While casually scrolling through my LinkedIn feed in the cold winter months of January, a serendipitous discovery caught my eye – a career course that seemed tailor-made for my aspirations. Interestingly, just as I was contemplating whether to apply, my mentor reached out and shared the same career course opportunity with me. Her timely encouragement and support added an extra layer of excitement to my journey, reinforcing my belief in the path I was about to embark on. Taking a proactive mindset, I reached out to the programme's founder, @Jennifer Dominic, on LinkedIn, expressing my interest and inquiring about scholarship opportunities. Jennifer kindly directed me to apply for consideration. After completing the application and eagerly awaiting the outcome, I was thrilled to receive the news: I had been awarded a scholarship to embark on this exciting journey. Cue the confetti and cheers – it was a moment of pure joy and celebration!
Now, let me share a bit about what the programme is all about. Designed to equip and guide aspiring STEM students and early career professionals, Wenite offers participants a unique opportunity with the tools to support growth and development and reach their STEM career goals. Participants gain valuable insights from industry experts, providing a stepping stone towards achieving professional excellence and personal growth. For a deeper dive into what this transformative career course offers, I encourage you to explore the details on the programme’s official website here [https://www.wenite.co.uk/].
After diving into the sessions of the career course, I found myself immersed in a wealth of knowledge that has significantly enriched my understanding of elevating my visibility in STEM industries through CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn. Before I delve into the details of what I learned, allow me to introduce myself. I am Michelle Amoah, a final-year biomedical science student studying at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. My passion for science and healthcare drives my curiosity about how diseases impact the body and how I can contribute to improved health outcomes. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am a personal development enthusiast, avid networker, and lifelong learner. Joining the Wenite cohort was a decision fuelled by my desire for exposure and clarity in various STEM fields and how to leverage them to my advantage.
The esteemed speaker, @Tolu Osobu, a Chartered Chemical Engineer and Lean Six Sigma Black-belt-trained professional kickstarted the learning experience with an interactive exercise delving into our unique value propositions. Together we brainstormed our skills and values, learning how to leverage them effectively in crafting standout CVs and cover letters. Here’s a surprising fact: Recruiters typically spend just 6 seconds scanning a CV! With this revelation, Tolu inspired us to infuse our CVs and Cover letters with action verbs, meticulously research each job application, and convincingly articulate why we are the ideal candidate. She emphasised the importance of highlighting achievements and providing real-world examples to showcase our skills and values effectively. She also provided examples of a good and a bad CV which called for engagement distinguishing what was best and not empowering us to elevate our own CVs and cover letters to the next. Furthermore, Tolu provided invaluable strategies for optimising our LinkedIn profiles to enhance our online presence and attract potential employers. Her advice encompassed crafting a headline that goes beyond our job title, actively seeking endorsements for our skills and engaging with posts to foster meaningful connections. Reminiscing on the journey of embarking on this course, I realise the pivotal role that LinkedIn played in helping me recognise the opportunities before me. Armed with these insights, I am eager to implement them in my career journey, confident that they will propel me closer to my aspirations.
The learning didn’t stop there.
In another enlightening session, two influential speakers, @Nyambe Sumbwayambe, a Senior Strategy Officer at MSD, UK and the founder of the Black Sherpa Podcast, and @Jess Robinson, a Director of Global Trial Optimisation at REGENERON shared invaluable strategies for networking which was truly eye-opening. As the popular African proverb goes: “If you want to go fast go alone; and if you want to go far, go together”, networking is indeed key. The distinction between traditional and strategic networking particularly struck me. Learning that effective networking requires setting specific goals, networking with purpose, and understanding our contact targets was enlightening. What also resonated with me was the importance of recognising the skills and experiences we bring to the table, rather than solely focusing on what we can gain from others. This approach maximises the effectiveness of our networking efforts. I learned that at a networking event, it is more effective to ask open-ended and unique questions instead of closed questions. For instance, instead of asking a generic question like "What do you do?", you can rephrase it by asking something like "What do you find most valuable about your work?" I left the session in awe.
As I reflect on the wealth of knowledge gained and the connections made throughout the experience, I am filled with a sense of excitement and determination for the journey ahead. Armed with newfound perspectives, I am confident in my ability to navigate the opportunities that lie ahead in my career. Looking forward, my next goal is to secure myself a summer internship in a lab-based environment or opportunities to enhance technical science skills and key scientific skills. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to be part of this cohort and for the resources shared along the way.
To my dear readers, whether you are an employer, a mentor, or someone passionate about supporting young people like myself, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn. By connecting with me on LinkedIn, you’ll have insight into my future ambitions and how you can potentially help me achieve them. Whether it is offering guidance, providing opportunities, or simply sharing industry insights, your support can play a significant role in shaping my career trajectory. To anyone considering applying for the 2nd cohort, I hope this inspires you to join the next cohort if you haven’t done so yet. Your career journey awaits and with the right support and resources from Wenite, you can achieve your goals and aspirations.
The Wenite Academy Team would like to thank Michelle Amoah for composing this impact spotlight about our academy. You can find out more about us and the academy below:
The Wenite Academy is designed to be a live cohort based program to equip and guide (aspiring) STEM Graduates and Early Career Professionals with the tools to support growth and development to reach their STEM career goals.
Over a 6-week period, in our Career Readiness Program for students and recent graduates, we deliver a 6 keys sessions by professionals from industry and certified coaches: (1) Navigating STEM Career Paths, (2) Exploring STEM Opportunities and Personal Branding, (3) Elevate Your Visibility in STEM Industries (4) Strategic Networking (5) Mastering Interview Success and (6) Culmination and Future Ascent: A Mock Interview & Project Showcase.
Wenite is a UK-based registered non-profit social enterprise that has a mission to help students and early professionals navigate and progress through the diversity of career paths in STEM through real people in the jobs with initiatives spanning career insights, a STEM careers academy, a community with events and voluntary work experience.
To express interest in future cohorts of our programs, as a sponsor, partner or participant, please join the Wenite Community