Independent, impartial and informed career & educational advice for young people & their parents
Testimonials
Ahmanni - 23yrs Migration Studies - University of Oxford
Joanna’s guidance and support have been instrumental in my academic journey.
As a transfer student from Smith College in Massachusetts, her expertise and understanding of the intricacies involved in the UK university application process were crucial in my acceptance to the University of St Andrews, where I recently graduated with First Class Honours. She helped me craft and refine my personal statement, ensuring that it not only reflected my academic achievements and aspirations but also resonated with the ethos and expectations of the institutions I was applying to.
As I set my sights on furthering my education at the University of Oxford for a Masters in Migration Studies, Joanna was once again by my side. Her knowledge of the field, combined with her keen insight into the university's requirements, allowed me to craft an application that stood out. Her encouragement and advice were pivotal in my acceptance into this competitive program.
I am deeply grateful for her belief in my potential and her unwavering support and am confident that she will continue to inspire and support many more students in realizing their academic dreams.
Hugh - 23yrs Business Graduate - Newcastle University
I first got in touch with Joanna at the very start of my Real Estate Graduate application process, whilst in my final year at Newcastle Uni. From the offset, Joanna provided me with fantastic guidance, not least helping turn my CV / Cover Letter from a complete mess to professionally written, presentable and stand out worthy to employers. The format CV template Joanna uses is brilliant, and helps you articulately put across your achievements, emphasising how what you have actually done/ your skills suit the needs of each individual firm you are applying to.
Joanna further helped with all the psychometric tests and assessment days, particularly understanding the nuances within the tests, which I would have had no idea about with out Joanna's help. Joanna provided lots of info on where to find practice tests and how best to practise. Joanna further helped massively with my final interview, conducting numerous practice interviews with me online, discussing all the different questions and scenarios.
What makes Joanna stand out, is when I was panicking before my final interview and sent Joanna a flustered message with a million questions last minute, Joanna, whilst fully booked, made no hesitation in finding an extra slot for me very early in the morning on the day of my final interview to calm me down! This ease of access for advice was common theme throughout my time working with Joanna.
I'm confident in saying without Joanna, I would not have achieved a job on one of the top Property Grad Schemes in the timeframe I did.
I can't recommend Joanna highly enough !
Jade - 23yrs Urban Design Undergraduate - Oxford Brookes
My journey with Joanna started five years ago. I came out of my A-Level’s panicked – I think that is the best way to describe it. My grades were much lower than what is known as the ‘typical’ acceptable grade, and I had absolutely no idea which direction I wanted to go in, or because of my grades, what directions were possible. I will never forget the first time I met with Joanna. I started that session as an anxious teenager and came out one hour later feeling reassured and energised. During that session we mind-mapped all my possibilities, and there were many, which was something I hadn’t thought possible. For the first time in a very long while, I was excited about all the possible routes I could take.
From that point, until now, Joanna has been the most incredible mentor to me. She has supported me all the way through my four-year university experience, and most recently, has helped me acquire my dream graduate job. Five years ago, I could never have dreamed that I would be where I am now – happy, motivated by my degree experience and future career and confident in my abilities.
I will always be so grateful to Joanna as it was her advice and support that guided me to where I am today. I cannot thank you enough Joanna.
Archie - 20 yrs - Durham University
Joanna played a pivotal role in guiding me towards selecting the perfect degree and university. With a keen understanding of my interests, strengths, and aspirations, Joanna provided invaluable insights and resources to explore various academic paths.
I first approached Joanna when choosing my GCSE’s, ever since then I have gone back to Joanna whenever I have needed support, through A 'Levels, for personal statement advice, university choice and degree choice advice, Joanna has been there every step of the way. Through in-depth discussions, Joanna has helped me navigate the array of options available, considering factors such as career prospects, personal passions, and academic aptitude. Joanna has been the only person who has been truly honest with me throughout this time, which I cannot appreciate enough as it has led me to be studying a degree I am thoroughly enjoying at my number one chosen university.
Mimi - Third Year PPE - Exeter University
I met with Joanna seeking help applying to graduate schemes at the beginning of my final year of university. At that point, I didn’t know what career path I wanted to take, except that I was interested in finance or consulting. Joanna helped me realise what drives me, which helped me narrow down my applications to investment management, audit and consulting. She pointed me to many useful grad scheme application resources, which helped me pass most psychometric tests and receive multiple interviews.
When I received an assessment centre with PwC, I was worried because it involved a presentation, something I hadn’t had to do since school. Joanna gave me invaluable tips on how to give an excellent presentation, as well as advising me on the group work and interview components of the day. I passed the assessment centre and then had a final interview with a partner, and Joanna helped me to identify how best to tackle this. This resulted in me receiving an offer from PwC for financial services audit in London starting in September 2024. Joanna helped me tremendously in getting this, and I couldn’t recommend her highly enough!
Molly - Third Year English Undergraduate - Durham University
I was lucky to have a session with Joanna at the beginning of my application process for internships, and she gave me huge insight into not only how to apply, stages of applications, online testing and recommendations, but also more widely into specific companies and where my skillset was most relevant. Having Joanna look over and critique my CV was also very helpful, and allowed me to begin applying more confidently, and pursue further ups killing opportunities. I’ve just received an offer from Proctor and Gamble and Joanna's advice on them was extremely helpful, particularly given her previously working there, and played a big part in how I approached the assessment centre. Thank you once again.
Eliza - First Year Undergraduate - McGill University
I wanted to send you a message to give you a little life update and pass on huge thanks for your advice last year. I’m nearly a month into my time at McGill, which I only considered as an option after our great chat, and absolutely loving it.
You were so bang on with your prediction that the North American major/minor system would suit my style of learning better. I was telling my mum yesterday that the concept of studying solely geography at university seems crazy now. I’m doing an honours economics major, with minors in international relations and philosophy at the moment and hugely enjoying the breadth of the material I am studying. The other aspect of McGill I’m enjoying so much is the extracurriculars; I have made the women’s lacrosse team (with upcoming tournaments in Canada and the US) as well as the MUN team where I will be able to debate at conferences ranging from Harvard to San Francisco! All this to say, I’m having such a great time and it feels like an awfully long time ago that it felt like the world was collapsing in on itself. All of this thanks to your genuinely brilliant suggestion to go to a university I hadn’t even considered before.
I also wanted to add that if you send any other Brits across the pond to McGill, feel free to give them my email should they want to talk the decision though with someone who has been through it all so recently. I was lucky enough to have a school friend who was already at McGill to chat to, but I can imagine that the move could feel even more daunting without a connection in Montreal.
Thank you again for your brilliant advice, and I hope we can keep in contact!
Amelia - 22yrs Third Year Anthropology - Durham University
I spoke to Joanna in my first year at university, after worrying about how on earth I would get a career after studying anthropology as a subject at university which didn’t seem to lead to any obvious jobs and with a few B grades spread throughout my CV.
Joanna totally calmed me down, first of all she helped me identify my values and motivations as well as my strengths and skills. We then explored together various different career directions, narrowing it down to three clear options for me. I followed every single piece of advice she gave me to the letter, from how to research different job roles and industries, how to write CVs and cover letters, how to pass the online tests and how to prepare for online and in person interviews and assessment days. I was successful in getting two summer internships in real estate last summer with leading firms. This year Joanna has helped me use my experience to apply and successfully receive three graduate scheme job offers in two different industries. I am very excited to be starting the Aldi graduate scheme next January and I have to say that all my success on the career front, both working out what direction to follow and how to get through the application process, has been solely down to Joanna’s guidance throughout the process. Thank you Joanna you have been a total lifesaver!
Olivia - 21 yrs Classics Third Year - Durham University
Joanna has provided me with advice throughout my school and university career. From advising me on tailoring my personal statement for university applications, to how to go about securing a Graduate role, she has helped me figure out the direction I would like to go and provided me with the confidence and information to make this happen. The world of applications and careers can be daunting and confusing but I have gone back to Joanna again and again as a source of impartial and incredibly well informed advice which has always surpassed any school or university careers service.
Erin - Mother of Issy (19) and Jamie (17)
Joanna was recommended to me by a close friend who knew I was at a point of total desperation with my kids, both of whom were sitting A levels and applying to university in the same year. Joanna was an absolute lifesaver. She completely turned things around for both of them and for me. Being American, and not having gone through the UCAS process before, I didn’t know where to start. Joanna guided me through the process, so I then felt able to help my kids. For their part, neither of my kids knew what they wanted to study or where. My son was not a motivated student, and he was performing far below his potential. My daughter was a late bloomer, and she was having to do an intensive A level in one year. They weren’t interested enough in any of their A level courses to carry on with one of them at uni. Joanna was able to focus their minds and help them think strategically and find courses that they liked and at universities that were attainable and interesting to them. I would not have believed it if someone had told me beforehand that after one session, each of my kids would have found a course they liked, with realistic grade requirements, at top universities. And, it didn’t stop there. When it came to the applications, Joanna kept them on track, encouraging my son to stick with his university goals when he had a wobble and thought it might not be for him anymore. They each ended up with multiple offers to Russell Group universities and now they’re just waiting for exam results! I’ve gone on to recommend Joanna to a friend to help his daughter with grad school applications and she got an offer at Cambridge. I couldn’t recommend Joanna enough. Thank you Joanna!
Ben - 18 yrs Upper Sixth London, Economics - Manchester University
Over the course of year 13 I have had several sessions with Joanna and she has been instrumental in helping me to understand my goals and then achieve them. This started at the beginning of the year when we looked at different universities and the courses which they offered. Whilst I was able to read about the different course, it was Joanna who explained how the courses would relate to future employment opportunities and this helped to me choose the course which would be best for me. After this she helped me understand how to write a personal statement as, despite covering it at school, I was still unsure of really what was required to and how to structure it. In more recent sessions Joanna has talked me through various skills that employers will be looking for and has recommended multiple courses and activities where I could develop some of these skills. In addition, she has told me of the importance of being on the ball at the beginning of university and how to apply for internships later on in the year. The sessions with Joanna have been invaluable and she has helped me so much with both my university application and understanding future career prospects.
Celeste - 23 years Masters Student - Paris and Berlin
I am incredibly grateful for Joanna's support. After graduating from my bachelor's degree in Canada I was uncertain about my next steps, but Joanna guided me through my options and helped me secure a place at ESCP’s master's program in Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation in Berlin and Paris. Joanna’s guidance helped me to understand my goals and what I wanted to achieve through pursuing a master's degree, enabling me to make a more informed choice on where I wanted to pursue my master's. From there, she assisted me in organising my application, suggesting that I gather information about the course, while she did the same, so that we both had a clear understanding of the steps required to get there.
I felt apprehensive about the application process, but Joanna was incredibly helpful in breaking it down into manageable steps, ensuring that I always knew what to do next. She was always prompt in responding to my messages and even made time to speak with me on the phone when I needed additional guidance.
Throughout the process, Joanna's expertise and personal approach made me feel reassured and confident about my decisions. She helped me to understand what I wanted and needed to achieve my goals and provided the necessary tools to make it happen. I highly recommend Joanna to anyone uncertain about their next steps or needing help standing out in application processes. Her personal and professional approach is enormously helpful and I am very grateful for her support and advice throughout the process.
Sally - Mother of Rose (18), Upper Sixth, applying for Art Foundation
What do you do when your 18-year-old daughter has a confidence crisis – says she’s sick of school, doesn’t want to go to Higher Education and doesn’t know what job she wants to do? Panic – then call Joanna. Rose met with Joanna only twelve weeks ago – she now has offers coming in from art schools and unis offering her places on Art & Design Foundation courses and Photography degrees. The grades seem achievable; Rose has her self-belief back and is looking forward to her future. This is what Rose said about Joanna: “She’s extremely reassuring. She was really funny and easy to talk to. She made me feel as though I could explore loads of different possibilities. I would recommend her to anyone.
Ellie – 23 yrs English Graduate, Civil Service Fast Stream - Edinburgh University
Thank you so much for all your support over the last year. Thanks to the endless tools, direction and advice that you have offered I’ve been able to shift from a tearful, panicked graduate sat on your sofa to someone that has the confidence and determination to hand in their notice and shift towards a new area of work that hopefully sits in the sweet spot between the strategic rigour of the Civil Service and the creative energy of advertising.
Lisa - Mother of a Medical Student
Joanna gave my daughter invaluable advice and spent time discussing options to enable her to pursue her dream to study medicine. An unexpected chemistry A Level result had thrown a spanner in the works ! We felt panicked and anxious and she provided calm and reassurance when we really needed it. My daughter is in her first year at Bristol studying medicine and all is good. I have recommended Joanna to friends and family and they have also felt very grateful and positive after her advice
Harry - 23yrs Modern Languages Graduate - Bristol University
Joanna was my saving grace after a panic upon graduating mid-COVID. Not only did she guide me through the potential options but she also totally revamped my CV and most importantly, taught me how to successfully tailor it for further applications which I have since discovered is absolutely essential. Furthermore, she helped me write two (successful) Master applications and cover letters at the very last minute, one of which I thought was completely unattainable. I could not have done it without her and I wholeheartedly urge anyone who is looking for career advice / help with CV’s or cover letters for jobs or masters to reach out and get her honest, meticulous and expert advice.
Karen - mother of First Year Undergraduate Student
As a parent it is very difficult to know what to do when your 19 years old’s educational dream is shattered. Our son was in that place earlier this year after a disastrous first year at University in Boston, USA. Joanna’s practical and professional advice was invaluable and a lifeline to our son. Where there was fear and uncertainty, Freddie was opened up to choices and possibilities by Joanna which was just what he needed to get him back on track in the UK.
Being an independent and impartial advisor who understands both the further education system and what future employers are looking for, Joanna galvanised Freddie into a plan of action whilst, crucially, ensuring that he did all the application work himself. Joanna introduced some great ideas for Freddie to think about in terms of personal development that will help him unlock his potential in the future employment market, and we would not hesitate to recommend her services. Even if your child thinks they are on track and doing the right thing, for the sake of an hour or so with Joanna her wisdom and knowledge could make a real difference to their future, especially during these uncertain times.
Eliza – 21 yrs Sociology Third Year - Durham University
Thank you so much for our meeting the other day. I can’t even explain how much it helped. It has made me really excited for the future and I am so grateful for the time you took to talk through everything. I feel like a new woman and have gone from stressed and anxious to excited and much more at ease about everything.
Jenny - Mother of 18 yrs Gap Year Student, with place at Durham University
S has changed her selected course at Durham from English to Spanish – as discussed with Joanna. Joanna’s advice was excellent – well informed and up-to-date. Talking through the options with Joanna, and listening to her advice, was key for S in making the decision, and, importantly, feeling confident in her choice. The follow-up plan was invaluable – it gave S a clear path to actioning her decision to change course and, again, was well-informed and enabled her to successfully change course with minimal stress.
Molly - 18yrs Upper Sixth Pupil applying for Fashion Marketing
Joanna helped me through my whole application process for university and has been fantastic. I was unsure about what I wanted to do with my career and with what course and she helped me figure out what I really wanted. She worked with me to identify the right courses and helped me understand everything I was confused about. She helped me with my personal statement and she gave me a brilliant way of structuring it that made my job of writing it much easier. But she doesn’t stop there, I was invited to an interview with The University of Manchester and she gave me great advice on how to prepare and also possible questions they would ask. I have just been given an offer and am very excited about (hopefully) going there next year. I cannot thank and recommend Joanna enough!!!
Ivo - 18yrs Upper Sixth Pupil (Year 13)
Joanna gave me a greater awareness of careers I can pursue after taking a Biological Science Degree and a better idea of what employability skills I need to develop to be competitive when applying for jobs. It was helpful to understand the graduate recruitment process before I get to Uni so I can make the most of my extra curricular activities and coursework when I get there.
Milly - 24yrs Bristol Graduate, applying for Graduate role in NYC
Joanna has helped with my application for a job that I have been applying for in New York City and without her expertise, clarity and advice I wouldn’t have made it so far (I’m through to the final stage). She worked with me to optimise my CV and cover letter and prepare me for the interview which was conducted online. Joanna made the whole process incredibly smooth and thought provoking, teaching me how to tailor my CV and personal statement and showcase the relevant skills required for the role. She has a professional and friendly personality which I found easy to work with – I can’t recommend Joanna highly enough to anyone needing help with their CV and job applications.
Chandra and Fausto - parents of Ahmanni (20), transferring from US to UK University
I cannot recommend Joanna enough. Our daughter always knew that she wanted to study in Europe eventually and when we decided to relocate to London for a position it seemed like the right time to understand her options. We quickly realized that we were way out of our depth! Joanna was recommended by a colleague and I knew from our very first conversation that she was the right person to help us. Her kind yet straightforward approach made me immediately trust that she was going to do everything she could to find the right solution for Ahmanni, without just telling us what we wanted to hear. Joanna first of all sought to understand what course and university experience Ahmanni really wanted and then used her expert knowledge of universities and specific courses to provide her with a shortlist. She continued to guide her through the application process which was not straightforward given Ahmanni was already in her second year at Smith and provided invaluable support as Ahmanni was also busy with her exams at the time. Ahmanni has been accepted to all of the five Universities she applied to, even St. Andrews, her stretch school! This would not have been possible without Joanna. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!
Sigi - 22 yrs McGill University Graduate, applying for Masters in History at Cambridge University
Joanna helped me to submit a successful application to study a Masters in Modern European History at Cambridge University. Having just graduated from McGill University with a BA in History and Political Science, I approached Joanna with the express ambition of studying at Cambridge but with a poor understanding of the application process. Joanna helped me to tackle this rather daunting process, explaining what the admissions staff were looking, what makes an applicant stand out for the right and wrong reasons, and how to refine my personal statement and research proposal. Joanna has a real breadth and depth of knowledge and I am hugely grateful for Joanna’s help and greatly excited to start studying at Cambridge in October 2020.
Tal - 19yrs First Year Undergraduate, Biology - Oxford University
Joanna provided me with invaluable advice during my A-level years – in particular, relating to the UCAS process. Early in my Lower Sixth year, Joanna advised me on how to select my university choices by helping me to appreciate the subtle differences between subject courses. Under her guidance I decided to apply to the University of Oxford, and specifically to read Biology at The Queen’s College. She helped me structure my personal statement and worked on my interview technique. Joanna was a great sounding board for all my concerns and very supportive.
Robert - Father of Year 13 Pupil (18yrs), Degree Apprenticeship in Accountancy with EY
William decided that he did not want to go to University. He is in a hurry to “get on”, is driven by earning money (he has been since he was 4!) and to be successful. We spoke to Joanna and she suggest he look at Degree Apprenticeships (about which, I like most of us, know nothing), and having spoken to many in the City from investment managers, to venture capitalists, realised that this could be an exciting route for William and decided on accountancy. The idea was universally endorsed by all he spoke to whether he ended up in investment management or some other field, and all felt that this valuable skill and qualification would make him highly employable in what is a very competitive world.
I asked Joanna to prepare and guide him through the application process as the focus at his school (and all schools as far as I can see) seems to be on university application, with little encouragement or knowledge of degree apprenticeships at all. Joanna has helped him through the process step by step which has resulted in William having secured an offer with EY, one of the “big four” to start in September. It is an interesting route. He will work in Canary Wharf with them for 4 years, be paid £21,750, and qualify as a Chartered Accountant a Level 7 (masters level) qualification. Not to blow his trumpet but EY had over 30 000 applicants for their degree apprenticeships this year all of whom had to follow a four-stage, graduate-style assessment process including online video interviews, psychometric testing for numeracy, literacy and situational judgment and a day-long assessment center in London. Around 120 offers for degree apprenticeships have been made. He is in a similar process with Deloitte, and has made it through to the interview stage, so might even have more than one offer!
William is very excited, as are we. I appreciate that this route isn’t for everyone, although it is appealing to many given the cost of a university degree being upwards of £60K nowadays, but without Joanna and her advice, we would not even have found out about this route post school! Joanna’s help in preparing him and guiding him (and us) through the process was brilliant and I can’t thank her enough. She comes highly recommended.
Ed - 19yrs Gap Year Student, applying for Engineering - Exeter
Joanna helped me massively from my L6 year through to my UCAS application during my GAP year. She helped guide me in picking the right University courses and the best suited University for me. In addition to this she was a huge help when it came to writing my personal statement, always keen to help and in a very clear and concise way. Anyone having the slightest feeling of confusion or unease when it comes to applying to Uni will benefit hugely from Joanna’s help and I am really happy to have secured my place at Exeter for next year.
Lorne - 19yrs First Year Student Economics and Politics - Bath University
A session with Joanna has given me a clearer understanding of the career pathways into the financial services industry and the civil service and it was really helpful to understand the graduate interview and recruitment process. Joanna helped me completely revolutionise my CV ready to apply for placement jobs in my third year and highlighted what careers resources I can utilise online and from my University Careers Service. My father added that Joanna really highlighted that these important discussions need to be had early on, and to note in particular, the need to be on the ball when arriving at University in order to enrol on spring insight days so got my younger brother to talk to her too!
Fred - 21yrs Third Year - Leeds University
Thanks so much for your session with Fred last week – he is quite bogged down with studies etc at the moment and as you will know, has been totally unsure of avenues to head down regarding his life post university which has paralysed him really. However, the session with you really gave him a lift and provided some kind of loose framework from which he can base his research. According to him it was without doubt the most helpful and worthwhile career related conversation he’s ever had, which is great. Incredibly helpful for us also to see what was discussed and your comprehensive follow-up information and the responses he gave to your questions. We shall be encouraging him to have as many sessions with you as he feels he needs – I have no doubt he’ll be in touch soon.
Fiona - Mother of 6th Form Student (Year 13), Rural Land Management BA Hons - Cirencester
We are so grateful to you for your advice and for finding the course, it was inspired as both the University and the course really suit Pip and we have already seen a huge change in her in terms of ‘growing up’ and becoming more independent. Everyone needs a ‘Joanna’ for careers advice!
Jade - 19yrs Gap Year Student now foundation year in Built Environment - Oxford Brookes
Joanna gave me clear guidance and highlighted many possible routes which I could take. This was incredible as I thought I had very limited options when I came out of my A-Levels as my grades were lower than expected. She listened to my worries and found amazing information for me to look at for opportunities which I didn’t even know existed! Joanna gave me a really clear action plan and I was accepted onto a foundation course at Oxford Brookes University and I was absolutely over the moon. She recommended that I use the foundation year as a test to see whether I enjoyed the university lifestyle and if not, that I could go down the degree apprenticeship route. I have completed my first semester at university and have absolutely loved it despite being a fresher in the Covid pandemic, which says something as this year has been very different for students. I have decided to carry on with university next year and I will be starting on a three year degree in urban design, planning and development which I am very excited about. I am so grateful to Joanna as she gave me confidence that I had options even when I felt they were very limited. Her advice was reassuring, realistic and detailed I am so grateful as I am so happy with what I am doing now.
S - 24yrs Marketing Graduate Trainee at Global FMCG Company, London
My consultation with Joanna felt very personal, follow ups were frequent and I felt a true level of care in the advice, and I still refer back to my follow up summary today (from early 2019!). I am still working at the same company but frequently look back to Joanna’s advice for reassurance. I have recommended Joanna to several other friends.
Gabriella - 18yrs Lower Sixth Pupil (Year 12), now at University in Rotterdam
Hi Joanna, it’s Gabriella here. I’m loving studying International History at Erasmus University Rotterdam. You really gave me the confidence to just go for it and choose the path I really wanted. Thank you so much for your encouragement and supportive advice.
Roger - Father of Edward (18) Lower/Upper Sixth (Year 12/13)
Edward had several ideas about what he may want to do after school, but really wasn’t sure on how to decide and progress forwards. Joanna took him through a detailed process which included evaluating his aspirations and marrying them with his strengths and weaknesses. This pointed him in the direction of several career options. Ed discussed these options with friends and family and others with experience of the different sectors. He is now excited about his plans to pursue a career in Real Estate with an RICS qualification. On Joanna’s advice he built his CV with work experience with a Property Development company and other research over the summer. He has now received offers from all the leading University Courses on Real Estate in the UK and is further considering whether to apply for a Degree Apprenticeship. It has been great to watch him develop a career plan and the ambition to fulfil it.
Lorne - 21yrs Third Year Politics - Bath University
When applying for your first serious job or internship, you become very aware that the job market at the start of your career is a buyer’s market, and it’s easy to feel like no one wants what you’re selling! However, with Joanna’s help, not only did I learn methods and skills essential to the various stages of any job application (including interviews, assessment centres, cover letters and CVs), I also became more aware of the valuable skills and personality traits I possess and gained the confidence and resilience that’s needed in the modern job market. I cannot thank her enough.
Jasper - 21yrs Leeds Second Year Undergraduate, applying for virtual/insight days and internships
Thank you for your comprehensive follow-up summary. Our session on assessment centre preparation was very useful. I definitely got a lot out of it, particularly in relation to the strengths-based questions as this was something with which I had little experience before now.
Harry - 23yrs Languages Graduate - Bristol University
Joanna was unbelievably helpful and I really enjoyed our sessions. She was very honest about my chances of certain jobs and the skill set I had which was very useful. Would highly recommend her help for anyone looking for career advice coming out of school or university.
Rachel - Mother of three sons
I met Joanna at a party in 2016 and enjoyed hearing her story and how she was particularly interested in working with young people, giving them career advice. Since then, all three of my sons have seen her and each one got good ideas, clarification and thorough follow up from the sessions. I have recommended her to other friends and each one has found it a very worthwhile investment for their children’s decision-making.
Ollie - 17yrs Lower Sixth Form Pupil (Year 12)
I know what I want to study at university and where I would like to apply to but not much idea of how to put my personal statement together. A session with Joanna helped bring clarity to the process and, without writing it for me, gave me some invaluable guidelines as to how to go about it.
Jess - 21yrs
I decided to leave university half-way through my second year after discovering that it was not the perfect route for me as it was too much of a straight line. I was struggling with what to do next, finding it difficult to identify the right path when a friend suggest I speak to Joanna. We discussed a variety of options including ski seasons (she helped me understand that these are now very difficult to get post BREXIT), scuba diving internships, working and gaining qualifications on yachts, interior design courses and a one year business qualification offered by Oxford Media and Business School (OMBS). My first session with Joanna was more of an eye opener as to what I was really looking for and what is out there and the second session was the evaluation/conclusions following on from the first meeting. I am now set to join OMBS in September 2022, and if I had not spoken to Joanna, I would never have considered this option. She also has encouraged and motivated me to become open minded in terms of creating my own ‘bag of life skills’, which I hadn’t ever thought of as important and to gain as much experience as possible. These ideas and mindsets have now become stuck in my views on new paths to take in the future. Thank you Joanna for all your help, and to those of you who are in the same situation as I was, you’re on the right website!
Jackie - Mother of Gap Year Student
Brilliant news, Jade has received her offer from Oxford Brookes! This will give her the focus for 2020/21 that she really needs in the uncertainty of today. I think she’s still considering the degree apprenticeship route but let’s wait and see, she now knows exactly what she needs to do and how to go about it thanks to you. Thank you so much for being her rock and giving clear guidance. Parents sometimes just need independent back up!
Tom - Exeter University Graduate
Joanna is a fountain of ideas and has extensive knowledge of industries across the board. She played a vital role in informing my career choice by explaining the industry and offering practical ideas on how to progress into it. Without her help I may not have gained a place on the Masters course I am currently studying. Her advice on CV’s, applications and interviews is extremely useful is an excellent approach on how to do applications for internships and graduate schemes. Whether you need career direction or already know where you are heading, Joanna’s advice is invaluable and I can only recommend her!
Luis - 21yrs Durham University Graduate, PWC Consulting
I cannot recommend Joanna highly enough. Over the course of the sessions that we had she really helped me dispel my doubts and change career paths into a role which suits me much better as well as providing fantastic insights and coaching as to the application process, CV’s and interviews, which helped me immeasurably.
Lucie - Mother of Lower Sixth Pupil (Year 12)
Joanna has been invaluable in supporting me and my daughter through the tricky process of university decisions this year. It has been particularly helpful for us to speak to her separately and I am in no doubt that, as well as providing some very sound suggestions for the best way forward, her guidance in how to talk about what can be a prickly subject has also avoided some family rows!
I will be using her again for my sons in due course and, whilst they have very different aspirations to my daughter, I think they way in which she helped her will be immensely useful for them too.
Jack - 20yrs Undergraduate - Nottingham University
I really benefited from the time I spent with Joanna, she really motivated me to apply for internships and to focus on my career. She made me realise its never too early to start thinking about my future, highlighting the opportunities available. She provided the motivation I needed and am delighted to say that I’m starting my internship with BT in June. I would recommend Joanna to anyone thinking about their career and who is in need of some guidance.
Lucy - Mother of Exeter Graduate
Thank you so much for all your work with Tom. Since deciding on this path he hasn’t wavered AND says he is really enjoying the work. This would not have happened without your guidance and experience. I hope you feel gratified (or proud or rewarded!) because it is a real achievement to use a mixture of knowledge, experience and coaching skills to encourage him on the path. Terrific job, we are so glad we found you, I will be sending his brother and sister to talk to you too.
Sebastian - 18yrs Upper Sixth Form Pupil (Year 13)
Towards the end of Sixth form I felt in need of independent advice and guidance regarding my Gap year and University choices. In our first session, simply through a structured conversation about my university choices, Joanna helped me organise all my worries, thoughts and goals and develop a short and concise action plan.
As I felt that I was simply holding a conversation with Joanna, I found I could think more freely about what we were discussing. In our follow up session we focused more on what I could do in my Gap year. As in our first session, Joanna helped me organise and prioritise my goals and interests. Then, once I had a clear idea about what I truly wanted to get out of my Gap year whether that be learning a language or meeting new people, Joanna helped me identify and evaluate several routes which would suit my interests and goals.
In addition to the first two sessions, Joanna also gave me some invaluable advice in a telephone session on how to go about writing my CV and cover letter, something that will stand me in good stead for future applications. Now I am in a position where I have a much better and clearer idea of what I want to do regarding my Gap Year, as well as my University choices and feel much more prepared as a whole.
I would strongly recommend seeing Joanna to anyone worried about their University applications and choices, their Gap year, or any other career decisions they are concerned about.
Marie Anne - BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
I left school in 2005 with 5 GCSE’S A-C and no clear intention of what I would like to do with my future career. With a lack of guidance and support I dropped out of college just three months after enrollment and thereafter worked in a series of restaurants, bars and stables on a casual basis with no career direction.
Talking with Joanna gave me the courage and motivation to return to my studies and in 2012 I enrolled onto an access to medicine course at my local college with the aim of pursuing a career in nursing. I gained a first in my nursing degree at the end of last year and I am currently a nurse on a busy high acuity medicine ward caring for patients who may be very sick and have a high level of care needs. It’s not for the faint hearted and not something I thought I was capable of before Joanna’s support. I will be returning to University to complete a midwifery degree in September.
Without Joanna’s motivation and support, I would never have returned to and completed my studies. Her understanding of the education system and career paths was key to helping me recognise and understand the options open to me but I think her special talent is her ability to identify skills, strengths and weaknesses and then motivate you to meet your potential.
She is always enthusiastic and interested and I found that she empowered me, always knowing when to challenge and when to encourage. She helped me question what I was capable of and helped me recognise that I could set the bar higher. She helped me through the many highs and lows of navigating nursing and would definitely recommend her expertise.
Tom - 18yrs Gap Year Student
My time spent with Joanna was invaluable. She swiftly brought the much needed order and experience to the often overwhelming task of writing a personal statement for my UCAS application, helping me articulate my interest in my subject in a manner Universities are looking for.
Amy - Mother of a Fifth Form Pupil (Year 11)
I brought my 15 year old daughter to see Joanna to discuss her career routes for post GCSEs as I felt that she hadn’t looked at all the options open to her and had received little or no helpful careers advice at school therefore an independent and impartial view would be useful.
Feeling that they would have a more open and productive session without me I left Evie with Joanna for an hour to chat. Whilst Evie was a little nervous beforehand, she reported back that Joanna was really friendly and easy to talk to and that they had a very helpful discussion which she really enjoyed as she felt she was really being “listened to like an adult” which she wasn’t at school.
Coming out of the session, Evie felt that she had a much better understanding of the different options and routes open to her and what they would entail. Joanna helped her understand that decisions you make at 15 years old do matter but that there are different ways to achieve your goals.
I found it very reassuring that Evie had had the opportunity to discuss her options with someone who was independent, impartial and up to date with what is currently available and what qualifications and experience she needed.
I would highly recommend Joanna to any parent as she has a natural interest and consideration for young people and really wants to help them fulfil their potential whatever their direction.