Outreach Graduate Internship

• Name: Oliver Speke
• Year of Graduation: 2013
• Subject of your degree: Business Management
• Current Occupation: Graduate Trainee Advisor

Why did you apply for the GI post?

I applied to the post because I felt that this role would provide me with some work experience and would provide an opportunity for me to develop my own skills. I was also passionate about promoting Higher Education, having just completed a degree myself which I really enjoyed.

What were your favourite activities you did as a GI?

I did not really have any favourite events as such however I did enjoy being given the responsibility of organising a couple of events. One event was aimed at years 8’s where three of us designed and delivered an ‘Aspire to Uni’ session at SWBA Academy. This required us to think ‘outside the box’ and we came up with 3 activities for them to do including a ‘design your own campus’ activity. One of the many good things about the scheme was that there were plenty of opportunities to get stuck in and be creative!

I also particularly enjoyed going out to schools and colleges to help students with their personal statements as I found this quite satisfying knowing that I had helped them with this.

Overall, I enjoyed the varied nature of the role as no two days were ever the same!

Was there anything that you disliked about the programme?

Not really!

Did the scheme help you in the next steps of your careers? If so how?

I feel that this scheme helped me to develop more as a person than anything else. Whilst the thought of presenting to over 100 people or travelling to unfamiliar places on my own did initially sound slightly daunting, these are now things which I am no longer fazed by. Also, through doing things which were outside my comfort zone, I developed my own confidence and interpersonal skills which is something I have taken into my current job.

Any tips or advice for anyone considering applying for the post?

My advice to anyone considering applying for this post would be to ask yourself two questions:

1. Are you willing to get stuck in right from the start and do things which may be outside of your comfort zone?
2. Are you enthusiastic about Higher Education and able to interact with a diverse mix of people?

If the answer is yes to both of these, then my advice would be to consider applying to this scheme!

Do you have any memorable experiences as a GI you would like to share with future applicants to the programme?

When I dressed up as ‘Snape’ and guided primary school pupils around Dudley Zoo!

• Name: Rosa Sorrento
• Year of Graduation: 2013
• Subject of your degree: Event and Venue Management
• Current Occupation: Black Country Children's University Coordinator

Why did you apply for the GI post?

I decided to apply for the Graduate Internship as it seemed to be a great opportunity to further develop the skills that I had gained as a student whilst also working within a supportive environment.

What were your favourite activities you did as a GI?

Being able to support adult learners in colleges, to not only make their application, but also reassure them that it is possible to attend university as a mature student was personally very rewarding.

As an Events Management graduate I fully appreciated the opportunity to organise campus events for a variety of groups and also creating the ‘Mature Learners Guide’ which gave me an insight into the process of how marketing materials are produced from start to finish.

Did the scheme help you in the next steps of your careers? If so how?

This internship completely changed my career path! During my time of working within the outreach team I realised that I really valued the work I was taking part in and wanted to carry on doing this type of work after the internship ended.

Any tips or advice for anyone considering applying for the post?

Go for it! It’s a great opportunity, and you get the opportunity to develop so many new skills, whether its talking to young children about what they want to be when they grow up or presenting to 300 college students in the lecture theatre, every day is different!

Do you have any memorable experiences as a GI you would like to share with future applicants to the programme?

Joining a team of interns who are all just starting out in our careers, sharing lots of lovely experiences and making some great friends :)

• Name: Hazel Bowley
• Year of Graduation: 2013
• Subject of your degree: War Studies
• Current Occupation: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Skills and Learning Librarian

Why did you apply for the GI post?

It seemed like it would be an interesting and fun job that would give me a chance to experience a lot of different things that I might not normally have the chance to do – which was certainly the case.

What were your favourite activities you did as a GI?

The UCAS fairs, especially the ones that were not local, they were a good opportunity to go to new places. The HE and UCAS fairs also gave me the chance to meet a lot of people and spend time with the other GIs, I met some of my closest friends through the GI scheme.

Was there anything that you disliked about the programme?

At first I had very little confidence so I disliked having to go to different schools and colleges every day and presenting in front of large groups, but I soon got used to it. The scheme really helped with my confidence and willingness to do new things.

Did the scheme help you in the next steps of your careers? If so how?

The scheme definitely helped. If I had not been a GI I would not have had the experience to be considered for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) within the University. The skills and knowledge that I gained from the scheme made me perfectly suited to the role. After then completing the GTA programme and gaining my PGCE qualification I moved onto my current role as a Skills and Learning Librarian, none of which would have been possible without the GI scheme.

Any tips or advice for anyone considering applying for the post?

Be willing to travel, you’ll gain a lot from it and enjoy it.

Do you have any memorable experiences as a GI you would like to share with future applicants to the programme?

Being able to tell someone that they can study the course that they wanted to when they thought they would never be able to and seeing how happy it made them.

• Name: Tom Gregory
• Year of Graduation: 2014
• Subject of your degree: Sport & Exercise Science
• Current Occupation: Student Recruitment Officer, Newman University

Why did you apply for the GI post?

I was initially drawn to the position as I believed it would be an ideal first job to help both develop existing skills as well as putting me in a position where I would I have to build new skills. The GI role also looked as though it would be a job with a wide remit of responsibilities, meaning that I wouldn’t just be in the office 9-5 everyday but actually out interacting with people. Another reason I went for the role was because I was in limbo as to what to do with myself after graduating, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to go into further study, jump on a graduate scheme or set up a business. The GI programme enabled me to finalise my decisions as it gave me an insight into a wide range of job roles.

What were your favourite activities you did as a GI?

As a GI I most enjoyed the presentation and interactive side of the job. I enjoyed travelling around the country getting the opportunity to improve on my public speaking ability as well being able to genuinely help out students who, had I not been there, would have been far less informed as to what their future may hold.  I also enjoyed going to careers fair and speaking to 100’s of different people every day as it kept every day new and exciting.

Was there anything that you disliked about the programme?

Nothing in particular stands out as something I disliked, though I was lucky in that I had a fantastic group of GI’s to work with. I suppose the only thing I didn’t like initially was the lack of order in my days schedule, once you get used to the random timetables schools set for events though it was fine. 

Did the scheme help you in the next steps of your careers? If so how?

Definitely! My job now is directly related to the GI role and I wouldn’t have had any of the relevant experience without it. The GI role helped me develop so many different skills and made me an all-around better person because of both the opportunities it brings you and the supportive team around you.

Any tips or advice for anyone considering applying for the post?

Just to show that your confident and that you’re not scared to work hard. Even if you’re not the best public speaker, showing that you can at least work at improving your own skills goes a long way. 

Do you have any memorable experiences as a GI you would like to share with future applicants to the programme?

My most memorable experience as a GI was probably working an event called ‘The Pitch’. Essentially it was a competition among teams of students from schools where we had work as a mentor to help our teams develop an idea around an area for which they then had to pitch to business leaders in that area. It was a great event for many reasons, mostly because my team smashed and won everything, but also because it was great to help nurture these students and see them improve. It was also a great way to meet other members of staff across the University who you would probably never normally meet. The other most memorable moments all revolve around the team I got to work with, both GI’s and the bosses. Without the team around me the experience wouldn’t have been anywhere near as good and I would have missed out on the opportunity to work with fantastic group of people.

• Name: Amie Russell
• Year of Graduation: 2012
• Subject of your degree:  Drama
• Current Occupation:  Receptionist and Clerical assistant for The Gateway

Why did you apply for the GI post?  

I applied for Graduate Intern role because university was such an important part of my life and working in a role got to promote university and the benefits of a degree sounded perfect. I got to share my experiences and inform students all about university life, something I really enjoyed doing.

What were your favourite activities you did as a GI?  

One of my favourite things to do as a GI had to be travelling, within this role I got to travel all over the UK, staying in hotels and catching trains which really helped develop my sense of independence. I also enjoyed being given the freedom to plan my own events as it was extremely satisfying organising and over seeing an event that was successful.  

Was there anything that you disliked about the programme?  

There were a few periods such as school holidays that were quite quiet and meant we were in the office for a few weeks, although it was quiet this did give me a chance to work on presentations and plan events.

Did the scheme help you in the next steps of your careers? If so how?  

I really enjoyed working at the University, i knew that when my internship was over I’d like to carry my career on at the University and if possible in ODOS. Working for the Gateway you need an in depth knowledge of the different areas surrounding University, such as applying through UCAS and course information, these were all things I had learnt through working as a GI.

Any tips or advice for anyone considering applying for the post?  

Organisation is extremely important for this role, make sure you know where you are day to day and that you have the right material you need. Also make sure your electronic diary is kept up to date so not only you know where you are, but your colleagues do too. Also don’t worry about presenting presentations if it’s something you’re not used to, you’ll have the support from other GI’s  in your team and there is training available as well, if you still feel you need help in this area or anything else, let your  line manager know, support is always on hand.

Do you have any memorable experiences as a GI you would like to share with future applicants to the programme?  

I organised an event which consisted of a Why Uni presentation, after I had presented a student came up to me and said she’s always wanted to go to university but did’t think she’s smart enough, I sat down with her and we talked about entry requirements for Nursing, we discussed many options and worked out that she had what was needed to get onto the Health and Well-being LEaP course part-time, her attitude completely changed and she said she was going to apply. I saw her at the Gateway a few weeks later asking for help applying for the course.  It felt really good knowing I’d help someone to realise their potential and go for something they wanted to do. 

• Name: Dominic
• Year of Graduation: 2013
• Subject of your degree: Music
• Current Occupation: Secondary Music Teacher

Why did you apply for the GI post?

To join a passionate team and work in a high paced role that would allow me to take part in diverse activities. I am also passionate about the role of access and outreach in raising aspirations within the Black Country and beyond.

What were your favourite activities you did as a GI?

Delivering presentations, lessons and workshops to pupils across the region in various formats. I also enjoyed working with adult learners at colleges across Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield.

Was there anything that you disliked about the programme?

No, it was a fantastic opportunity that allowed me to develop my skill set, make contacts in education, and allowed me to take on extra responsibility. I was given the opportunity to develop real skills through external training.

Did the scheme help you in the next steps of your careers? If so how?

My time as a GI was a key step towards me becoming a secondary music teacher. I was gaining classroom experience nearly every day, meeting teachers and liaising with them. I was developing skills that would not only aid my classroom practice, but would also form a key part of what I could offer in terms of applying for PGCE’s and also teaching jobs.

Any tips or advice for anyone considering applying for the post?

Definitely apply! It is a an exciting role where you will often meet and work with people who are considered experts in their field. You will have an excellent first staging post on your CV as you plan for your career progression.

Do you have any memorable experiences as a GI you would like to share with future applicants to the programme?

One of my most memorable experiences was working with an outside company to develop music-based workshops for Y7 pupils. I was able to deliver these workshops in Dudley Castle, which was a fantastic opportunity. I gained experience in a number of areas through this activity. I was also able to use the coordinator of the event as a reference for my PGCE.