Hi everyone, my name is Arjun and I’m a Business Management student at Surrey. I hope you are having a great 2021 so far! In this post, I would like to discuss the University of Surrey’s Career Mentoring Scheme, which I have recently completed.
The Career Mentoring Scheme provides an invaluable opportunity for students, from various backgrounds, to network with an industrial professional. Therefore, it is a great learning and development initiative!
Why did I participate in the Scheme?
I chose to apply because I was unsure about how I could apply for jobs and internships. So I applied to the Scheme, which gave me the opportunity to be paired with a professional who could provide guidance.
Equally, I wanted to learn about the business world, outside of my current undergraduate degree.) Through the Scheme, I was able to learn and gain real insights from my mentor.
Also, the individual and flexible format provided a unique opportunity to boost my professional development. Consequently, I have been able to enhance my LinkedIn, cover letters and CV.
My six key learnings
In a broad sense, the Scheme has enabled me to gain a new perspective on the working world and myself! Here are the six things that I have learnt:
- Find and know your ‘why’
- Keep everything simple!
- Be passionate about what you do (and want to be)
- Believe in yourself
- Celebrate your achievements!
- Reflect on your performance (successes and pitfalls)
My next four steps to success
Moving forward, I strive to enter the working world with more confidence and greater commercial awareness. To ensure this, I will continue to do these four things:
- Reflect upon my past experiences and learn from them going forward
- Do more research about different industries
- Practise my communication skills
- Apply for different roles with more confidence
My verdict…
Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed the Careers Mentoring Scheme, and I am delighted to have taken part in it. From it, I have grown leaps and bounds, in a short space of time, whilst gaining life-long advice. It has equally been amazing to network and get to know my mentor, who has inspired me to evolve significantly as an individual!
I would highly recommend it to any student, as it provides an amazing springboard for development and growth.
