On the 1st March 2017, Sociology, Criminology and Terrorism students and local professionals came together for the Next Steps: Professional Speed Networking Event. The event began with a short talk from Jill Freeman, one of the university’s employability consultants who talked to students about the importance of networking.
Students were asked to jot down their expectations from this event. These included:
- ‘understanding different job roles and whether they fit me’
- ‘Information and guidance on the next steps I need to take to gain experience in the area I hope to work in’
- ‘Guidance on how to get onto a certain career path’
- ‘What qualifications, skills and experience I will need’
- ‘What am I actually going to do after my degree’
Students then had the opportunity to participate in an hour of speed networking with 15 inspiring professionals. We were especially lucky to have a real diverse range of local professionals represented at our event. They came from Hanley Probation Office, Stoke Council Children’s Contact Centre, Stoke County Council, Staffordshire Police, academics from Law, Primary Education, Health and Social Care, Staffordshire University, Stoke College, The Gingerbread centre and social justice campaigners who raised awareness on issues like leprosy, tropical diseases and asylum seekers. Professionals spent a short time telling students about their role, the kinds of things they do in their job on a daily basis, the sorts of skills and qualities people need to have to be successful in this job and the various routes into this profession. And students had the opportunity to ask questions.
For the final hour there was an opportunity for professionals and students to informally mingle and chat over coffee and cake to have more in-depth conversations.
Reflecting on this event, Dan Gill (L5) said “this careers event was perfectly organised with a real focus on the students. Every professional was chosen meticulously to give useful information relevant to the ambitions of each member of the cohort. What I can take away from this event is not only a sense of my possible career path following on from university but what to expect from life and its challenges’. Amy Conway (L6) was pleased she attended the event because ‘I got so much from it, there was so much guidance given to me in regards to my career path’.
Professionals such as Suzie Kelly (Commissioning Manager Safer City Partnership, Stoke on Trent Council) commented: ‘it was a pleasure to be involved – the students were great! Lovely to hear such passion about subject areas and to be able to help offer some advice about opportunities. You’ve got some brilliant students’. Bridget Cameron (Assistant Director Commissioning Public Health and Adult Social Care) felt that ‘the networking event was very useful’. She ‘got to see individual strengths of students. Great calibre of students!’
Following the success of this Professional Speed networking event, the Sociology, Criminology and Terrorism team are planning to run a similar event in January 2018.
On the 1st March 2017, Sociology, Criminology and Terrorism students and local professionals came together for the Next Steps: Professional Speed Networking Event.