I always had high aspirations, but the questions, “What do I want to do when I’m older?” and “Do I want to go to university?” constantly played on my mind throughout lower Sixth Form.
I studied at a comprehensive school in York, where I had the opportunity to become part of the Career Ready programme. The programme, and networking, were the key reasons I was able to figure out what I wanted to do after finishing my A-levels. I am now a first-year Law undergraduate at the University of Leeds.
By Thomas Holmes
Member of our Youth Advisory Board and Law undergraduate at the University of Leeds.
Why is networking important?
Networking is crucial for both personal and professional development because it enhances your communication skills with a diverse range of people. Moreover, building a network will eventually provide you with opportunities to advance your career and find the right job for you.
Career Ready introduced me to the skill of networking and enabled me to start building my network. I developed a strong relationship with my Career Ready mentor, whom I met monthly. My mentor asked the key questions that helped me decide whether I wanted to go to university or pursue a degree apprenticeship.
Putting yourself out there
The best way to network is by putting yourself out there. There are many ways in which you can do this. One way the Career Ready program supports you is through using LinkedIn. By engaging on the platform, through liking and commenting on your network’s posts, you are maintaining and continuing to build your relationships with them.
Other ways to put yourself out there include applying for jobs, volunteering, and maintaining a strong personal brand (as discussed in one of the current Career Ready masterclasses).
Get the most out of mentoring
In my opinion, the best way to make the most of your mentorship is by having an agenda for each monthly meeting. Prepare a topic or piece to discuss beforehand so that you always have a personalized talking point to go with the framework outlined in the Career Ready handbook.
This was an approach I used and found it useful for being able to get the most out of my sessions. As well as this, ask your mentor any questions you have. The opportunity is there, so take it!
