. Their project involved designing an app that would generate recipes with ingredients that are in season, with the hope of improving sustainability habits. They share their experiences of completing Grand Challenges, their motivations for joining and the skills they developed throughout the week. 

Grand Challenges is a project week in which you work in interdisciplinary groups with other like-minded students to design innovative solutions to real world challenges. Top academics and invited speakers share their views and help you apply your skills and knowledge to a real-life problem. It’s open to all students and sign up for Grand Challenges 2024 is now open! Sign up for Grand Challenges or find out more on the Grand Challenges webpage.  

Working in PR: In conversation with alumna Hannah Smithdale, Account Director at Edelman

In this week’s episode, Laura Ibarra Hempal, Faculty Lead for Employability (Humanities and Arts), is joined by alumna Hannah Smithdale, Account Director at Edelman to discuss what it’s like to work in PR. Hannah shares her journey from graduate to becoming an Account Director and shares what a typical day looks like for her. Hannah also talks about the skills needed to work in PR and how completing the Career Mentor Scheme helped her when making career decisions.  

 

Links:

• Career Mentor Scheme
• Interested in a Creative Career? Explore roles, build contacts and get experience with our series on in-person and virtual sessions running throughout Creative Careers Month. (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/creativecareers/)