Keeping in touch

I hope you have enjoyed reading the last few employability newsletters, and especially the “What SSIS students do next…” section. Below is our latest instalment from Craig Brown (Arabic and Middle East studies, 2013) who I interviewed about his experiences studying at Georgetown University, and his work since. Craig and I have kept in touch through LinkedIn, and like many alumni, I drop him a line from time to time, usually to ask him for something like a profile! I also post graduate job opportunities on LinkedIn, and of course, you can access the Career Zone for up to 3 years after you graduate.

We always like to hear about what students do after graduating, and furthermore, we need to know for a survey called DLHE – Destination of Leavers from Higher Education. You are surveyed 6 months after you graduate and this data provides us with useful information which contributes to league tables and helps us identify popular career destinations, so we can work more with those employers. 

Once again the University of Exeter is working with GradFinale to produce an official University Graduate Yearbook for all undergraduate students due to graduate in the summer of 2016. You can personalise your entry, thank people who have helped you along the way and upload photos. To register and make sure you are included in the yearbook, please click here. 

Keeping in touch is a two way process – to find out more about what opportunities are available to you after graduation, check out the alumni website.

There’ll be at least one final edition of the newsletter this academic year – look out for our Internship Special – out in May!

Julia Paci
Employability and Outreach Manager, SSIS

• Careers in the Humanitarian Sector

Date: Wednesday 10th February 

Time: 2:45pm - 4:00pm

Venue: Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, LT2

If you see working in an NGO or humanitarian charity as a career goal, this event is not to be missed! Hear from a panel of speakers who each have different experiences of working "in the field". Our panellists will talk about their own experiences of how their careers developed, be it through a linguistic, research or legal training route. As well as three panellists in the room, if the technology allows us, we will skype in to a fourth panellist - Mike Sanderson - currently deployed with the Danish Refugee Council in Lesbos where he is overseeing the processing of Syrian refugees. Find out more about developing a similar career path and join us for drinks and networking from 4pm.

For more information and to book onto this event please visit: http://ex.ac.uk/akp

Upcoming Careers Consultants Talks:

• Making the most of an employer presentation: networking with confidence

Date: Monday 15th February 

Time: 10:00 - 11:00am

Venue: Forum Exploration Lab 2

This session covers all you need to know about developing the confidence to approach employers at presentations and learn more about what they offer.

To book onto this event please visit: http://ex.ac.uk/akq

• The Mock Assessment Centre

Date: Tuesday 16th February

Time: 9:30 - 11:30

Venue: Amory B105 Seminar Room

This session is designed as a mock assessment centre to give you an opportunity to take part in some typical assessment centre activities to get a feel for what one might be like and receive feedback on your performance.

To book onto this event please visit: http://ex.ac.uk/ah7

• Learning from Experience - CVs

Date: Tuesday 23rd February 

Time: 10:00 - 11:00am

Venue: Building One, Matrix Lecture Theatre

This session will help you to produce a CV and cover letter which will have real impact.

To book onto this event please visit: http://ex.ac.uk/akr

• How to get an Internship

Date: Thursday 10th March 

Time: 10:30 - 11:30am

Venue: Building One: Matrix Lecture Theatre

This sessions covers everything you need to know about finding, and securing, an  internship.

To book onto this event please visit: http://ex.ac.uk/aks

• Exeter Student Law Review Employability Skills Evening

Date: Thursday 10th March

Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm

Venue: Building One: Bateman Lecture Theatre (venue subject to change - please contact Darell Pang for confirmed venue)

The Exeter Student Law Review is delighted to invite three members of their Honorary Board down to speak about the skills inherent to successful legal trainees. Students will get the chance to interact with senior lawyers from Magic Circle law firms and receive advice on how to hone their employability skills whilst at university. This is an excellent insight opportunity for those intending to find out more about a firm's professional expectations from trainees and vacation scheme students. 

The speakers for the evening will be Exeter alumni Ashley Prebble (Partner at Clifford Chance), Exeter Alumni Steve Edge (Partner at Slaughter & May) and Rob Merkin QC (Professor at the University of Exeter)

• The UK/EU Relationship - a view from the Commission in London 

Date: Monday 15th February 

Time: 2:30 - 3:30pm 

Venue: Newman Red LT

Join the Exeter European Law Society for a talk hosted by Jacqueline Minor, the European Commission's Head of Representation in the United Kingdom since 2013.

Hear an insider's tale of community tensions in light of British euro-scepticism; a fantastic opportunity to get your head around the 'Brexit' debate.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A session, so please have your questions ready!

All students are welcome to attend, no booking necessary.

• Have a view on careers events and talks?

Here's your chance to tell us about them by completing this quick survey: 'Truth behind the Title' Careers Survey

• Annual Fund applications - Round 2 now open!

Applications are now open for Round 2 of Annual Fund disbursements this year. The Annual Fund invites applications from students and staff for projects that enhance the student experience at Exeter. Further information is available online, along with the application form. Applications to ‘Round 2’ close on Friday 11 March – applications should be sent directly to annualfund@exeter.ac.uk please.

This is the final application window for disbursements in this financial year.

Career Mentor Scheme applications now OPEN!

The Career Mentor Scheme is a unique opportunity for all current students to be matched with an experienced professional to gain one-to-one careers advice, support and guidance into their profession and sector for six months (May–Oct 16). Applications are open 25th January - 6th March, and work on a first come first served basis. Mentors from a wide range of sectors are available to provide personal help and advice on careers issues and job hunting as well as giving their mentee an insight into their particular industry.

To find out more go to: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/research/mentor/

We will be holding a Showcase Evening, providing you with the chance to find out more about the scheme over free pizza at 6:30pm on 11th February. Book your place here.

• British Council Generation UK-India: Teaching Assistantships 2016

Applications are now open for the Generation UK-India teaching assistantships. For more information and how to apply please click here. The deadline for applications is 19th February 2016.

Craig Browne (Arabic and Middle East Studies, 2013)

1. What do you think your IAIS degree prepared you best for in terms of further study and careers? "I think the amazing range and depth of IAIS allowed me to explore several different topics of interest while I was at Exeter. This helped to keep my options open in an otherwise narrow field. And of course, an IAIS degree in helps you to stand out from the crowd."

2. When did you start applying for postgraduate study overseas and how did you decide who to apply for? "I knew while I was on my year abroad in Damascus that I wanted to continue learning about the region. I still didn't have a focus, but found so many different aspects of life in the region to be fascinating. I actually applied before Christmas in my final year at Exeter, but had spent the summer studying for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) exams, and most of the first semester of my final year preparing my applications. I ended up at Georgetown, in Washington, DC, because of its perfect location in terms of learning about the Middle East in international politics, and because the School of Foreign Service there is unbeatable."

3. Do you have any application tips for current students? "When applying for universities in the US, start early. Speak to people who have been through the process. Get to know some of your professors well so that you'll have some good references. Don't underestimate the GREs. Get in touch with students already in the programme you're interested in. Really focus on whether the faculty in that specific programme will suit your interests, and reach out to them, or at least read something they've written."

4. Describe your PG study and how it's helped you achieve your current post. "The Arab Studies MA at Georgetown was intense. The workload was a lot, and it was very intellectually challenging. You're constantly surrounded by very smart people, which definitely pushes you. I learned to be extremely critical, to work quickly but accurately, and to network like mad. All of these things set me up for my first position after I graduated, as I worked as a Syria Analyst providing reports to aid organizations working inside Syria. The skills I developed in this job, combined with networking, landed me the job I have just started; Reports Officer for the World Food Programme in Iraq."

5. What are you doing now and how have your degrees and work experience helped you get this post? "I think that your studies, combined with work experiences, build on each other slowly. As Reports Officer I rely on my experience in the Middle East, and my writing experience. At first I gained experience writing the odd article for Exepose while I was on my year abroad, followed by internships in Hamburg and Cairo, and then in my final year as Site Manager and Online Editor for Exepose. When I went on to Georgetown I was able to get better opportunities because of the experiences I had built up at Exeter. My current job with the UN is definitely a result of that steady process of building experience."

6. Any final tips for students at Exeter? "As fun as nights out in Exeter can be, try to make sure you have something productive going on each semester. It might be a little tedious at first, but you never know where you might end up if you put a little effort in early on."