Your commitment
The commitment needed from mentors is flexible, but we do ask you to follow a few guidelines, as detailed below.
As a mentor you will assist and guide students in their career planning process and provide them with practical insights into the industry and field that you are working in and how a high-performing strategic function can add value to the business. Students will be keen to get your opinion on what they plan to do after college, advice on the jobs market, possible opportunities within their fields of study. They will also be very interested in how you arrived at where you are today in your career. They will also be eager to get your thoughts on the current industry trends and how to network.
The volunteer commitment is flexible but we ask that you:
Agree a contact schedule with your mentee at the start of the process. We do not set firm rules with regard to the frequency and length of your meetings. As a guideline, we advise a minimum of three meetings lasting between 30 and 45 minutes over the course of a semester. Depending on the student cohort you may be asked to participate October - January, February – May, or June - September.
- Attend a mentoring launch meeting (online) with the class Careers Advisor.
- Pre-establish methods and parameters for contact
- Provide advice and guidance on networking and expanding their knowledge
- Provide insights into how students can prepare for their first jobs and what is expected of them in the current market
- Provide coaching and guidance on topics such as: career planning and development, building resilience, profile building, job applications, and interviews
- Complete a brief evaluation survey at the end of the programme
- Attend a summary event with the mentors at the end of the programme
When does the programme run?
The project will run within a defined timescale of 4 months in the fall, spring or summer terms (October - January, February – May, or June – September).