Cody Edwards – BA (Hons) Media Studies
Final year Media Studies student, Cody Edwards, found out about the QMU Employer Mentoring Programme through the University’s Careers & Employability team.
Cody was keen to build on the experience and skills he’d already acquired working for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the BBC, by getting an insight into the public relations industry.
The QMU team matched Cody’s requirements with the Press & PR Officer in the University’s very own marketing and communications office, where he benefited from one-to-one mentoring advice, as well as hands-on experience working on a PR campaign for QMU.
Commenting on his personal experiences of the QMU Employer Mentoring Programme, Cody said: “The continued advice and support I’ve received from my mentor was extremely beneficial and gave me confidence when it was most needed in my final year of study.
“The experience encouraged me to explore new career options in PR and led to some interesting creative opportunities with QMU’s marketing and communications department.
“I greatly appreciate and value the experience and will take the knowledge and new-found confidence with me as I start my career.
“I found the overall process really enjoyable and would definitely recommend the Programme to other QMU students.”
As part of the scheme, Cody got the chance to help create a new student recruitment film for QMU, which he also starred in. The film will be launched on the QMU website and on social media in summer 2015.
Cody’s mentor was Jonathan Perkins, Press & PR Officer at QMU. Jonathan said: “This was the first time I’d been a mentor at QMU, so I didn’t know what to expect.
“However, Cody, my mentee, was a great match and we were able to quickly develop a good working relationship. Cody’s commitment to the Programme and proactive approach to his career progression meant the experience was very rewarding for us both.
“I’ll certainly be keen to take part in the Programme again and help another student looking to pursue their career in PR.”
Cody went on to get further paid work experience with the BBC in Manchester. With continued help from his mentor, Cody is now exploring graduate internship opportunities within the PR sector in Edinburgh.
QMU’s Careers & Employability team is now recruiting for new mentors to take part in the 2015-16 QMU Employer Mentoring Programme. For more information and to sign up, visit http://www.qmu.ac.uk/jobshop/becomeamentor.htm, contact Juan Garcia, Employability & Development Adviser, E: employermentoring@qmu.ac.uk or call 0131 474 0000.
Notes to Editor
For further media information please contact Jonathan Perkins, Press and PR Officer, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, tel: 0131 474 0000, Email: jperkins@qmu.ac.uk
