Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh: Careers Advisory Service

Info for Students

The aim of the programme is to give you the opportunity to spend time with a professional working in the career area of interest to you and to gain an insight into the work involved and the kind of skills and knowledge that are required.

Mentors can give advice and help with issues such as job hunting, skills development ideas or applications and interviews advice. They may also be able to answer questions which relate to your course work and increase your understanding of how your academic theory and knowledge is applied in the work place.

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 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 Mentor's work place.

Once you have been matched with a Mentor you will be asked to attend a short session as preparation for the Programme and to help you get the most out of it. This information session is delivered by the Careers Service together with students who have previously taken part in the Mentoring Programme.

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 in order to develop their own skills.

The time commitment varies but would usually involve an initial meeting with the Mentee of about two hours maximum followed by at least three further meetings. These 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.

To apply to become a mentor, or for more information please email the programme co-ordinator Karen Beattie at mentoring@hw.ac.uk

Apply for a Mentor

To apply for a mentor, first view the list of current available mentors to read a little about their career history and current role.

The next step is to completing the online application form, indicating which of the available Mentors, in order of preference, that you wish to be matched with. Although we will make every effort to match you with one of your preferred Mentors, we cannot always guarantee that this will be possible.

Please note: The Careers Service team will deliver information sessions about the Programme at many lectures at the start of Semester 1.

Interested?

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

View Mentor List

The mentor List for 2012-2013 is now open

Downloads

Mentees Frequently Asked Questions (.pdf format) or email the programme co-ordinator Karen Beattie at mentoring @ hw.ac.uk