Business Leaders Share Career Journeys

Students from our Business, Computing, and Travel and Tourism programmes are now even more inspired to carve a career for themselves, after hearing the stories behind the careers of three successful business leaders.

The three speakers visited our students to share their journeys, beginning from when they were the same age as the students in front of them, right up until the present day.

Talking to the students were:

• Liam O’Brien from Salesforce – Account Manager
• Rodger Seaman from Business Class Coaching Ltd – Director
• Jim McDonnell from Guidewell Marketing – Managing Director

Business Lecturer Emily Mallen is a strong advocate for introducing students to those in industry. She said:

“Hearing first-hand about the successes, challenges and decisions that helped our guest speakers reach their senior positions is a great way to boost our students’ career goals.”

“Not only does it show how a rewarding career is within every student’s reach, but it really reminds them of the essential employability skills needed for starting their working life with a flying start.”

Travel and Tourism student, Ariana, 18 from Farnborough, felt more confident about her options during the talk. She said:

“The three speakers were brilliant in making interactions more comfortable and were able to make their stories relatable to us through humour and really good advice.”

“By the end of the talk I felt so much more comfortable with my career plans. I felt reassured that while I’m not 100% certain on what I want to do, I feel I now have a better insight to more options.”

The speakers also shared some useful tips on securing a job. Rodger Seaman recommended that students:

• Prepare questions of their own at interview
• Research the companies they would like to work for
• Create a LinkedIn profile – it’s never too soon!
• Be creative in their search – you need to stand out
• Get work experience or volunteer ideally in their chosen field, as it shows enterprise, initiative and often leads to paid work

As well as hearing from industry leaders within college, our students also take on two weeks of work placements where they experience the workplace first-hand, attend careers fairs and have access to impartial careers advisers within the College.

The talks were organised in collaboration with Working Options, an organisation who specialise in helping students interact with industry speakers.