Hi, I’m Avellina, a recent Biology graduate from Bristol and I’m here to tell you how in my final year all my worries about job hunting, choosing the wrong career and job applications vanished and it’s all thanks to Bristol Connects.
With graduation looming, all the responsibilities and changes that were coming up weighed heavily on my back. For the first time in 17 years, my life wouldn’t be structured by exams, lectures and academic calendars. Instead, my life would diverge into an entirely new, unique path as I pursued my first job.
Amongst the excitement, fear and the uncertainty for what lay ahead, one thought routinely replayed in my head: How am I going to achieve my dream career?
Not only was it difficult to find jobs, but choosing exactly what I wanted to pursue when there are so many options out there was tricky. With an average of 30,000 graduate job vacancies advertised per month and 2.3 million graduates searching alongside me, the thought of the intense competition was overwhelming. CVs, cover letters, interviews, selection processes, presentations … it goes on and on and on.
Enter Bristol Connects …
Luckily, I was introduced to Bristol Connects, the University’s online platform which enables students and alumni to search for and connect with a career mentor. Upon registering, I was met with a diverse directory of career mentors I could contact. Each mentor had an extensive biography which included their experiences and background, along with what guidance they could provide, such as career advice, internship enquiries and CV checks.
In a frenzy I immediately started searching and came across the perfect mentor. She was a woman in STEM, a biologist in the research sector and had experience working abroad – she was the perfect person to help answer my burning questions. I contacted her and she accepted and replied within a few hours. After I introduced myself, she quickly suggested a Zoom meeting. Delighted, I suggested a time and we got a meeting set.
The Zoom meeting was everything I needed to get myself motivated and excited for the future. We discussed her career, my own concerns about the research career path and what I could do to make myself a better candidate when it comes to applying for jobs. By the end, I was confident with all the decisions I was making and thanked her for all her time and advice.
All’s well that ends well …
I couldn’t believe a simple click of a button made all my graduation-crisis stress disappear. Bristol Connects was such a simple way to network with relevant experts and gain feedback and advice needed to increase my chances of finding a job.
This free platform is here to stay, and I could not recommend it enough. Take this opportunity to boost your career insights and sign up to Bristol Connects today.