Graham Perkins is the Associate Dean for Education within the Business School and an Associate Professor in Human Resource Management. Graham has both professional and academic experience within the field of Human Resource Management, having completed both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the subject, and having worked in industry in several HRM roles.  Graham came from a family in which no-one had been to university before him. Graham attended a state school, growing up in a neighbourhood with one of the lowest rates of entry to higher education. Listen to the podcast to learn how Graham went from not getting the A Level grades to attend the university of his choice and going through Clearing, to becoming an Associate Professor. 

In this episode, Dawn Lees, Student Employability and Development Manager, chats with alumnus Matt Light, Director at AscellaHealth, about building a career in Bid Writing. With 15 years experience leading bid and proposal teams across both the public and private sector, Matt shares his journey from a junior bid writer to team leader. Matt explains the various career pathways within the profession, the key skills for success and how teamwork helps win contracts, as well as what excites him about his job.  

In our Law mini-series podcast, our Law Employability and Careers Consultants; Rachel, Tess and Sunny, talk to experienced professionals from both legal and non-legal sectors to hear their career experiences and advice. In this episode Tess Read, Employability and Career Consultant, talks to Grace Light, a current Law student. Grace shares her journey to securing a training contract, highlighting the value of attending events, using resources like the Career Zone and developing commercial awareness. In addition to this episode you can find more information to help with career planning here; University of Exeter Career Zone , Law and legal services: Information for Law and Non-Law Students  and Employability for Law Students. 

In this episode, Employability and Careers Consultant Sunny Lalli, is joined by BSc Human Sciences graduate Zack Islam. Recipient of the University of Exeter Student of the Year award at  2024 Success for All conference, and also the Academic Success Award at the 2025 Student Social Mobility Awards, Zack shares his insights on the art of networking and how preparatory research can power conversations at careers fairs.   Useful Links: Career Zone information on careers fairs (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/events/careersfairs/) Employer engagement information on careers fairs at University of Exeter (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/employer-engagement/fairs-events/careers-fairs/) Career Zone Help with Networking (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/explore/networking/) Other podcasts you might be interested in: How to prepare for Career Fairs - https://pod.fo/e/2d536d  Preparing for career fairs and employer events - https://pod.fo/e/2d53c6 

In our Law mini-series podcast, our Law Employability and Careers Consultants; Rachel, Tess and Sunny, talk to experienced professionals from both legal and non-legal sectors to hear their career experiences and advice. In this episode Tess Read, Employability and Career Consultant, talks to Evalyn Anstiss, a recent Law graduate, about her experience working with the Community Law Clinic. Evalyn shares the benefits of working at the Community Law Clinic and how it helped to develop her professional skills and confidence. Useful links: Exeter Award, Community Law Clinic Access to Justice clinic (module) In addition to this episode you can find more information to help with career planning here; University of Exeter Career Zone ,  Law and legal services and Employability for Law Students

In this episode, Sunny Lalli, Employability and Careers Consultant and Rachel Haddy, Employability and Placements Adviser, explore ways to investigate values of sustainability at a careers fair. Useful Links B Corp: https://bcorporation.uk Windo: https://csrwindo.com Listen to associated Career Zone podcast episodes: What is a B Corp and why might you want to work for one? https://pod.fo/e/2be941

Ever wondered if ‘luck’ is something you can prepare for and use to your advantage? In this week’s episode, Dave Gyll-Murray, an Employability and Placements Adviser, explores Krumboltz’s Theory of Planned Happenstance – a mindset that encourages you to be open to unexpected opportunities and turn them into meaningful career steps. Dave shares five key skills to help you make the most of the unplanned, including curiosity, flexibility and risk-taking.

Understanding who you are is an incredibly important first step in thinking about what you want to do after you graduate. In this episode Dawn Lees, Student Employability and Development Manager, explores how you can reflect on what interests you, what your strengths, skills, preferences, values and motivations are and how this can help you with your career planning. Useful Links: Attend one of our workshops, including Exploring and researching career decisions and Discover your strengths to find a job that suits you. Book via Handshake. Profiling for Success Skills Audit, as part of Create Your Future. Motivations questionnaire in Handshake. Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award How to research an employer Help with developing your skills.  Consider how to identify your skills with Sarah Blunt, Employability and Careers Consultant, by watching this short video: https://youtu.be/NvqKFQ--f54 Listen to our other podcast episodes on: Reflection: Why is it important for employability: https://pod.fo/e/2d5359  Should you do something you're passionate about or something you're good at: https://pod.fo/e/2d534a How to choose a career: https://pod.fo/e/2d53c4

Once you have done your research, you’ll need to start making informed and realistic decisions to narrow down your options. In this episode, Dawn Lees, Student Employability and Development Manager, explores how you can use what you have discovered about yourself and learnt about the job market to decide which jobs or sector interests you most. Useful Links: Placements section  Jobs section  Employability programmes  Professional and personal development sessions  Professional Pathways

Exploring your options involves expanding your knowledge of the range of occupations, sectors and organisations that may be of interest to you. In this episode, Dawn Lees, Student Employability and Development Manager, discusses how you can explore the opportunities available to you, whether that's applying for graduate roles or further study. Useful Links: Getting the most from LinkedIn   Networking for career conversations  Exploring options with a degree in…  Researching employers  Careers fair resources  Sector pages  Self-employment: Student Startups | Student Startups | University of Exeter Choosing Postgraduate Study  Lib Guide: About this Research Guide - Researching companies and organisations for your job search​ - LibGuides at University of Exeter

If you have reflected on your values, motivations and skills, have explored your options and have then decided what it is that you want to do, it is now time to take action. In this episode, Dawn Lees, Student Employability and Development Manager shares how you can actively seek the graduate level role or further study opportunity that you have decided is right for you so that you can transition into the workplace.   Useful Links CVs cover letters and applications  Interviews  Assessment Centres  Psychometric testing  Using AI  Disclosing a disability session EDI support pages Creating career confidence programme Podcast Accessing the Hidden jobs market – 2021 (Listen here: https://pod.fo/e/2d5396)   

In this episode, Kate Foster, Employability and Careers Consultant, is joined by Maddy and Stephen to discuss the Civil Service Fast Stream. With 17 specialist schemes across the country, it’s designed to fast-track you into management roles and give you the skills to shape national policy and services Maddy and Stephen share how they see the Fast Stream champions inclusivity and social mobility, with the Social Mobility Network. Maddie and Stephen share details on the recruitment process* and share their tips on how you can best prepare to succeed.   *The group exercise at the assessment centre has now been replaced by a personal development conversation. Useful links: Understanding Assessment Centres skill session. University webpage on National Government and Civil Service Fast Stream Careers in Public Policy and Government Week, 13-17 October 2025 Civil Service Fast Stream website Upcoming events with the Fast Stream Social Mobility Network Mentoring Programme National Outreach Events - Fast Stream Social Mobility Network Virtual Event Week, which include workshops for each part of the assessment centre: Introduction to the Fast Stream | 22 September 14:00-15:00 Choosing the Right Fast Stream Scheme | 23 September 14:00-15:00 Online Test Workshop | 24 September 14:00-15:00 Fast Stream Assessment Centre and Final Selection Board | 26 September 14:00-15:00

In this week’s podcast, Sunny Lalli and Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Career Consultants, are joined by Chloé Bayliss of Cornish Lithium. In this episode Chloé as then Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator and now Senior ESG Coordinator at Cornish Lithium, discusses some of the work roles at Cornish Lithium and the experience of working in a small medium enterprise (SME). In this conversation Chloé draws on her own experience to differentiate the experience of working in a small medium enterprise with working at larger enterprises. Cornish Lithium is a private British mineral exploration company focussed on the sustainable extraction of lithium and other battery metals in the historically significant mining district of Cornwall, UK. These metals can be utilised to the global goal of decarbonisation through clean growth and a transition to a green economy. Thus, supporting UN sustainability goals of affordable and clean energy (goal seven), and climate action (goal thirteen).  Useful Links: Listen to Transitioning from study into a first role: In conversation with Chloe Bayliss, Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator at Cornish Lithium PLC - https://pod.fo/e/237162 University of Exeter Career Zone sector page on energy and natural resources (renewables): https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/sector/energyandnaturalresources/ University of Exeter Career Zone sector page Earth Resources:https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/sector/earthresources/  Cornish Lithium: https://cornishlithium.com/ Green Futures Solutions blog article on sustainability and mining: https://greenfuturessolutions.com/news/sustainability-and-the-need-for-mining/ Gov UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)  Action Plan: 2022-2025: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63d418638fa8f5188ae8f77b/beis-sme-action-plan-2022-to-2025.pdf UN sustainable development goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals

In this episode, Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Career Consultant shares top tips and ideas for inspiration to help you to think of your next steps.   Useful links: Explore options with your degree by visiting the What can I do with my degree? webpages. Explore different sector and occupations  Help with researching  career options   Help with researching sectors and employers  Attend one of our guidance sessions including ‘Get started with thinking about careers’, ‘Research your career options and ideas’ and ‘Discover your strengths to find a job that suits you’. Book via Handshake

At some point as a student, you’ve probably been asked ‘what are you going to do when you graduate?’. It can be a daunting question and it’s ok not to know. In this episode, Nicky Hutchinson, Employability and Careers Consultant, shares tips and advice on how to answer this question and explores what you can do to be a proactive explorer, developing your self-awareness and skills. Useful Links: Green Consultants Attending skills sessions such as Problem Solving, Networking Skills, Presentation Skills. These also count towards the Exeter Award, our employability achievement award. Volunteering with the Students’ Guild or Students’ Union. Future 17 Grand Challenges

In this week’s episode, Rachel Coombes, Employability and Career Consultant speaks with Jasmine Thomas-Campbell, a current PhD student, about her journey to studying for a PhD. Jasmine shares what led her to pursue a PhD, how she found and applied for the right opportunity and why transferable skills really matter. Useful Links: Choosing postgraduate study webpage (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/pgstudy/) Help with applying for Postgraduate Study (exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/helpwith/helpwithapplyingforpostgraduatestudy/) Book onto skills sessions via Handshake including: Personal Resilience; Time and Stress Management and Networking Skills.  Find a PHD website (https://www.findaphd.com/)

Rachel Sloan, Employability and Careers Consultant explores how AI is shaping sustainability policies and procedures in the workplace. Rachel looks at both the positive and negative impacts of AI on sustainability in the workplace. Useful Links: Help with researching an employer.  Help with using AI | Career Zone | University of Exeter This episode was devised by Dr Dawn Lees with input from generative AI software ChatGPT, and was recorded by Rachel Sloan.

In this episode Employability and Placement Adviser, Alexa, speaks with Elly a current 4th year Business and Management with Industrial Experience student who completed her placement year at Unilever.    Here Elly and Alexa discuss how you can remain resilient and keep yourself motivated throughout recruitment processes.   For further support, why not book onto one of our upcoming sessions on; Personal Resilience skills sessions Networking Essentials Re-energising your job search sessions LinkedIn | Career Zone | University of Exeter

In this week’s episode, Oliver Laity, Careers Information and Systems Manager, is joined by Eve Carney and Alan Stewart from the University’s Digital Transformation Team, to discuss product management as a career. Eve, Head of Product, and Alan, Product Manager, share what is meant by a product management role and share their career journeys. They offer advice to students on how to get into this field, the skills to develop and where you can find opportunities. Useful Links: Book onto a skills session via Handshake. Find out more on the sessions we run on our Personal and Professional Development webpage. (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/events/personalandprofessionaldevelopment/) Contact the University’s Digital Team to find out about work experience opportunities in product management

In our Law podcast mini-series of Autumn 2024, our Law Employability and Careers Consultants; Rachel, Tess and Sunny, talked to experienced professionals from both legal and non-legal sectors to hear their career experiences and advice. In this bonus episode, Sunny Lalli, Employability and Career Consultant, talks to Ben Ainsley Gill, an international law arbitration lawyer. Ben and Sunny seek to define arbitration in international business law, examining the skill sets required to work in international arbitration, discussing differentiation between practice in private international law and public international law. Together they recount tips on how to prepare a for a career in arbitration. Further resources touched upon in the episode: University of Exeter Career Zone sector page on law: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/research/sector/law4nonlaw/ Listen to our podcast episode on International Law with Maria Smirnova, Human Rights Officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (https://pod.fo/e/27ea18) You can book onto a Career Zone Networking Skills session via Handshake.  Vismoot: https://www.vismoot.org/ Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court: https://www.investmentmoot.org/