Matthew T.
About me
| Matthew T. | |
| Archaeology | |
| Bioarchaeology | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Alcuin | |
| 2012 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Careers and Skills Advisor | |
| United Kingdom |
More about Matthew
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A day in the life of a Careers and Skills Advisor in the United Kingdom
My experience sparked a flame in me that there was a real need to help others from disadvantaged backgrounds... to improve their skills and employment. I never intended to go down this path at all!
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
I am employed by a local authority government body, working with residents and businesses to help adults who are employed to upskill, change careers and return to education.
What do you do?
I provide one to one, person led, tailored careers advice and guidance. Each resident is given a full skills assessment, given advice on how to create tailored CVs and applications, and given guidance on how to demonstrate their strengths and transferable skills. I also create tailored careers and learning pathways.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
Whilst studying at university, as a mature student, I was elected to the Board of Studies and found myself giving support and advice to younger classmates, on both employment and education. My then job role was within heritage for a local authority, hence my interest in archaeology, but as time went on I found myself drawn more and more to helping residents understand heritage better via engaging with adult education, and from there fell into careers advice and guidance.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
I returned to university to progress within heritage, but both as a mature student, and in my twenties, and coming from a traditional coal mining area where there were high levels of socio-economic deprivation and low levels of attainment, I found myself as a bit of a fish out of water, at university. My experience sparked a flame in me that there was a real need to help others from disadvantaged backgrounds, who require support to improve their skills and employment. I never intended to go down this path at all!
Describe your most memorable day at work
Every day is a challenge for me, but very enjoyable and rewarding. Naturally when supporting residents in largely deprived areas of Britain, each person has their own unique, often complex reasons for requiring employment and skills support and every one of them who achieves their aims, leaves a mark on me. It would be impossible to pick one!
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
There are many challenges with providing guidance to people who are mid-career. Each person has gone through a unique education pathway, both inside and outside the UK and along the way they inherit barriers that are difficult to navigate. Understanding an ever changing economy, changing employment laws, ever evolving education systems and so on, keeps me on my toes! Personally it is also important to keep an eye on our own mental health and well-being, and it is very easy for natural empathy to weigh down on someone when supporting others.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
I am trusted to manage my time, and my resources effectively, working as part of a larger team but on my own. Funding brings with it challenges and targets, working for a local authority there are pressures to deliver outcomes and value for money for our residents. We work hard, but we are not sales based, unlike working for a commercial employment agency or similar. We support one another to excel, and share knowledge, because we can literally see the effect our work has, within the communities we operate.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I am a big believer in using university as a place to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures, to expand one’s horizons. My most memorable time at university was a placement at the British Institute in East Africa, working alongside graduates from various universities in Africa. There are literally too many transferable skills that can be gained from joining societies, clubs and other activities to really discuss here, but the key is to think about how you will stand out above your peers, when you graduate. It’s a competitive market, make yourself unique.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I actually do intend to return to heritage one day, a few years ago I began my MA but sadly really poor health meant I was unable to complete my studies alongside full time employment. But I am a member of the Royal Historical Society, and continue to volunteer my time to lead heritage projects where I have time, and am writing a book that hopefully will be published in the next couple of years. Living with ulcerative colitis may have put my masters degree on hold, but it will never beat me. I’ll be back to complete it one day!
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Think outside the box! Just because you studied a specific topic or area doesn’t mean you need to dedicate your entire life to that area. You have a wealth of highly transferable skills, use them! Like me, you could find your career path has detours, that makes you a more rounded person, and will make your CV stronger. Embrace it!
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Life as a mature student. Living with a long term health condition, as a student. How to self skills assess. How to excel at interview.
Next steps...
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