Aaron Lakhanpal

Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme 
BSc Biomedical Sciences, 2021
Mentored by Professor Alan Boyd

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What did you enjoy most about the Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme?

The part that I enjoyed the most about the Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme was the opportunity that I had to be able to liaise with my mentor Professor Alan Boyd, who has over 30 years worth of experience working in the industry. It was here where I was able to gain a lot of support, advice, and tips on how to pursue a successful career within the life science industry specifically.

I was able to get a lot of support on how to improve my CV as well as my covering letters which would help when it comes to applying for various graduate jobs or graduate schemes especially during the application process. I was also able to receive advice on various tips on how to improve my communication skills, a skill that's vital especially within the workforce environment.

I feel like these are all skills I can now take with me into the future beyond university all thanks to my professor my mentor Professor Alan Boyd in the Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme.

How has the Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme helped your early career?  

In terms of how the Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme has helped my early employability prospects, when I first started the Biomedical Science course at the University of Birmingham I wasn't exactly sure of what I wanted to do after graduation after I'd finished the course.

However, when I started this program and once, I spoke to my mentor after a couple of Microsoft Teams meetings, I was really able to get a good insight and a clear insight of what I wanted to do and pursue after. All based upon the fact of what I was passionate about as well as the experience that I've done in in the past.

It was thanks to my mentor, Professor Alan Boyd, who was able to help me sort of see this and now I have a much more clear vision of what I want to do after university. I can now focus my time on applying for the relevant job roles and relevant graduate schemes and ensure that I spend a nice amount of time on my application processes to ensure that I stand out compared to candidates in a similar position.

What are your plans after graduation? 

In terms of after graduation after university I hope to pursue a career within the life science industry and obtain a place within a graduate role directly or through a graduate program or scheme. So I intend to combine all the skills the teachings and the expertise that I've received from this program and from my mentor in particular when it comes to the application process to ensure that I stand out to my competitors, my competition and to help build a successful career within this industry.

What is one piece of advice from your mentor?

One piece of advice that Professor Alan Boyd has provided me throughout the program which kind of resonates with me every single day really is to focus more on the quality side of things rather than quantity. Obviously depending on the situation.

Professor Alan Boyd helped me understand the importance of quality especially when it comes to my communication skills, and this helped me when I came to work on my dissertation for my research project module where I was continuously ensuring that I was keeping my work concise and removing any padding to ensure my message was getting across. I feel like this same skill of ensuring that I focus on the quality and not quantity is something that would help me even when working within the industry whilst communicating with my team members or even my manager.

It's important to ensure that I communicate clearly and concisely and ensure that the messages got across so I feel like this is a life skill that Professor Alan was providing me and is something that I would sort of keep and use now going forward into my future career plans after graduation. So, I would like to say thank you so much to Professor Alan Boyd and the Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme for providing me with this opportunity, for spending time and taking out time every two weeks on a bi-weekly basis.

I will ensure that all of the skills the expertise and teachings that I've gathered over the year, I will use and put to put to good use when it comes to my future career plans after university and after my graduation. So, I wish you all the best thank you so much.

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