Our student callers are looking forward to some great conversations with alumni in the next few weeks. We asked some members of the telethon team why they love this job so much.
What do you like about Strathclyde?
Strathclyde's a busy uni right in the heart of the city. It's got a great diversity that ivory tower, elitist, universities don't. We benefit from great teaching and campus life is second to none!
Have you enjoyed being a Telethon caller and why?
Telethon calling has been great. It's good to hear so many people saying good things about the uni and their career success is a positive message for us as current students. Apart from anything you get a really good chat with some very interesting folk! It has also been nice working closely with a team of students. We have all gotten to know each other and I'm sure the social nights will be amazing!
What skills do you think you’ve gained from being a caller and how will this translate to your working life?
The confidence required to ask people for money over the telephone is something that is bolstered by the caller's ability to make a strong case for support. In that sense the most important skill that I feel I've developed is to build a bond very quickly over the telephone and gain the confidence and respect of the alums. With an increasingly competitive job market it is important to be able to make a good first impression, particularly in an interview scenario.
What do you like about Strathclyde?
I like the close knit community feel within Strathclyde in that I can seek help and support if and when I need it. Strathclyde is a high standard university that strives for perfection ensuring that we get the best university experience possible. I feel that the university has a good standard of resources that all students have fair access to, ensuring all students have equal opportunities.
Have you enjoyed being a Telethon caller and why?
I have thoroughly enjoyed this telethon calling experience as it has given me the opportunity to speak to so many inspirational alumni and hear about their personal experience within Strathclyde and what they have gone on to do in life. It is motivating to hear of their successes and gives me personal determination to do exceptionally well within my degree and career. Almost every Strathclyder I have spoken to has absolutely loved their time and experience at Strathclyde. It is nice that alumni enjoy hearing from us and it often seems to evoke a certain nostalgia for their student life.
What skills do you think you’ve gained from being a caller and how will this translate to your working life?
I have personally gained alot from this experience in terms of further developing my interpersonal, communication and organisational skills. These are skills that are naturally transferable to my future career. I feel I have benefited from this experience and it has helped me acquire skills essential to working life, one of which is having the ability to listen and empathise with others and relate to their personal experiences as best I can.
What do you like about Strathclyde?
I enjoy my lectures and find them interesting and relevant. I have a lot of friends and find the whole campus a very social place. The gym and gym classes are really good fun and good value. A lot of my friends also attend the classes and its a great place to meet people.
What do you enjoy about being a Telethon caller?
I am happy to talk to alumni about their experiences and it is interesting to see how things have changed and how people have progressed in their careers. It is especially interesting to talk to someone who studied my course and see how they have developed since.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to go shopping with my friends, especially to charity shops, as it tends to be a lot more interesting. I enjoy meeting up with friends from school who have gone abroad or to different parts of the UK, to catch up and see how they are getting on. I also like going to the gym and trying to keep fit. I enjoy playing sports socially, like tennis, when I get the chance.
What do you like about Strathclyde?
Strathclyde offers me the oppertunities I need to educate myself to a high degree. The library especially is exceptionally helpful and offers a wide range of literature for an English student such as myself.
Have you enjoyed being a Telethon caller and why?
I have enjoyed being a Telethon Caller as it is really rewarding raising money for a cause which will benifit so many. Getting your first donation is quite a thill.
What skills do you think you’ve gained from being a caller and how will this translate to your working life?
Through the course of fundraising I have learned how to patiently put forward my case and only ask people for what they can afford. Showing them that it is a good cause took some practice but once you learn how to put forward your case it helps them make the right decision.
What do you like about Strathclyde?
I enjoy knowing I am studying at a university that is committed to providing the highest standard in education and encouraging its students to develop to their fullest potential. The University understands the importance of a balanced student life and is dedicated to creating the notion of a wider student experience, providing great social clubs and institutions that cater to a diverse range of students.
Have you enjoyed being a Telethon caller and why?
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a telethon caller. It has been a pleasure to speak to alumni that are still so passionate about Strathclyde and who have only positive memories and experiences of the university that they are more than happy to share. The telethon experience has proven to be extremely beneficial with regards to alumni offering up invaluable advice and insight into employment after university life. I found that being entrusted to make calls in an effort to maintain a strong rapport between the University and alumni has been personally fulfilling.
What skills do you think you’ve gained from being a caller and how will this translate to your working life?
This project has enabled me to obtain and further develop upon various skills that are fundamental to working life such as communication, negotiation, organisation and interpersonal skills. In essence the telethon experience has motivated me as an individual to contribute to the success of an organisation whilst also fulfilling as much personal potential as possible. I hope that these attributes acquired will translate well into future employment.
What do you like about Strathclyde?
Strathclyde has the highest regarded Engineering department in Scotland and is among the best in the UK. Having a masters degree in chemical engineering from Strathclyde will be hugely beneficial when it comes to looking for a graduate job within the energy industry. I like the fact that my degree has encompassed business courses because a wider education gives me more options as a graduate. The University is committed to allowing every student the opportunity to participate in sports clubs and societies, helping us gain the necessary leadership, people manangement and social skills that make us very attractive to employers. I play and help to organise the University's tennis tournaments and feel that these additional experiences have been a significant part of my time at university to date. I was also lucky enough to spend my third year at the University of Toronto due to Strathclyde's strong links internationally. If Strathclyde was not globally recognised I would not have been able to have this fantastic experience.
Have you enjoyed being a Telethon caller and why?
I have enjoyed the experience. Initially I worried that calling alumni would be daunting but I quickly discovered that the majority of Strathclyders are very warm towards the University and are a real pleasure to talk to. It's been very interesting to speak to alumni from a wide range of disciplines and discover the many different paths graduates take to enjoy successful careers.
Personally, I have enjoyed speaking to alumni who've studied my degree as they've offered invaluable advice. My travel scholarship and my involvement with sports clubs, which are all supported by the Alumni Fund, has made it very easy for me to talk about the Alumni Fund and illustrate the benefits to students. Hearing so many positive things about the university from alumni makes me proud to be a Strathclyder.
What skills do you think you’ve gained from being a caller and how will this translate to your working life?
Working as a telethon caller has undoubtedly helped to strengthen my self confidence and has allowed me to improve my ability to strike up warm and friendly conversation with people unfamiliar to me. I beleive that these skills will help me in the future because I am now very comfortable speaking to new people and as I expect to be working within a team environment in my future career, it has been valuable to have this kind of experience. I feel that the negotiating skills I've acquired will stand me in good stead for a successful career within the engineering industry.
What do you like about Strathclyde?
I like the fact that Strathclyde develops its students to become leaders in industry. The industrial links with major companies gives Strathclyde a cutting edge when it comes to finding the best graduate jobs around. Strathclyde also has a number of sports clubs and societies, most of which perform at a professional level. Students get the opportunity to get themselves engaged in a student atmosphere that is both rewarding and relaxing. Having compared my student experience with students from other universities, the results are satisfying. Strathclyde is an amazing place to gain an education and the prospect of finding work once you graduate is also extraordinary.
Have you enjoyed being a telethon caller and why?
Being a telethon caller has been really rewarding. I have been speaking to a vast number of graduates who have been doing really well in industry and speaking to them about their experiences at Strathclyde makes it something I can relate to. Most alumni are glad to hear from students and give us advice on what sort of skills to focus on while job hunting and most importantly they provide you with a point of contact to get more information about companies they are working for. For me, one of the most important things about telethon is speaking to graduates about the Alumni Fund. Speaking to them about the various projects that the Alumni Fund supports, for students, the local community and even further afield, makes you realise how important it is for students to get involved.
What skills do you think you’ve gained from being a caller and how will this translate to your working life?
Being a telethon caller has greatly enhanced my communication and team work skills. Talking to graduates about their experiences and their working life gives you an opportunity to improve your communication skills. Working as part of a team to meet targets and getting frequent support from your supervisors makes it a team effort and therefore enhancing your team work skills. But by far, the most important skill that I have gained is negotiation skills. Some graduates may not be prepared to donate to the University, but talking to them about the Alumni Fund and convincing them to support a good cause is something that cannot be ignored. I believe that once I start working in a professional job, the skills I have gained will help me to take up major projects in the working environment.
