Previously, I spoke about partaking in the Employability Award - a scheme which helps students to increase their employability skills through mock interviews, case studies, projects and networks. It also provided a chance to meet with top employers such as Accenture and TeachFirst who sponsored the award. The end result appears on your transcript and is reflected by your increased employable skills. Therefore furthering your ability to be successful in your future career. The award also appears on your degree transcript.
What did I get out of it?
For me, I felt I really benefited from the scheme. Although I already knew the general direction of how to attain employable skills, the scheme provided a means of focus, testing your ability whilst providing feedback and helping to build your confidence.
I particularly benefited from a lecture on networking and valued all feedback we received from project appraisals. Most importantly the focus it provided has helped me to find and develop my career path!
I would really recommend this to anybody who is floundering on the edge of where to go and what to do!
Would I have done it if I knew what I know now?
Of course! I feel I wouldn't be where I am today without the guidance of the scheme. It's easy to fit around your degree with relatively simple assignments and also a great way to meet like minded people who can inspire each other.
I've recommended it to everybody who is in a similar position, so much so that, we (The History Committee), are currently trying to link the leadership award to our mentoring scheme, in order to enhance the employability of our students!
How might I do it differently?
To get the most from the award you need to make the most of its facilities. That means try to attend everything, get involved with everything and be enthusiastic. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend some of the networking evenings or fairs last year, which I will certainly be attending this coming year.
I hope to partake in the volunteering award this year via my involvement with the Youth Offending Service and if we are successful, with the leadership award via the History Committees mentoring scheme.
If you are interested, enquire at your university's career service or find it on their website.
http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/careers/la/
I hope you have as much fun as I did!
Sunday 8 July 2012
Friday 6 July 2012
A trip to Parliament and a thought on expectations.
A couple of days ago, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet my local MP at the Houses of parliament. I would assume not many people get to casually bump into famous politicians, whilst having a drink and debating with their local MP on the exclusive Strangers terrace bar in the Houses of Parliament!
Dad offered me the opportunity to go along with him, via a charity event raising money for mental support for teenagers with depression. Of course I jumped at it, considering my interest in law and politics.
The building itself is awe inspiring. As a history student it was incredible to walk where so many men and women I have studied have been. I even got to see the closet were a sufrajet locked herself in overnight before the signing of the census!
I was struck by the humanity of the people working inside parliament and the community there seemed to be. Even across opposing parties.
A particular comment got me thinking whilst I was there. It concerned weighing up people's expectations alongside their well being. - many people EXPECT to be successful and are then disappointed when they realise that they may not turn out to be the CEO of a multi billion pound company. - challenging my long held belief that if you believe in yourself enough then you can do almost anything.
So what do I expect?
I know I have a fight ahead of me. I'm not an Oxbridge student, I don't have straight A* grades and I will probably get a 2:1 rather than a 1st. So my fight will be harder than many others.
However I do have the passion and the drive to do law. And I am beginning to build my experience ahead of many others who are in the same situation.
Therefore I expect getting a training contract is going to be difficult but achievable. I expect I will struggle to work my way up quickly and know that it will be a slow and most likely a difficult climb. I need to continue to expand my experience, network and knowledge base. All of which I feel is achievable.
However I also expect I will eventually be successful and be lucky enough to be involved in a career which, I will love and follow through with enthusiastic passion for the rest of my life and be able to make a difference in the world of law. I am sure that many would consider this (myself included sometimes) expecting too much.
Yet, is it better to expect too much or too little? An applicable quote which I think answers this is, 'Aim for the moon, then if you miss, you will land amongst the stars'. (Paula Radcliffe)
Dad offered me the opportunity to go along with him, via a charity event raising money for mental support for teenagers with depression. Of course I jumped at it, considering my interest in law and politics.
The building itself is awe inspiring. As a history student it was incredible to walk where so many men and women I have studied have been. I even got to see the closet were a sufrajet locked herself in overnight before the signing of the census!
I was struck by the humanity of the people working inside parliament and the community there seemed to be. Even across opposing parties.
A particular comment got me thinking whilst I was there. It concerned weighing up people's expectations alongside their well being. - many people EXPECT to be successful and are then disappointed when they realise that they may not turn out to be the CEO of a multi billion pound company. - challenging my long held belief that if you believe in yourself enough then you can do almost anything.
So what do I expect?
I know I have a fight ahead of me. I'm not an Oxbridge student, I don't have straight A* grades and I will probably get a 2:1 rather than a 1st. So my fight will be harder than many others.
However I do have the passion and the drive to do law. And I am beginning to build my experience ahead of many others who are in the same situation.
Therefore I expect getting a training contract is going to be difficult but achievable. I expect I will struggle to work my way up quickly and know that it will be a slow and most likely a difficult climb. I need to continue to expand my experience, network and knowledge base. All of which I feel is achievable.
However I also expect I will eventually be successful and be lucky enough to be involved in a career which, I will love and follow through with enthusiastic passion for the rest of my life and be able to make a difference in the world of law. I am sure that many would consider this (myself included sometimes) expecting too much.
Yet, is it better to expect too much or too little? An applicable quote which I think answers this is, 'Aim for the moon, then if you miss, you will land amongst the stars'. (Paula Radcliffe)
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