Headington
CONNECT
Headington Connect
Connect, mentor and expand your professional network.
Headington Connect is our online platform which allows the Headington community (Headingtonians, parents, staff and Sixth Formers) to engage with one another and develop career mentoring, work experience and business networking opportunities.
With over 1,850 members and growing daily, the Headington Connect community is a great forum where everyone has a shared bond of Headington School. And especially for Headingtionians, a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends, organise a reunion and keep in touch!
Sign up now to Headington Connect with your email or LinkedIn profile and join today at headingtonconnect.org. By signing up with your LinkedIn account, your Headington Connect profile will be up-to-date with your full career history, giving other members of the platform and potential future employers an insight into your background.
Available to download on android by searching ‘Headington Connect’ or for iOS please download the ‘Graduway Community’ app and select Headington Connect from the list.
Personal brand and online professional presence
In today's competitive job market, it's not just about what you know, it's about who you know. Professional networking platforms like LinkedIn and Headington Connect have revolutionised the way we connect with potential employers, industry influencers, and colleagues. The value of these platforms cannot be overstated when it comes to building a successful career, whether you are just starting out or have years of experience behind you.
Standing out from the crowd is essential. With thousands of applicants applying for the same position, it's crucial to have a strong personal brand to market yourself effectively. Richard Elvidge, parent at Headington School and executive search and recruitment professional with over 20 years of experience, recently spoke to Headington's U6 students about the importance of personal branding and how to create and maintain a strong CV and personal brand.
One of the key benefits of personal branding is the ability to differentiate yourself from other job applicants. Professional networking platforms offer a wealth of opportunities to connect with potential employers and recruiters by showcasing skills and experience in a memorable and compelling way. By creating a strong CV and LinkedIn profile that highlights your skills, experience, and achievements, you can increase your visibility and attract the attention of hiring managers.
You can also use these platforms to research companies, learn about job openings, apply for positions directly, and connect with potential employers.
Richard’s full seminar is available to watch on Headington Connect for a comprehensive insight into how to brand yourself professionally, creating your CV and utilising professional networking platforms. It's time to start building your network!
Industry Insights
If, like Richard and many other members of our community, you would like to offer your advice and knowledge to our students by way of a lecture, seminar or PSHE session, we would love to hear from you! Insider industry knowledge is invaluable to those at the early stages in their career as they begin to prepare for life after Headington. Contact Emily Whiteley via email or on Headington Connect to discuss how you can get involved!
Making Connections
Gilly Cooper
current parent
“When my daughter joined Headington Prep School in Year 5, I was given an opportunity to register for Headington Connect. After reading what the programme was trying to achieve, I quickly realised the potential benefits of signing up for the programme, both for myself as a Human Resources leader in business, and for pupils past and present.
I was contacted a couple of months later by a former pupil – Cici. She reached out to me, initially just for some general career advice and to understand what Human Resources in a business context was all about. She mentioned she would be interested in undertaking some work experience in her holidays and at the time we were looking for some extra resource on a couple of specific projects.
Cici joined my team for two weeks. Her inquisitive and enquiring mind and professional attitude were particular virtues, and I was blown away with the work she produced in such a short period of time and the different perspectives she brought. We have stayed in contact and hope we may be able to help each other in the future”.
Cici Hong
Headingtonian 2020
“Coming out of Covid restrictions at the beginning of 2022, I began to search for platforms that provided career insights. I was reminded of Headington Connect in a conversation with an old friend and began my search, starting with messaging a list of parents and alumnae asking for conversations about their careers and any offers of advice. One of the parents included Gilly, who gave me a great insight to her career and how important her previous mentors were to her. The following Easter, I was given the opportunity to work in her international HR department at Veritas, gaining valuable insights into a global leading technology company.
Through another conversation, I landed my opportunity to work on a vineyard and volunteer in rural Chile for my year abroad at university - so I can't recommend it enough for students to take advantage of the platform!”
