Career Zone Podcast

Sunny Lalli, an Employability and Career Consultant explores the process of settling into a new job role with Rob McKellar, alum of the University of Exeter and a practicing solicitor. In this episode we examine methods to leverage rapid onboarding, strategies to allay anxieties and how mentoring can deepen connections to enable integration into a new job role and organisation. 

In this episode, Bryanna, an Employability and Placements Adviser, speaks with Penny a final year Modern Language student who completed a Work Abroad year last year in Barcelona, Spain.  Penny shares her personal experiences from her year abroad in Spain and answers a few of the most frequently asked questions we receive about this module.

Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant explores how you can use challenges in your life to your advantage on applications and at interviews. All of us have been through tough times, maybe a goal or achievement you had your heart set on did not happen or your plans were disrupted by a factor outside of your control. Rachel explores how the skills and attributes you may have developed can...

In this week’s episode, David Pritchard, Employability and Career Consultant is joined by Erica Sosna, CEO of Career Matters to discuss ‘The Career Equation’. Erica and David discuss the notion of graduate success and what this actually means in today’s world.   Find out more about the Career Equation.

Mair George is a freelance portfolio worker, and in this episode of the Career Zone podcast, she discusses the realities of working on a freelance basis, the importance of building professional relationships and shares the human only skills you’ll need to thrive as a freelancer. Mair explains the importance of having a growth mindset and how entrepreneurial thinking has helped her in her career.  ...

In this week’s episode, Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, explores whether you should go into something you are passionate about or something you are good at. Rachel explains what we mean regarding passion and skills and shares the questions you should ask yourself when making a decision of which to follow.     Links:  You can book a 1-1 guidance appointment with an Employability...

When we use our strengths, we are more productive, perform better, and are more engaged in our work. By identifying our strengths, we can identify opportunities that require those attributes and that will give us greatest pleasure and satisfaction. We also impress employers who like to understand what makes us give our best. Listen to Employability and Career Consultant Fiona Hartley talking to re...

In this week’s episode Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant explores why it’s important to write in plain English when applying for jobs and shares 5 things to avoid when writing CVs, cover letters and application forms.     This episode was devised by Dawn Lees, written by Rae Roberts and recorded by Rachel Sloan.      Links:  Link to CV, Cover Letter and Application Forms sessions o...

Kathryn, an Employability and Placement Adviser speaks with Samah, a current 4th year Accounting and Finance student who completed her industrial placement at Warner Bros. Discovery UK last year.  Samah shares her experience of searching for and securing a placement and her top tips on how to stay motivated and resilient during your placement search.    You can book a 1-2-1 appointment with a memb...

As part of Go Green Week, Helen Hicks, Programme Officer for Green Consultants, talks to Alice Dunsmore, an Environmental Adviser at Costain and Barnaby Tagart, an Environmental and Sustainability Manager at BW. Alice and Barnaby share how completing the Green Consultants programme has helped then with their careers. They also discuss the impact they have on sustainability in their current roles a...

As part of Neurodiversity celebration week, Mel Nearchou, Faculty Lead in the Business School, discusses the careers support available to neurodiverse students. Mel is joined by colleagues from the Career Zone including Employability and Career Consultant, Kate Foster, who discusses the support available to students on disclosure, including how to disclose, when to disclose and how to look for emp...

In this episode, celebrating International Women’s Day, Sunny Lalli, Employability and Careers Consultant, is joined by Joy and Shiryn, to discuss the benefits of mentoring, strategies to securing a mentor, and how mentoring can be harnessed as powerful resource for implementing equality and progression in the workplace.

Whatever the situation, there are principles that can be used to ensure you get your point across effectively so that you’re heard and understood. Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, shares six steps to ensure your are listened to and that what you have to say is understood correctly.   This episode was devised by Dawn Lees, written by Rae Roberts and recorded by Rachel Sloan.   Lin...

In this week’s episode, as part of International Women’s Day, Sophie Binder, Learning and Development Manager, introduces the new Exe-Change the Norm programme running at the university. Sophie discusses why it has been created, what it involves and how you can get involved. Exe-Change the Norm is free and open to all University of Exeter students, across all campuses. The four training sessions c...

In this week’s episode, Lucy Robinson, Global Employability Support Officer, is joined by students Megan, Layton and Ben to discuss their experience of taking part in the trip to Barcelona supporting the European Association for International Education conference as part of the Global Leaders Experiences. They share why they decided to apply, the skills they developed from the assessment centre an...

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, Julia Paci, Partnership Development Manager for Degree Apprenticeships is joined by alumni Oscar Milverton Gatta. Julia and Oscar discuss the benefits of choosing to complete a Degree Apprenticeship for both the employer and employee. Oscar also shares the impact of completing a Degree Apprenticeship has had on his career and his advice for those thinking o...

In this week's episode Sunny Lalli, Employability and Career Consultant is joined by guest speakers Dylan and John to examine the challenges of a change in career and the resources you can deploy to help manage the change. Sunny also discusses how to recognise when a change is needed and how change management skills can boost your resilience.    If you are navigating change there is plenty of help...

If you’re feeling like you are unable to decide what to do next or that you’re stuck going down a career path that doesn’t feel right, you’re not alone. In this week’s episode Rachel Sloan, Employability and Career Consultant, looks at stuckness exploring why you might be feeling stuck and the steps you can take to try and unstick yourself. If you are feeling stuck there is plenty of help availabl...

In this episode, Alexa, an Employability and Placements Adviser, shares 5 reasons as to why you should think about undertaking a placement or gaining work experience within a Third Sector organisation, or an SME (small and medium size enterprise). If you would like to book an appointment with an Employability and Placements Adviser to discuss work experience within these types of organisations, or...

In this episode, Marley Pradieu, Programme Assistant, is joined by students Katya, Kiera and Olivia to share their experiences of what it was like to take part in Grand Challenges. They discuss why they got involved and how taking part in the week has helped to develop their employability skills.   Grand Challenges is a project week, in which students work in interdisciplinary groups to design inn...

In this week’s episode Rachel Sloan, Employability and Careers Consultant, explores why reflecting on a situation is important in terms of your employability. This episode was written by Laura Lawrence and recorded by Rachel Sloan. For more support on how you can develop your employability including help with self-awareness and help with developing your skills , visit the Career Zone webpages.  

In this week’s episode, Rhianna Skeates, Employability and Placements Adviser, shares her experience of overcoming self-doubt to end up in a career they never expected to be in and why it is important to understand what motivates you. Rhianna discusses the career opportunities available despite any perceived barriers you may have.  More information on the support mentioned in the podcast can be fo...

In our Law mini-series podcast, Rachel Gaunt Employability and Careers Consultant for the Law School, talks to Law sector professionals about their career experiences. Kelly graduated from the University of Exeter with an LLB in Law in 2020. She has now returned to work in her home country as a Legal Executive at Securities and Futures Commission after studying in the UK for 6 years. Hear about Ke...

In this week’s episode Rachel Sloan, Employability and Careers Consultant, is joined by Sawsan Khuri, Innovation Specialist and Facilitator. Sawsan discusses her entrepreneurship journey, how risk taking has shaped her journey and how she has stayed resilient. Sawsan also shares her advice to students who have an idea for a business and the support that they can access.   Relevant Links: Volt entr...

In our Law mini-series podcast, Rachel Gaunt Employability and Careers Consultant for the Law School, talks to Law sector professionals about their career experiences. Duncan is an English-qualified solicitor and senior associate at the law firm Osborne Clarke. He is originally from Devon in the UK but currently lives and works in Munich, Germany. Hear about Duncan’s decision to pursue a career in...