Student Experience: Anas Dayeh on Crankstart Internships and Oxford Consultancy Programmes
Third year PPE student at Oxford's St John’s College, Anas Dayeh, wasn't sure how his various interests and passions could translate into a career. In this article, Anas writes about his experience on the Crankstart Internship Programme and other Oxford Careers skills-development programmes and how they broadened his career horizons. He also shares details about how the Careers Service and Internship Office supported him on a one-to-one basis and offers advice to current Crankstart scholars at Oxford.
What services have you accessed through the Internship Office and Careers Service at the University of Oxford?
Advice appointments
The Internship Office and Careers Service offers many services that I was able to use. At the start, I didn't have enough knowledge and experience with creating and amending my resume, so their CV support helped me craft one that stands out when applying to internships. The One-To-One Crankstart meetings have been very insightful, offering a personalised space to address my questions and concerns, from interview strategies to sector-specific advice.
Skills-development programmes
I’ve also taken part in the Oxford Strategy Challenge— both The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA) and The Student Consultancy program (TSC)! In both cases, I actively engaged in immersive real-life experiences that simulated the challenges and rewards of consultancy work. By working closely with a firm or a start-up, I was able to quickly learn more about their business and the wider sector, turning the challenge into a crash course in consultancy.
One of my best memories was working as a consultant for Inmisceo, a company passionate about blended learning, during the TSC. It was an incredible coincidence that allowed me to utilise my interest in Educational Technology in contributing to a section of the report on the application of Artificial Intelligence in Blended Learning. I had the opportunity to meet the CEO of the company at the Emerging Technologies conference, where he kindly gave me a tour of the exhibition and shared information about many of the companies present and also gave me so many expert insights into the sector!
Micro-internships
Then there are the micro-internships, which we are so lucky to have! These career taster sessions give you a quick but insightful look into various fields, helping you make more informed choices for your career path. They provide practical explorations that assist you in sketching a clearer roadmap for your future.
How have these services developed your career aspirations, if at all?
Before I started using Oxford's Careers Service, I was unsure about how my various interests and passions could translate into a career. However, with the help of these services and all the experiences I had, I was able to gain clarity and really understand what I want to do after graduation.
I've had the opportunity to engage in a wide range of tasks, including conducting research on the environment, providing consultancy services, working abroad, and even working at the UK Ministry of Defence. Each of these experiences has been invaluable in teaching me new skills and preparing me for the next challenge!
The most important lesson I learned was the importance of 'transferable skills.' These skills can be used in many different jobs, and it taught me that I shouldn't focus too much on finding the 'perfect' job title. Instead, I should look for jobs that allow me to learn more about different sectors and gain knowledge and understanding. This will not only make you more appealing to future employers, but it will also keep your options open for different career paths later on if you decide to pursue a different passion!
What Internship placements have you undertaken through the Crankstart Internship Programme? Could you tell us about your internship(s)?
I've had the chance to work at some exciting places thanks to the Crankstart Internship Programme. One was Toynbee Hall, and the other was the UK Ministry of Defence. Both were eye-opening in different ways!
At Toynbee Hall, I conducted research on poverty and inequality, worked on the citizens' manifesto for Tower Hamlets, conducted research on social public policy issues affecting disadvantaged communities in London, and assisted with the development of strategies, frameworks, policy recommendations, and proposals for future work.
At the Ministry of Defence, I interned as a Strategic Research Analyst and had the opportunity to see how civil service works, and how policies are made and executed, and learned new skills. I conducted an in-depth strategic analysis for the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (DCDC), collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive defence strategies, and developed critical thinking and strategic planning skills in a high-stakes environment.
These internships were also funded through the Crankstart Internship Bursary, which helped avoid the cost of not working elsewhere. They gave me a sneak peek into different career paths and areas that I'm interested in, while at the same time not having to worry about my finances! I got to see and do things that I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise, and that's been really valuable for figuring out what I want to do after I graduate.
How have these internships supported your career projections?
The internships I did through the Internship Office and Crankstart enabled me to try out different roles and see what suited me best. The Ministry of Defence helped me understand the ins and outs of civil service, Toynbee Hall and the Micro-Internships at the EUROPAEUM and the School of Geography and Environment here at Oxford gave me a taste of what Social, European, and Environmental research work is like.
But it wasn't just about the work here. I also got to apply what I've learned in my courses, like international relations and economics, to real-world situations. This was especially true when I had the chance to intern abroad, an opportunity made possible by the Crankstart internship bursary.
One of the standout experiences that the Crankstart internship bursary enabled for me was the opportunity to work in Palestine, interning as an Economic Policy researcher for the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS). This wasn't just another internship; it was a transformative experience that broadened my horizons in ways I couldn't have imagined. I was based in Ramallah in the West Bank, but I also had the chance to travel around Palestine and Israel.
This experience allowed me to apply academic theories from my modules, like international relations and macroeconomics, to real-world, complex situations. It's one thing to discuss security and conflict in a classroom; it's entirely another to witness and understand these issues on the ground.
The interpersonal skills and global perspective I gained were also second to none. I met a variety of people, engaged in eye-opening discussions, and saw firsthand the impact of policies and economics on everyday lives, with my research focusing on youth entrepreneurship in the Palestinian economy. These are not just career skills; they are life skills that have enriched my understanding of the world.
None of this would have been possible without the financial support from Crankstart. The bursary removed the financial barrier that often limits such enriching experiences. It allowed me to focus on absorbing as much as I could from this unique opportunity rather than worrying about finances.
How easy has it been to obtain financial support through the Crankstart programme, and the team involved?
Getting financial support through Crankstart has been straightforward and has made a big difference for me. The bursary allowed me to take on all the internships mentioned above and more without having to worry about finances!
The internship bursary provided by Crankstart was not only helpful for internships secured through the University Careers Team, but also for other work experiences. It enabled me to have unique internships, such as working as a political research intern at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and as a Public Affairs consultancy intern at Grayling. The financial support offered by Crankstart made it possible for me to pursue these unpaid internships and gain valuable experience in different sectors.
The team behind Crankstart is incredibly supportive. They not only want to see you succeed, but they also go above and beyond to ensure your success. From my personal experience, they were there every step of the way, guiding me through the application process and providing valuable insights. Whenever I had any questions or concerns, they were always available and willing to help. Their dedication and support truly made a difference in my journey.
This financial support offered is about more than just about earning money, especially for working-class students. It's about opening doors to opportunities that shape our future, opportunities we wouldn't have been able to do without it.
Is there any advice you would give to other Crankstart Scholars?
If there's one piece of advice I'd offer, it's this: don't limit yourself. Apply for as many internships as you can, even if you don't think you're the perfect fit. The worst that can happen is you don't hear back, but the best-case scenario is you secure the Internship. Even if you get an interview and don't get the Internship, treat it as an excellent real-life practice that will help you improve for next time.
Also, and I can't stress this enough, make the most of the micro-internships offered by the university! They're short, just five days, but you can learn a lot in that time. It's a unique chance to try out different sectors and add more experience to your CV without the long-term commitment. I'm really grateful that we have opportunities like this!
If you're on Crankstart, don't underestimate the internship bursary! £3,200 to subsidise any unpaid work meant I could earn money doing something related to my career instead of taking a random job to pay the bills. In fact, as the pay is based on the living wage, you might even end up earning more from a micro-internship than you would in a typical part-time job, all while gaining experience that will help you in the future.
Lastly, don't hesitate to seek advice from the Careers Service! They're a fantastic resource and will do their best to help you succeed.
So go ahead, take that leap, and make the most of the opportunities that come your way. You won't regret it!
