Jamie Trussler

Careers Network Mentoring Scheme
BSc Economics, 2023
Mentored by Charlotte Wright

""Tell us a bit about your mentoring experience.

My name is Jamie and I am currently studying BSc Economics at the University of Birmingham. I took part in the Careers Network Mentoring Scheme through the university and I was paired with a University of Birmingham alumni who works as a Wealth Manager at Brewin Dolphin. We had meetings roughly once a month and we spoke about lots of different things such as the industry they work in, what type of roles and responsibilities they have and how I can improve my employability.

Did you have any preconceptions about the mentoring
experience that were challenged as a result of your experience?

I was positively surprised by the informality of the relationship. I was expecting the relationship and communications to feel very formal and rigid, this was something that I worried about a little bit. However, the meetings with my mentor were flexible and felt more informal than I had expected which was great for me as I felt more comfortable communicating with them and felt able to ask questions freely and without judgement. This has also changed my perspective and made me feel more confident in building relationships, especially within a professional capacity.

What is one piece of advice you learnt from your mentor you could share
with other students/graduates?

One of the things I learned from my mentor is the importance of networking, the Careers Network Mentoring Scheme is already a great example and opportunity of this, but my mentor emphasised the importance and value of networking for my own understanding and perspective. They also taught me about various networking events that I can get involved with which not only help my development, but also show passion for the industry I am interested in, which was something I learned from them that is very important.

Can you share any top tips for making the most of the mentoring
opportunity and how to be an effective mentee?

My top tips would probably be to take the time to think about exactly what you want to get from the scheme, whether that be networking, industry insight, interview practise, employability advice etc. In my opinion one of the most valuable aspects of the Careers Network Mentoring Scheme is that you as the mentee, get to speak to an industry professional and determine the direction of the communication, which allows you to genuinely take from the mentorship what you feel it is you need and how you can benefit most from the programme. So defining what it is you want to get from the mentorship will really help your direction within the scheme.

Why would you recommend the scheme to other students?

I would definitely recommend the scheme to students because you can take the opportunity to get the most out of the mentorship by leading the communications yourself. I was able to gain insight into my industry of interest, network, and get advice in terms of my CV, employability etc. My mentor helped me work on these things which helped me secure an internship and vastly improve my confidence within a professional setting, and I still keep in touch with my mentor after the programme.

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