Job Title: Early Talent Officer
Briefly describe your current role.
I’m currently working for Teach First in the Programme Talent team as an Early Talent Officer. My role is centred around recruiting students from universities within the West Midlands, to complete the Teach First graduate scheme and taster programmes. It’s a dynamic role, involving recruitment, events management and supporting offer holders until they start the graduate scheme. My favourite part of the role is hosting and attending careers events on campus; I love meeting students, talking about their ambitions for after graduation and discussing whether Teach First would be a great fit!
What is the biggest mistake you have made since graduating and what have you learned from it?
When I first graduated, I was reluctant to explore new opportunities. For as long as I could remember, I planned to either teach or work in marketing and felt reluctant to investigate anything else employers had to offer. However, I quickly discovered the importance of being open to all opportunities and understood the benefits of developing skills in multiple industries. Being receptive to different roles in different sectors is the best way to find the position that is the best fit for you. The skills you develop within your degree or through internships and part time work are often highly transferable to multiple industries and job roles you may have never considered. I didn’t plan to work in a recruitment-based role, but I was initially headhunted on LinkedIn for my first recruitment job. Being open to a conversation and eventually accepting a role with this company, enabled me to develop so many transferable skills. Without this experience, I wouldn’t have secured my role at Teach First. Sometimes, opportunities can act as a stepping stone towards an end goal. Similarly, of our most successful teachers had never even considered going into teaching before they came across Teach First. You never know where opportunities will lead you!
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Define what success and fulfilment at work means for you. This definition will be completely different for everyone and by defining your version of success, it’s much easier to evaluate job opportunities. For example, I relish the opportunity to make a difference in my role at Teach First, the organisation is an educational charity, and I’m motivated everyday by our mission to recruit enough teachers to support young people in the most low-income areas of the UK. I also place value on the flexibility my role provides and the opportunities I’ve been given to create my own strategy. Working for Teach First enables me to feel both fulfilled and empowered and that’s my definition of success at work. It’s important to find your own version of this, something that fits with your own lifestyle, aspirations and values.
What have you learned since graduating that could be helpful to other graduates?
The importance of networking. This could be at events, on campus or online using LinkedIn or other platforms. Building a strong professional networking facilitates huge professional and career development, as well as the chance to enhance industry knowledge. A strong network can provide job opportunities, mentoring and exposure to conversations and new ideas you otherwise would not have been a part of. Networking also builds confidence and relationship building skills in the professional world. Take advantage of opportunities to meet new people – your biggest asset can be your network.
Can you recommend us something?
I would recommend engaging with employers on campus and attending careers events. This will support you in building those networking skills and expose you to all the opportunities that are available to you. Teach First will be on campus on Thursday 24th of October with our free coffee cart, from 10am -2pm under the Law Arches. We would love to meet you and discuss our opportunities. We will also be hosting an online webinar on the 30th of October from 6pm -7pm, this will be an opportunity to hear about the programme in detail and our top tips for graduate applications. Please sign up here. We would love to see you there!