My SME Internship: Jemima – Vounder Analytics

Posted on March 20, 2023March 20, 2023 by Careers Service

Hi, I’m Jemima, a second-year computer science student. Last summer I completed a month-long SME Internship with Vounder Analytics

Vounder Analytics builds bespoke insurance data systems for other organisations and is moving the actuarial and insurance industry away from dated and unsuitable tools such as Excel.

My experience

Before my internship, I did not think I would have been capable of the tasks I worked on. However, the workplace was a brilliant learning environment.

My tasks were clearly explained and presented to me in manageable chunks, with ample opportunity to ask questions. I also learnt a lot about insurance and actuaries (I didn’t even know what an actuary was before I started!). All in all, I was presented with fulfilling and diverse work, without being overwhelmed.

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10 ways to avoid being tricked by a job scam

Posted on March 17, 2023March 20, 2023 by Careers Service

Using online recruitment agencies and websites is now the most common way that students and graduates find a job.

While most jobs that you see advertised online are real, fraudsters can make use of online advertisements to trick you into paying for something that doesn’t exist.

Scams come in many different forms, but the people who carry them out are always looking for new ways to make easy money. To detect a scam and avoid being tricked, here are 10 things to look out for:

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The Student Volunteering Fair: connecting students with the community

Posted on March 15, 2023March 15, 2023 by Careers Service

Last month, the Bristol Students’ Union hosted its much-anticipated annual Student Volunteering Fair, as part of Student Volunteering Week.

A busy crowd of students speaking to organisations at their stalls in the Anson Rooms at the Bristol SU Richmond Building.

The fair had a lot to offer, with over 40 organisations showcasing their work and encouraging students to get involved.

From supporting refugees to empowering older people, there was a diverse range of organisations present at the fair and it was an excellent opportunity for students to develop their skills and make meaningful connections with like-minded individuals.

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Mentoring matters – why apply for Bristol Mentors?

Posted on March 13, 2023March 13, 2023 by Careers Service

The Bristol Mentors scheme matches successful applicants with an alumni mentor who will help you explore ideas, share advice and give you an edge to break into the job sector that interests you.

To celebrate Bristol Mentors now being open for applications for the class of 2023/24, we caught up with Lucy (BA English Literature, 2019) and Grace (MA Law, 2019) to hear about their experiences as student mentees on the programme.

Both former mentees have since taken the role of mentor for two current students. From mentee to mentor, and student to graduate, they are full of valuable experiences worth sharing!

Lucy, EDI Lead for Communities at the National Literacy Trust

Grace, Trainee Solicitor at CMS UK

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Meet the Bristol PLUS achievers who are taking steps towards gender equity!

Posted on March 8, 2023March 8, 2023 by Careers Service

International Women’s Day is all about embracing equity by celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness about discrimination, and taking action to drive gender parity.

Happy International Women's Day!
#EmbraceEquity #IWD2023

We caught up with two PLUS Award achievers, Ellie Haines and Isabella Cupido, to learn about the work they have done to help forge a gender-equal world, and their motivations for getting involved.

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Pam McGee: from Bristol graduate to External Communications and Relationships Manager at STEM Women.

Posted on December 23, 2022January 4, 2023 by Careers Service

Pam McGee is a 2005 Bristol University graduate who studied English Literature BA.

Pam is now the External Communications and Relationships Manager at STEM Women. She has kindly written this blog to tell us about her experiences at University and working for STEM Women.

“I can’t tell you a motivational story about how I always wanted to work in PR and communications, because I never knew I wanted to – it just happened. But I can give you one key piece of advice which is to engage with your university Careers Service – something which, I’m sorry to say, I didn’t do during my time at Bristol.

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Five reasons why I would recommend the Change 100 internship scheme: Helena

Posted on December 7, 2022December 6, 2022 by Careers Service

Hi, I’m Helena, I am a third-year Psychology student and I also work at the Careers Service as your Bristol Mentors Student Associate Intern.

This summer I took part in Change 100, a programme run by disability charity Leonard Cheshire. It supports students and recent graduates with disabilities to complete an internship. Students apply to the programme and, if successful, are paired with a partner organisation to complete a three-month summer internship.

A picture of the author, Helena, smiling with a cup of coffee

I was paired with IHG Hotels & Resorts in their Corporate Responsibility team.

I was new to the world of Corporate Responsibility and learnt a lot. However, I learnt just as much from taking part in the Change 100 process itself.

My experience of applying to the scheme, and being supported by the team there, was the most accessible I am yet to see in the workplace. They demonstrated how disability inclusivity can – and should – be done:

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Inspiring insights at the Public Sector Panel

Posted on November 23, 2022November 24, 2022 by Careers Service

Hi, I’m Phoebe! And last month I went along to the Career Service’s ‘Public Sector Panel’ which featured four inspiring representatives from the public sector who came to share their experience of working in the industry with students. This is what I learnt …

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The SME Internship Scheme: tackling hunger and homelessness one internship at a time

Posted on November 16, 2022November 10, 2022 by Careers Service

This week is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, why not consider arranging an SME Internship with an organisation that is working to prevent hunger and homelessness? We spoke to a few organisations that University if Bristol students have previously had internships with to find out what they do, and why they like the scheme.

1625 Independent People

1625 Independent People works with young people aged 16 to 25 in the southwest.

They work to prevent youth homelessness through early intervention and have taken on interns through our scheme since 2017 to support this work

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Top tips for getting the most out of LinkedIn

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Careers Service

After our Employer Showcase, you might be thinking about how to build on the connections you made with potential employers.

We’re here to show you everything you need to know to get the most out of LinkedIn and start making valuable industry connections.

LinkedIn is a social media site for professionals where you can network with others in your sector, keep up to date with industry news, and host a kind of online CV that showcases all your best work, achievements and experience. However, to really benefit from the site it’s best to go above and beyond, and actively use it to seek out opportunities and connections.

With that in mind, here are four tips on how to make the most of LinkedIn.

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