Category: Career options

Case Study: Find out about Andreea’s journey with IKEEP!

Posted on by uobcareers

The Intrapreneurial Knowledge Exchange Enterprise Pathway (IKEEP) begins with fully funded training to equip you with the skills to drive innovation and bring fresh thinking to businesses. 

Once you’ve completed your intrapreneurial training, you can apply for a project placement and get the opportunity to take your new skills and help a business solve an innovative challenge. 

 

Andreea Patrunjel, MSc in Computer Science

Andreea Patrunjel, a postgraduate student, studying an MSc in Computer Science at the University of Bristol, took part in the IKEEP programme. She completed IKEEP’s online Intrapreneurial training and went on to apply for and take part in the 4-week project placement. She was matched with a Bristol start-up, Groundwaves, a company which have pioneered some of the most powerful haptic technology, and applied it in a footwear product, fusing the worlds of fashion and technology. 

We caught up with Andreea to hear more about her experience with IKEEP… 

 

What attracted you to participate in the IKEEP Programme?   

The IKEEP Programme appealed to me through its structure. The amazing opportunity to first complete the training aspect and gain intrapreneurial skills, such as business plan development and management skills and then use that knowledge to solve a real-life challenge within the project placement made me want to take part in this programme.   

 

What did you learn from the Intrapreneurial training? 

 The Intrapreneurial training provided me with invaluable knowledge. It was tailored in such a way that new concepts were explained very well, where you could practice what you learnt at every stage of the training.  

The interactive IKEEP video training session at the end was a nice way to go over the material we learnt from the training chapters and use breakout rooms to discuss our thoughts. It really put emphasis on how important teamwork is. The material recommended at the end of each training chapter provided numerous resources which we could access in order to enhance a particular notion.   

 

What did you learn from the business that you were matched with during the project placement?   

I have learnt how important it is to lead with passion, the power to pivot and how these can make a huge difference when you stumble upon challenges. It also gave me a good overview on how you build a start-up. It showed me how extraordinary it is to have the right people in a team to be dynamic; and the steps undertaken to turn your idea into action.  

During my team’s project placement, we worked closely with the founders of Groundwaves to tackle the future costumer base for their innovative product. The support we received from them and their open–mindedness to our ideas was truly encouraging.   

 

Would you recommend this programme to other students at the University of Bristol? 

I would definitely recommend the IKEEP programme to other students and I would encourage them to apply for the project placement as well as the intrapreneurial training because together they are a very effective and interactive learning process. The IKEEP Programme would also benefit students who have an entrepreneurial mindset but feel like they would want to work within an established company first in order to learn how to navigate becoming an entrepreneur within a company (an intrapreneur) to generate value and allow their ideas to be seen.   

 

Want to get involved?

Release your inner Intrapreneur and set your CV apart from the crowd! Register your interest with us today!

More information about the IKEEP Programme can be found on the Careers Service website.

Any queries, just drop us an email:uob-ikeep@bristol.ac.uk

 

 

 

Case Study: Senmag Robotics’s experience with IKEEP

Posted on by uobcareers

What is IKEEP? 

The IKEEP Programme consists of high-quality knowledge exchange opportunities, providing fresh perspectives and skills to enable regional businesses to grow while honing the talent of future graduates. 

Students involved will have participated in online training in a range of business areas such as managing innovation, business model development and project management. Student teams are ready to be placed within a company to develop business model solutions, improve market awareness and more! 

Senmag Robotics’s Experience with IKEEP 

Senmag Robotics took part in the IKEEP Programme this year. The student team, matched to this business, carried out market research to evaluate the most suitable markets and potential customers/early adopters for their product. They were also involved in the company’s website design, implementing improvements using HTML and CSS. 

Spyros Lavetiz, the CEO and Co-founder of Senmag Robotics

Senmag Robotics is a Bristol-based start-up and New Enterprise Competition finalist producing affordable haptic feedback technology, which allows a user to physically interact with computer simulations, making environments and objects in AR/VR feel solid. 

Spyros Lavetiz is the CEO and Co-founder of Senmag Robotics and has recently completed his final year of a master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Bristol. 

We spoke to Spyros to find out more about his experience with IKEEP…  

 

Why did you apply to the IKEEP Programme?  

Considering we are an early start up, Senmag Robotics did not have access to funding to employ interns or staff. The IKEEP Programme provided the funding required to make this project happen. As a business, we believe this programme provided essential help, and the team of students were very eager to work hard and produce top results. 

What did the student team learn during this project placement? 

The students learnt how an early start-up functions, how to carry out market research and how to cooperate in a small team of engineers to get the best possible outcome.  

How did the project benefit your business?  

The market research has provided useful insights into the markets and the companies that Senmag Robotics should target. More importantly, the website work was excellent. It was a big improvement from the previous version.  

 

Want to get involved?  

Students, if you are interested in becoming business advisors, placed within regional businesses, Sign up for our free Intrapreneurial training and start your journey with IKEEP! 

Participating businesses, Register your interest with us now, and provide your project brief with clear deliverables. 

Feel free to contact the University of Bristol IKEEP team with any questions you might have: uob-ikeep@bristol.ac.uk 

 

CPSA Case Study: Sourcing your own SME Internship

Posted on by uobcareers

As a final year BSc Psychology student, I wanted to use this year to develop my skills and experience so that I would be in a strong position to apply for graduate jobs. After taking a course on drugs and addiction as part of my degree, I realized that I felt passionate about this subject.

Paula Mesia Guevara, Career Peer Support Assistant and Final Year BSc Psychology student

I decided that I wanted to look for an internship in a related role, to help me to decide if I would enjoy working in this field. However, I was not finding many advertised opportunities for the kinds of internships I was interested in.

Through the Careers Service website I learned that students could source their own internships through the university’s SME internship scheme. (more…)

CPSA case study: Bouncing back from rejections

Posted on by uobcareers
Yun Wen Soh, Final year LLB Student and Career Peer Support Assistant

“Thank you for your application for [job name] at [company].

However, after careful consideration we regret to inform you that you have not been successful…”

Emails like this are almost inevitable during your job search. Despite knowing that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, receiving rejections can feel crushing.

 

 

Here are some practical tips to get out of the rejection rut …

Catch your negative thoughts

via GIPHY

“I am not good enough, maybe that is why I was rejected”.

“I will give up on applying for xxx company because I am a failure.”

After experiencing a rejection, you might find yourself having negative thoughts like the above. It is important to be aware of these negative thoughts and recognize them as a normal and temporary response to a setback. At times like these, it can be really helpful to practice self-compassion – imagine how you would treat a friend or loved one who had just received the same news!

Reflect

After clearing the negativity in your headspace, take this opportunity to reflect on your application, and try and isolate exactly what didn’t go the way you wanted it to. A great way to start is to carefully read any feedback the employer has provided you with. If you didn’t receive much feedback, you might be able to arrange a feedback call to ask the employer which areas you can improve on.

It can also help to talk things through with someone, and I would highly recommend booking an appointment with the Careers Service to do this. Simple steps like practicing one video interview question a day on Interview360  can also go a long way to making yourself a better candidate.

Don’t take it personally

via GIPHY

Although your peers may be posting about their achievements on LinkedIn, they also had their fair share of rejections. Searching for a job is a difficult process, and it is only natural that, no matter how great your CV is, you will be facing rejections at some point during your job search. Remember that there are many variables during a job search that are out your control – it’s best to focus on those things that you can control!

The rejection might be a blessing in disguise

It might be that you just weren’t quite the right fit with the firm culturally, in which case, a ‘rejection’ might be a good thing. If a firm’s culture does not fit yours, working there may not have been the best option for you anyway!

Remember that your first graduate job need not be your “dream job”: any first job where you have good colleagues and good bosses, who can show you the ropes within the working world, will make you a stronger candidate for future roles.

Just keep swimming

via GIPHY

Rejection is never enjoyable. But if you are able to reflect on it, you will put yourself in a much better position for your next application. Get support from your mentors and your trusted peers, who can give you feedback on your application and your interview skills. Keep working hard to tailor your applications, and seek support from the Careers Service through the live chat service. Just keep swimming!

Author: Yun Wen Soh, Career Peer Support Assistant and Final Year LLB student

This blog post is one of a series produced by our Career Peer Support Assistants, our fantastic team of current Bristol students working part-time with the Careers Service. Look out for further CPSA case studies coming soon! 

Become an INTRApreneur with IKEEP

Posted on by uobcareers

Would you like to develop your Intrapreneurial skills and gain invaluable experience working with entrepreneurs?

The IKEEP programme includes free online training in a range of business areas such as managing innovation, business model canvas and leadership strategies.

After you’ve completed the training, you can apply for a short project placement (a commitment of 70 hours per student, spread flexibly over 4 weeks). You will work remotely for a regional business as part of an interdisciplinary team of 3 students. Upon completion of a project placement, you will receive a stipend of £450.

Mansour Alshamsi, Year 1, BSc Marketing

We spoke to Mansour, a student who participated in our IKEEP training and industry placement to find out how his experience was in the IKEEP programme. 

Could you sum up your IKEEP experience?  

The IKEEP program was a very enriching and eye-opening experience. It provided me with the valuable knowledge required to enhance my intrepreneurial skills in the workplace.  

What did you learn from the IKEEP training and industry placement?  

The training exposed me to new business ideas, covering various aspects of intrapreneurship. It also taught me how to implement different business models appropriately. I learned that listening to other people is key to effective communication and that every business problem has a solution.

During my placement, I was able to learn the true meaning and significance of teamwork. I learned how listening can help turn differences into strengths in order to keep going forward with our tasks. I was able to develop my research, communication and marketing skills and have a taste of how businesses and organisations operate.  

What attracted you to the IKEEP programme?   

As a Bristol PLUS Award holder, I received an email invitation to join the pilot program. Due to my interest in entrepreneurship and start-ups, I believed that this would be an invaluable opportunity to undertake a short-term placement within a local start-up and learn more about how start-ups operate.  

How does the IKEEP experience contribute towards your career planning?  

IKEEP has connected me to accomplished entrepreneurs and exposed me to the resources which will pave the way for me to launch my own business in the future.   

Would you recommend this programme to other students?   

I would definitely recommend IKEEP to any student who is curious about start-ups or seeking to learn more about them!  It also counts towards the Bristol PLUS Award.

 

Visit our Enterprise pages, to find out more about the IKEEP Programme.  

Register your interest now for one of the upcoming online intrapreneurial training sessions.  (It’s free!)

 

Talent Foundry Ambassadors

Posted on by uobcareers

The Talent Foundry charity organised three events with different schools throughout the Bristol area to encourage year 7 and 8 pupils to consider university as an option for their future. Their mission is to increase social mobility by helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds discover what they are amazing at, develop valuable new employment skills and take that first step into the world of work. (more…)

Jobs are on the up! – Lets talk Labour Market Information

Posted on by uobcareers

We’re not going to pretend that times aren’t challenging. We all know that COVID has hit the economy and jobs market hard.  

Labour Market Information (LMI) is a useful tool to help understand current recruitment trends across different sectors and we think it’s about time you heard some positive news…

via GIPHY

5 things current LMI data is saying: (more…)

Transform Society : Hannah Altendorff – Mental Health Social Worker with Think Ahead

Posted on by uobcareers
Transform Society is a network of social change programmes (Teach First, Police Now, Unlocked, Think Ahead, NGDP and Frontline) that together, are working to develop the public service leaders of the future. By partnering with  Transform Society, the University of Bristol is showing a commitment to helping increase the number and diversity of high-calibre graduates taking up roles on community impact programmes.

Hannah Altendorff studied Sociology and Social Policy at Bristol, graduating in 2008, and then went on to do a master’s degree in Human Rights at the University of Sussex. She is now a Mental Health Social worker with Think Ahead.

We caught up with Hannah to hear about what she has been up to…

(more…)

“I am thankful that I started thinking about careers in first year. It gave me more time to explore different options”

Posted on by uobcareers

 It can be tempting to put off thinking about what you want to do when you graduate, especially when you are busy with university work. Chloe Henhaw, (BA English), shares how she started thinking about careers in her first year, and went from having no idea what she wanted to do to securing a place on the Civil Service Fast Stream.  (more…)

5 Jobs Myths Busted for 2021

Posted on by uobcareers

2021 has undoubtedly been a weird year for job-seeking. It might even feel like looking for work is an almost impossible task. But is this really true?  

Photo by kalhh on pixabay.

Myth 1: There are no jobs to apply for

Contrary to popular belief, there are still plenty of brilliant opportunities out there, and the number is growing rapidly. According to the latest labour market information, UK businesses are currently reporting the fastest growth in activity for more than 20 years!  

There’s good news internationally too, with strong signs of an increase in opportunities in China, India, and the rest of the world for 2021/22.  

 Vacancies are being added almost every day to the Careers Service website. 

Myth 2: Employers won’t take me seriously without in-person work experience  

Opportunities to get in-person work experience or internships have been limited this year.  

But remember everyone will be in the same position, and that employers will recognize that gaining this type of experience has been largely impossible. Instead, focus on making the most of any experiences you have managed to fit in. 

This might mean highlighting any volunteering you’ve done in your community, participation in online careers events, or online work experience you’ve managed to arrange. Opportunities like the Bright Network virtual internship, which is free and open to anyone over the age of 18, could be a great addition to your CV.  

Myth 3: Employers won’t value my degree if it’s not closely aligned with their work 

You may be worried that employers will only want to hire those who studied specific degree subjects. However, most graduate employers recruit graduates of any subject, and are more interested in what you can bring to the role than exactly what you studied.  

Our Career Options page lets you see you the variety of different roles which students studying your degree subject have ended up in.  

Myth 4: I won’t get a job in the sector I’m most interested in, because I can’t see any relevant vacancies advertised 

If you’re not seeing many jobs or internships advertised that you are interested in, there are two things you should consider: 

Firstly, graduate employers may be recruiting directly on their own websites, instead of through more generic job sites. You can bookmark the jobs websites of specific companies you are interested in and follow them on social media to have the best chance of seeing advertised jobs.  

Secondly, be proactive. Reach out directly to employers who are not actively advertising. It’s not easy to create your own opportunity, but the Careers Service has useful guides on both speculative applications and sourcing your own internship which can help you with this.  

Myth 5: There’s not much I can do over the summer to help make myself more employable 

You’ve worked hard this year, and it’s really important to take a break. However, this summer offers a great opportunity to catch up on anything you’ve missed out on over the last year, and help to build your CV ready for any job applications you have planned for the autumn. The Careers Service will continue to organise employer-led events, and offer information, advice, and guidance through appointments and the live chat service throughout the summer. 

 Although your plans may have changed this year, this means that new types of opportunity are available to you. Keep an open mind and remember that that your next job does not need to be your ‘perfect’ or ‘forever’ job – it’s just the next step in gaining valuable experience in the workplace, and gradually realising your career goals.