A meeting of minds
Choosing a career is an exciting but daunting prospect for many final year students. Through our eMentoring scheme, over 360 alumni have generously offered their time and expertise to help students taking these first tentative steps.
Meet student Laura and mentor Paul (Chemistry, 1995)
Laura: “I’m looking at a career in Biotech and the Pharmaceutical industry, so I really wanted to connect with someone who knows first-hand exactly what the industry is like. Paul was ideal for me - he worked in a post-doc laboratory at Nottingham and has built a very successful career. He is now Senior Vice-President for a biopharmaceutical company in Denmark.”
Paul: “Mentoring Laura has been very rewarding. It’s undeniably good to give back on a professional level but the process has motivated me personally too. I spent six years studying at Nottingham, which opened doors to possibilities I hadn’t anticipated. Working through the difficulties and challenges faced by current students like Laura has given me a new appreciation of the lessons I learnt building my own career.”
Laura: “The process is online so you can connect with anyone around the world. It’s easy to take part - we started with some background about me and what I was interested in, then we talked about Paul’s experiences. I asked lots of questions and have gained invaluable knowledge about the industry and the idea of working abroad.”
Paul: “eMentoring allows a conversation to develop in a well thought out process over a period of time. It’s asynchronous so the mentor and mentee can think about their responses and thoughts have time to mature before we correspond which helps get the best out of both parties.”
Laura: “I did extensive online research, went to careers events – I’m one of those people who maxes out on the Careers Service – but thanks to Paul’s support, I now I have a much stronger understanding of the industry and what I want to do. Thank you Paul for taking the time to share your insights with me.”
Paul: “I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The biggest challenge for anyone leaving university is working out what you want to do next. Only then can you plan how to achieve it. The world is full of opportunities but it’s no good if you don’t know what they are. I genuinely felt that I could help Laura discover new possibilities, and have gained a connection to a talented young person who wants to make a difference in the world.”
We have a wide range of volunteering opportunities available now. Whether you have 30 minutes or want a more long term commitment, find a role to suit you.