Career Mentoring Programme

Info for Students

The aim of the programme is to give students an insight into the kind of skills that are required in their sector of work and the work environment. Mentors can give advice, answer questions and help with any problems a student might be having. Students will discover what skills are needed in the work environment and can obtain advice from people with real work experience.

Our Mentors are located all over the world, and whilst there are many who are local there are also a few in more distant locations. The commitment therefore may be in the form of either email, phone or face-to-face meetings with your mentor. These can be conducted anytime between November and May and can be as short or as long as you wish, although we expect at least 4 contacts to be made during that time. Face-to-face meetings can be conducted anywhere ranging from the University cafeteria to the graduate's office or in the convenience of a local pub.

There is normally an event held on campus during May to mark the end of the mentoring relationship, allowing students to begin the exam period and mentors to have a well earned rest before mentoring another student next year!

Downloads

Mentees Frequently Asked Questions (.pdf format)

Info for Mentors

Through mentoring a student you will have an important effect on their career and perhaps even their life! You will be able to share the knowledge and insights that you have gained from your own, and perhaps others’ experiences with a young person who is aspiring to be successful in your field.

Previous Mentors became involved because of reasons such as wanting to encourage graduates into their field, being willing to help and guide students, wanting to help undergraduates at their university and grasping an opportunity to participate in a new and exciting programme.

Benefits

Previous Mentors have reported various benefits, which are both professional and personal:

• “I broadened my own coaching and caring skills".
• “It created another network for me to be involved in".
• “It’s been rewarding to see the reaction to what is fairly basic advice – it emphasised what you have learned over the years".
• “It has improved my objective-setting, counselling and facilitating skills".
• “There is a great degree of satisfaction in being a catalyst in someone else’s development".
• “Becoming a Mentor can be an important source of growth and personal development".

Time Commitment

There are a number of aspects to this:

• The initial meeting with the Mentee of about two hours maximum;
• Regular meetings – at least a further three meetings. This can vary and could be one-to-one meetings of one hour or could involve the Mentee shadowing you for a day at your place of work
• Final Evaluation and Review, usually about two hours at an evening reception.

Interested?

For more information on the Heriot-Watt Career Mentoring Programme and to find out how to get involved, download our Programme Information for Mentors (.pdf format) leaflet, or email the programme co-ordinator Karen Beattie at mentoring@hw.ac.uk