Grace Baranowski
By Grace Baranowski, Spanish and international media and communications student
Throughout my time at university, some of my biggest worries were always linked to what my postgraduate life and career would eventually look like. I found it very easy to get caught up in thinking that I was the only person who had no career plan or applications underway.
My third year of studies was spent working in a school in Spain, gaining experience and developing my language skills, but also opening my eyes to the wider working world and all the opportunities that were out there and readily available for me. This led me to take part in the Future Ready mentoring programme, a scheme designed to support UoN students in exploring their career goals.
What is Future Ready?
The aim of the programme is to give students the chance to connect with university careers advisers, external mentors, and other students in the same position. It’s a space in which honest discussions surrounding future ideas, goals and aims are encouraged while a range of support systems are beside you.
Weekly meetings with other students
Beginning the programme, all students were invited to attend weekly MS Teams calls covering a range of topics such as SMART goals, career planning, self-awareness and strengths, and professional communication. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.
Attending these calls with a wide range of students from a variety of schools was very eye-opening. There was a huge sense of comfort for me knowing that I was not alone in my feeling of stress and uncertainty.
My main takeaway from these initial meetings was recognising my strengths. It’s rare as a human that you are given the opportunity to freely speak about yourself in a way that isn’t judged. I was really able to look inward at my characteristics, feel proud and clearly solidify what my personal strengths were.
Matched to a UoN alumni mentor
Leading on from meetings, the team matched me with an external mentor based on my responses to an online form, including questions surrounding my studies, personality traits, goals, and reasons for participation in the programme.
Once matched with a mentor, as a participant, I independently communicated with them about what I desired from the course of the programme. My main aim throughout meetings with my mentor was to be as open as possible to gain the most out of our chats.
Being able to discuss my future one-to-one with a UoN alumni mentor was extremely liberating - I felt safe, understood, and really appreciated.
We went through:
- my past working experience
- what skills I had learned
- my hobbies and activities I like to do
- what careers fit into these aspects of my life
- additional opportunities in and outside university that can enhance my career prospects
- my CV
- how to prepare for my fourth and final year of university
It's been transformative
Overall, the Future Ready programme has been transformative for my self-confidence and professional development. I am grateful to the university and the Careers team for the opportunity and would recommend the programme to any student needing clarity or guidance on how to navigate the world of work.
Find out more about the Future Ready mentoring programme and your eligibility. Applications open on Monday 26 January.
Posted on Tuesday 27th January 2026