I joined THRIVE because I needed experience, career guidance and direction. I had no job experience at all and didn’t have anything to say in a CV.
After I joined THRIVE, I met my inspiring mentor, Darren Staniforth. We met and set goals for what I wanted to achieve. Darren not only helped me secure my dream placement at PepsiCo, but he also helped shape who I am today.
I had no confidence in my own abilities, because of my lack of knowledge and experience in the industry. He identified my abilities and my weak points; things that I couldn’t see in myself and helped me correct them. He also immensely believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. And to that I am utterly grateful.
Throughout my journey with my THRIVE mentor, I was able to experience a day in a life of a product developer, go and experience companies who develop products related to my course and develop technical and practical knowledge outside of my course. It not only piqued my interest, but inspired me to do better and showed me why and how we use this knowledge we develop in uni.
Furthermore, my mentor helped me form my CV which attracted many top companies in my field. He then helped me prepare for interviews, including face-to-face questions, group activities and topical presentations. He connected me with other food scientists, expanding my network and knowledge and helped me gain soft skills like PowerPoint, communication and presenting.
I’ve been able to build self-confidence through my journey with THRIVE and achieve my dream placement at PepsiCo. I could not have done it without my amazing mentor’s guidance, to whom I am profoundly grateful. Not only did I develop my career and self, but I now have an amazing mentor and friend who I will always look up to for the rest of my life.
I would 1000% recommend THRIVE, because I can testify this one little step to your future and self-development can influence your career in the best way possible. Best of all….it’s free…so why not?!
THRIVE can be improved by probably rewarding the really great mentors more, because I know mine gave his all to us and I think he deserves more than a certificate.
But also to really encourage and motivate the other mentors to inspire us like Darren did, so enthusiastically.
Author: Lydia, Food Science with Business with Industrial Training Student