Careers Service

Shaodi

Volunteering and Awards Intern, The University of Manchester

Give a quick snapshot of your role.

I mainly look after volunteering events and support volunteering projects, like Volunteer Days (one-off student volunteering events), Heart Heroes (train student volunteers to train other students, staff, and the community CPR), British Heart Foundation pop-up shops, Tea Dance and Manchester Enterprise Challenge. And I maintain and develop good relationships with local communities, charities, and organisations. Comms are also an essential part of my role. I write and put together the monthly student newsletters and look after the social media channels with the other intern.

Why did you choose MGT?

Though I have some work experience in marketing and education in my home country, I do want to develop my career path in higher education and sustainability in the UK and worldwide. MGT is a beautiful and easy opportunity to make a start for both! Also, as far as I knew then, the uni provides MGTs with a lot of training and coaching (if there’s one) opportunities and a series of workshops for us to develop our careers.

How have you benefitted from your MGT?

I benefit a lot from different aspects!

• As an international graduate who hasn't been to the UK until 2021, working at the University of Manchester, which is an inclusive organisation, has gradually built up a mindset that better supports this enormous university with different aspects of the UK's cultural and custom context, consideration for disabled students and staff, multidimensional risk assessments, how to communicate appropriately with diverse groups of people (general students, students with special needs, staff, partners) and so on. These are treasures to me, as I couldn't gain much when I was a student.
• It has been lovely working on various tasks, not only desk-based, like administrative work and sending emails, but also project management, marketing, outreaches, delivering training sessions and guiding people on planting. Sometimes it can be challenging, in a good way. I feel more like a professional employee undertaking as much as a permanent staff member, not just an intern.
• Our university provides a lot of opportunities. There are always chances like taking over other colleagues' jobs, helping with another team for an event, or MGT development sessions. These help me reflect on my current strengths and disadvantages, be clearer about what I want to develop in the future and take the chance to practice!
• It benefits my well-being. I enjoy doing things wholesome with a group of passionate people, like taking students to plant trees in a garden for the local communities, recruiting student volunteers for the weekly Tea Dance for a group of senior citizens at their ages of 80 to 100, and arranging first aid training for UoM staff and students. There’s no perfect job, but I feel blessed to do my job. I think I am doing good for student’s mental health, the environment and society. There are a lot of highlights, like students and people from the communities sending you thank-you emails and gifts after an event or project.

What advice would you give someone considering MGT?

• Apply!! And apply for more than one. Take the chance as long as you are interested in the role or working in higher education. Your first few might be unsuccessful. That’s very normal. Ask for feedback for each unsuccessful one, then consider how to improve.
• Look at the job post and brainstorm. Make a mind map for multiple experiences related to each aspect of the job description. If you can’t think of more, talk to your classmates, parents, siblings, or a teacher who knows you well. Sometimes you might not be the person who knows yourself best!
• Include specific examples in your cover letter with numbers, particular cases and your action during them.
• Be confident about the interview. Just take it as a mutually initial talk for you and your future employer. Don't need to feel pressured. Through this talk, you might be less interested in the job or feel keener on it. Just talk to them and take advantage of asking questions to learn more about the team and the role! Every employer would prefer a confident and calm candidate.

What are your plans for the future?

As a foreigner, I do find job hunting challenging, not only the language and cultural gaps but also need a skilled worker visa to work after two years of graduation, and there are quite a few strict requirements for the employer and the job. If I only want to work for NGO, I will have little chance to get a visa sponsored as NGOs usually sting in visas because they need to invest the most funds required for their core programs and target groups. So, I must be open about my future career path if I want to work in the UK! I would take any opportunity as long as it fits one of the following criteria: Higher Education, influencing young people, Sustainability, and social responsibility.