Tag: Equality and diversity

Celebrating Black History Month at the University of Bristol: A Student Perspective

Posted on by Careers Service

Hi, my name is Nicole a third year studying Marketing BSc. I am also a Careers Ambassador and a Communications Intern at the Careers Service. 

As a Black student at the University of Bristol, Black History Month holds a special significance for me. It’s a time to reflect on the rich cultural heritage, achievements, and contributions of Black communities in our academic family, not only in the UK but around the world.

More than that, it’s an opportunity to have our voices heard, our experiences valued, and to celebrate the diversity that makes our university such a vibrant place.

The Careers Service’s approach to this celebration is embedded in a genuine desire to empower Black students with resources being available for students all year round, not just during the month of October.

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Windō’s mission to connect you with LGBTQ+inclusive employers

Posted on by Careers Service

Researching potential future employers is important to ensure their values align with yours, but where do you start?

Collage of a man in grayscale, superimposed over a blue and pink triangle.

We recently chatted with Ken Janssens, Co-Founder & Head of Social Impact at Windō, who are on a mission to connect you with LGBTQIA+ employers.

Windō is a free platform for students to easily access, digest and compare the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) progress and plans that companies are making to drive positive change across diversity, equality and inclusion, sustainability, and employee wellbeing.

The screen of a laptop, showing various brand logos on the user interface of windo.

We talked to Ken about researching LGBTQIA+ friendly workplaces using Windō’s LGBTQ+ Transparent value filter, which tracks over 500 major employers based on their diversity and inclusion efforts.

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Insights from the Latinx careers panel

Posted on by Careers Service

In collaboration with the Careers Service, the University of Bristol Latino Society held a panel event where BBC Journalist Laura Garcia shared her career journey as a Latinx in the world of journalism. Keisy Fong, President of the Latino Society, shares some of her takeaways from the talk:

The journey to your dream job doesn’t have to be linear

Poster of the Latinx careers panel featuring Laura Garcia.

Laura worked various jobs throughout her career before becoming a journalist, including ones that didn’t initially seem to align with the journalist field. Yet in hindsight, she found that whilst not necessarily related, they yielded useful transferable skills that she could apply to future jobs. She explained that whilst it was not the job title she wanted, it gave her skills that helped her when applying to be a journalist.

Expanding your job search beyond a specific job title can help you learn more about your interests and preferences, and also add experience to your CV that showcases your abilities for future jobs. When applying for jobs, Laura explained the importance of showing how you fit well into the position as a candidate. She also reflected on how the ideal job could be one that fits your lifestyle and allows you to earn and learn at the same time.

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Mentoring matters – your chance to open doors and create opportunities

Posted on by Careers Service

With just one week to go, Bristol Mentors is still open for applications for home UK students returning for study in 2024/25.

Bristol Mentors provides successful student applicants with an alumni mentor working in the sector/industry they are aiming to break into.

Mentorship can be an enriching experience and our student mentees are always happy to tell us more about the range of benefits they have gained whilst on the programme.

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Getting started with networking as a state school student

Posted on by Careers Service

Some people have more experience of professional networking through personal contacts, but where do you start if you don’t have these existing connections?

Carlos is a second year Law student and Co-President of The 93% Club (UoB’s State School Society). In this blog, Carlos shares his experiences and advice for developing professional networks at university as a state school student. 

“It wasn’t until my second year at university and my role as co-president of The 93% Club that I truly grasped the importance of networking. For students like me, who don’t have family connections in high places, networking offers a crucial opportunity to connect with employers, learn about companies, and expand future career prospects. 

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Ever wished you had a career mentor?

Posted on by Careers Service

Bristol Mentors is now open for applications for home UK students returning for study in 2024/25.

We caught up with Elena (Politics and Sociology BSc), one of two Bristol Mentors Student Associates about her experiences as a mentee on the programme.

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Being LGBTQIA+ in the workplace

Posted on by Careers Service

As part of LGBT+ History Month, the Careers Service hosted a panel event exploring what it’s like in the workplace for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

The event connected current students with speakers from the LGBTQIA+ community who work in a variety of different sectors, allowing those who attended a chance to hear stories and advice, and ask questions.

Our panel included –

Photos of the panel. From left to right, Cassie, Jo, Mateusz, Yiran and Raeesa.
  • Cassie Agbehenu (she/her or they/them) – Director of Impact and Influence, Bristol Students’ Union
  • Dr Jo Hartland (they/them) – Senior Lecturer, Bristol Medical School
  • Mateusz Lipinski (he/him) – Business Analyst, Deloitte
  • Yiran Liu (she/her) – Audit Associate, Deloitte
  • Raeesa Rajmohamed (she/her) – Barrister, Academic Writer and Human Rights Implementation Centre Advisor

Here are their key tips for LGBTQIA+ people to thrive in the workplace.

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Disability and Neurodivergence careers panel – employer and alumni insights

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Last term, PwC’s Kim Whippy, Change 100’s Ursula Green, and University of Bristol MEng Aerospace Engineering alumnus, Syirah Ami, joined us at our ‘Disability and neurodivergence career panel’.

They shared their insights into the range of support available for students and graduates:

Workplace adjustments

Reasonable adjustments within the workplace maximise inclusivity, accessibility, and support for employees.

Applicants are encouraged to disclose requests or requirements whenever is most comfortable for them.

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Meet Lola Karpf: volunteer, advocate, and champion of LGBTQ+ friendly spaces

Posted on by Careers Service

LGBTQ+ History Month aims to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ people, their history and experiences.

It’s an opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made for LGBTQ+ rights, whilst also recognising the barriers that still exist and the importance of continuing to fight for equality. 

We caught up with Lola Karpf, an Anthropology (MA) student who is currently completing the Bristol PLUS Award, to find out about the work she’s done to champion LGBTQ+ friendly spaces.

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How extracurricular activities helped me graduate into the music industry

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David Simkins is a 2023 MA Music with Innovation graduate with a developing career in music and media.

Between working at a local record label alongside his studies, conducting student orchestras and scoring soundtracks for media projects, (including two feature films and a short film), being mentored by the Head of Marketing at Sony Music’s Columbia Records and interning at SoundCloud, David (pictured right) has been busy in the past 4 years!

Drawing on his experience with soundtracks, tech, and client management, David is pursuing a music career in creative sync and marketing while working to improve industry transparency, education, and inclusivity, especially for the LGBTQIA+ community.

We caught up with David about how his extracurricular activities throughout his degree helped him get to where he is:

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