Students taught tricks of the trade by best in the business

Final year students at the University of Northampton have been taken under the wing of industry experts from some of the world’s leading brands.

The University’s Faculty of Business and Law Mentoring Programme works with a diverse range of industry sectors. The programme partners with major brands including Barclaycard, DHL and Avon, as well as local SMEs, to help shape the futures of its students.

The programme, which began four years ago, has now signed up over 50 mentors from leading global and regional brands and has mentored more than 160 students over its duration.

As part of the programme, mentors may invite students to visit their workplace and meet and network with decision-makers within the business. Mentors offer students practical tips on the modern world of work and offer advice on what employers are looking for from students’ post-graduation. This may include effective writing for CVs and cover letters, using social media platforms for business, interview competency and general career guidance and next steps.

The 2017/18 mentoring programme has already seen positive results; with one student offered an HR Graduate position with DHL and several other students invited for interviews and close to securing internships.

Claire Corkram, Associate Lecturer in Human Resource Management at the University organised an event at the University to congratulate the students who have successfully completed this year’s programme.

Claire said: “We are so proud of this mentoring programme. The feedback from both students and mentors has been overwhelming. Students have told us that they have gained a huge amount of confidence from the programme, being introduced to the mentor’s colleagues and gained insights on business perspectives from those at senior levels.

“There was a consensus that discussing career paths and journeys with others in a similar profession and identifying what they had to offer the market place when they graduate was hugely beneficial.”

She added: “It’s a mutually beneficial programme, as many of the Mentors said the programme had added value to them personally and their company through the development of their own coaching skills.

“Overall, there was a sense that the Mentors found the experience very rewarding and gained a sense of pride in seeing their students’ progress after university.”

More information on the Mentoring Programme for 2018/2019 will be circulated at the start of the next academic year. For more information on our Human Resource Management course, please visit the course page.