How the Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme helped me secure a graduate role

Here at the University of Huddersfield, we are dedicated to creating an environment that prepares students for successful careers. The Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme is an initiative that pairs students with industry professionals. This programme empowers students to navigate the transition from academia to the working world. The mentoring scheme equips students with the skills and opportunities to secure graduate roles and begin their career journeys.

In this blog, we delve into the highlights of Joanne’s journey on the Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme, the skills and experiences she gained, and how this has helped her to secure her graduate role.

We also hear from Joanne’s mentor who sheds light on how the scheme has enriched her professional journey.

What drew you to the Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme?

As a master’s student approaching the end of my studies, I was aware of the competitive job market in marketing. My experience is in Higher Education marketing, so I was eager to make connections and develop new skills. The Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme seemed like the perfect opportunity to do that. I was excited to find a mentor who could support and advise me as I navigate the transition from student to professional. Whether it was polishing my CV or practising for interviews, I saw the scheme as a chance to boost my employability after graduation.

What experiences did you gain from being part of the Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme?

Being a part of the Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme has been fantastic. The scheme started with some mentee training where I learned how to make the most of the opportunities offered by the scheme. I then attended the Meet the Mentors event, where I got to meet a diverse range of potential mentors, all with their own unique backgrounds and expertise.

I was lucky enough to be paired with my first-choice mentor, which was brilliant. What made the experience so beneficial to me was the dedication my mentor showed. As the founder of a partner marketing agency, her advice and guidance really resonated with my career goals in marketing. But it wasn’t just about that – it was the depth of our conversations and her willingness to go above and beyond that made it so valuable.

Beyond just offering career advice, my mentor became someone I could really trust and lean on for support. Together, we worked through my goals for life after university, celebrated successes, and built a professional connection that will last beyond the end of the scheme. Thanks to her mentorship, I gained a deeper understanding of the industry and grew more confident in facing uncertainties I had before joining the scheme.

What skills, knowledge, and benefits have you gained?

Working with my mentor, we set clear goals from the beginning, which really helped me get the most out of this experience. Each interaction I had with my mentor helped me to enhance my skills and knowledge. One of the best parts was getting to volunteer in a social media management role, which allowed me to build on my previous experience with social media and improve my CV.

I also received personalised feedback on my CV from a director of a digital marketing agency and the operations director of my mentor’s agency. Their insights were invaluable and gave me a better understanding of what employers in my field are looking for and how I can make my CV stand out.

My mentor also stressed the importance of being prepared for the job market early on. She organised mock interviews to help me improve my interview skills and boost my confidence. These sessions were super helpful in easing my nerves and giving me the tools to present myself effectively. Through all of this, I not only gained employability skills but also deepened my understanding of the marketing industry. The combination of hands-on volunteering and expert guidance has positioned me well in the job market.

How did your mentor help you secure your graduate job?

Getting my graduate job was the highlight of the mentoring scheme and I owe a lot of it to my mentor. Right from the start she stressed the importance of starting the job search early. We went through job listings together, looking for ones that matched my skills and career goals. Even though my first interview didn’t end in success, the positive feedback I received gave me the confidence to keep going.

I then landed an interview for a role that really interested me. With insights and advice from my mentor, I went into the interview feeling confident and ready to show why I was the perfect fit. I made sure to incorporate things we had discussed in our mentorship sessions, and it paid off – I got a call the next day saying I got the job!

Looking back, I’m so grateful for my mentor’s encouragement. She really believed in me and pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, which ended up being incredibly valuable. At the start, I had only considered staying local and working for a small business. But thanks to her support, I aimed higher and landed a role as a Marketing Executive at a global company in Leeds city centre!

What advice would you give to current students considering joining the Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme?

If you’re contemplating whether to join the Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme, it’s worth it! The benefits I’ve gotten from this programme have been incredible and I can’t emphasise enough how much it’s changed things for me.

Having a mentor through this scheme was crucial for me in landing my graduate job and navigating the tough job market. I not only gained valuable work experience, but also formed a real friendship with my mentor. In today’s competitive world, having someone to help boost your employability and make you stand out is priceless.

But it wasn’t just career stuff – my mentor also helped me academically. From picking a topic for my final research project, to keeping me in the loop about industry trends, she really enriched my university experience and prepared me for what comes next. Having such a great mentor by my side gave me the confidence to grow both personally and professionally.

So, if you’re thinking about joining the scheme, my advice is simple: do it! There are endless opportunities in this scheme and the rewards are so worth it.

The Student 2 Graduate Mentoring Scheme has provided an excellent opportunity to engage with our emerging graduate talent as they prepare to enter the workplace. It was particularly rewarding to listen to Joanne's aspirations, challenge them, share my experiences, and encourage her to think on a larger scale, which she has embraced fully. Additionally, connecting her with my network has allowed others to offer their support and give back, enhancing the scheme's value. Working with Joanne has been incredibly rewarding; she is a driven individual, consistently committed to our agreed actions and constantly striving to improve. I look forward to continuing to support her as she has a very successful career. The programme has helped me develop my formal mentoring skills. Although I have done it informally in the past, I’ve not had formal training. The pre-sessions from the university were extremely helpful. They focused on listening skills, the difference between coaching and mentoring, and the boundaries for a successful engagement. It was also great that Joanne was looking for work experience and the charity I was supporting needed marketing volunteers, so it was a true win:win.

– Mentor Helen Curtis, Founder and Director of Coterie Marketing.