Career Zone Podcast

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)

 Transcript of the podcast: Word | PDF

Finding a part time job

In this episode of the Career Zone podcast, Rachel Haddy, Employability and Placements Adviser, explores how you can find part-time jobs and shares her top tips to boost your applications. Rachel discusses where to search for roles both on and off campus, exploring sectors like hospitality and retail, and highlights opportunities through the university's Handshake platform. Plus, Rachel provides insights on how to balance work with your academic schedule, visa considerations for international students, and how to tailor your applications to stand out. Whether you’re looking to earn extra income or gain valuable experience, this episode is packed with practical advice for your job search.

This episode was written by Jen Hardwick and Rachel Haddy and was recorded by Rachel Haddy.

 

Links:

• Streatham/St Luke’s- For paid job roles working at bars, cafes and shops on campus, students can express their interest by completing this form.
• Penryn- For casual jobs on campus at Penryn, you can check the FX Plus website for the latest vacancies.  You can also approach the outlets at Penryn in person.
• Find out more about Student Campus Partnership roles
• Find out more about Student Business Partnership roles here.
• Check out the support available from the Student Startups Team here.
• For international students, see advice about working in the UK here and contact the International Student Support team if you need further advice and guidance.
• You can book onto skills and advice sessions, including ‘Creating a Successful CV’ and ‘Finding a Part-Time Job’ via Handshake here.
• You can contact the Career Zone directly by using the Live Chat on this webpage.

Transcript:

Finding a part time job transcript - PDF version

Finding a part time job transcript - Word version

 

CVs of Failure: How can they be helpful?

In this week’s episode Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant explores the concept of a CV of Failure. Employers will often ask you about the times when you have ‘failed’ in job interviews. They are not really interested in your failure, but they do want to see how you responded to it. Rachel discusses how developing a CV of Failure can help you prepare for interviews and how to best answer this question.

Links:

• CV writing resources https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/helpwith/helpwithcvscoverlettersandapplications/
• How to…webpage https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/helpwith/

References:

Iske, P. L., & Bovelander, M. (2019). Institute of brilliant failures: make room to experiment, innovate, and learn. (No Title).

Stefan, M. A CV of failures. Nature 468, 467 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nj7322-467a

 

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

What are career management skills?

In this episode, Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, explores career management skills and how they can help you to manage your career throughout your life. Rachel discusses the different types of skills and attributes you need to manage your career including  decision making, adaptability and resilience.

Links and resources:

• Build your self-awareness with the Profiling for Success assessments.
• Book onto a skill session via Handshake. Topics include negotiation skills  and networking.
• Listen to our podcasts on Spotify and iTunes:

• • Decide: How do I choose a career? iTunes / Spotify
  • Plan: I know what I want to do, but how do I get there? iTunes / Spotify
  • Compete: How to succeed in getting a job iTunes / Spotify
  • Should you do something you are passionate about or something you are good at? iTunes / Spotify

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

The importance of lifelong learning

In this episode, Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, discusses the importance of continuous development and lifelong learning in the workplace. Rachel shares how you can cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning and how this can help you to develop your confidence and positively impact your ability to take on new challenges.

Useful Links:

•  Alumni can access Career Zone support for three years after you leave and you can access some of our online support forever. https://www.exeter.ac.uk/alumnisupporters/benefits/careerssupport/
• Listen to our podcast on ‘What is CPD (Continued professional Development)? On Spotify and iTunes
• Whether you’re exploring options, planning your next steps or actively applying for opportunities, listen to our Get Ready to Graduate Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TO6M7p79NHeq9Tk4Q4UtV?si=286e0934abf74b61

 

Collaborative success: navigating job applications

In this week’s episode, Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, focuses on collaboration, a skill many employers want in their recruits. Rachel will explore the nuances between teamwork and collaboration, why having this skill is important for employers and how you can showcase your collaborative skills on your CV.

Useful links:

• Grand Challenges (www.exeter.ac.uk/grandchallenges)  
• Green Consultants (www.exeter.ac.uk/greenconsultants)  
• Exeter Leaders Award (www.ex.ac.uk/exeterleadersaward)

This podcast was written by Dawn Lees, utilising input from ChatGPT and recorded by Rachel Sloan.

How to ask for help in the workplace

Asking for help can feel daunting, but it's a huge strength that shows confidence and a commitment to progress. In this episode Rachel Haddy, Employability and Placements Adviser, explores how to ask for help in the workplace effectively, from identifying what you need to choosing the right person and timing.

 

Links:

• Book onto a skill session such as Problem Solving or Persuading, Influencing and Negotiation via Handshake 
• Listen to our episode on Transitioning from study into a first role. Listen on Spotify and iTunes
• To support your transition from university into employment or further study, visit our Get Ready to Graduate webpage
• Get ready to graduate with our Spotify playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TO6M7p79NHeq9Tk4Q4UtV?si=c76faef068b44922 

Why work abroad?

In this episode, Bryanna, an Employability and Placements Adviser speaks to Charlotte who is a current fourth year Modern Languages student studying French and Spanish, about why working abroad can be a great option.

Charlotte spent last year teaching English in France to secondary school students, and also spent some extra time in Spain Au Pairing. Bryanna and Charlotte will be discussing the topic of working abroad to understand a little more about the benefits of it and why others might want to consider working abroad. 

Student Circus: Job support for international students

In this episode of the Career Zone podcast, Mel Nearchou from Student Employability and Academic Success, introduces Student Circus, a valuable resource for international students at the University of Exeter. With insights from Tripti Maheshwari, Co-Founder of Student Circus, and Aryan Jain, a Student Circus ambassador, discover how this platform can help you navigate job-hunting in the UK. Learn top tips for using Student Circus and how to connect with ambassadors for further assistance.

 

Links:

• For current students: https://exeter.studentcircus.com/login
• For alumni: https://exeter.studentcircus.com/alumni-student-registration/WHZQYnp1cEhtRC9kMjB6OWl5SHBaZz09
• Ambassador application : https://exeter.joinhandshake.co.uk/edu/jobs/119893
• Aryan Jain’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryanjain16/

What to expect when applying for a teaching role as an Early Career Teacher (ECT) Part 3: Simon Holmes, Assistant Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form at Purbeck School

In this week’s episode Luke Graham, Deputy of Secondary Education at the School of Education, is joined by Simon Holmes, Assistant Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form at Purbeck School, to discuss what ECTs can expect when applying for a role. Simon shares what the recruitment process looks like, what they are looking for in candidates and they share their top tips.

Acronyms and Links

• ECT - Early Career Teacher
• ITT - Initial Teacher Training
• TES, formally known as Times Education Supplement
• If you're thinking of a career in teaching you can find more resources and opportunities on the Aspiring Teachers website