Student Mentoring Programme - University of Wolverhampton

Student Mentoring Programme
Key information: what you need to know before making your decision
As a student mentor, you’ll be committing to a mutually beneficial, professionally
focused relationship with your mentee. This brief guide details some important
information about the roles and responsibilities of a mentor, their ideal attributes, and
what would be expected of you if you decide to formally join the mentoring programme.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
The Student Mentoring Programme matches a graduate (mentor) with a final year
student (mentee) to help prepare them for life after graduation.
Becoming a mentor is a very rewarding experience, both for you and your mentee. As a
graduate, your journey since leaving the University means you will have encountered
first-hand some of the challenges facing students today as they prepare to enter the
world of work.
By sharing your insights, and offering your mentee the opportunity to gain extra
knowledge, skills and experience that are relevant to their chosen career and meet the
needs of potential employers, you can help equip them to succeed in an increasingly
competitive jobs market. What’s more, it gives you the opportunity to develop your own
personal and professional skills, and enhance your CV for your own career.
TIME AND COMMITMENT
The programme lasts for 9 months, running from October 2013 to June 2014. Training
and review sessions will take place in the evening (approx. 6pm-8pm) at City Campus.
October 2013:
December 2013:
March 2014:
June 2014:
Group mentor/mentee training session
Meet your mentee
First meeting (then on-going monthly)
Review session 1 (share experiences)
Review session 2 (progress update)
Review session 3 (end)
During the 9 months you ideally need to be able to commit 1-2 hours per month to meet
with your mentee face-to-face, in addition to any communication you have over email or
telephone.
You will also be required to attend three review sessions (one every three months).
These will be organised by the Programme Co-ordinator in Alumni and Development
and will involve all mentors and mentees coming together at the University to discuss
progress, share feedback and identify any potential issues.

YOUR ROLE
A mentor:
Manages the relationship
Encourages
Nurtures
Teaches
Offers mutual respect
Responds to the mentee’s needs
Supports at all times
As a mentor your role is to build a relationship with your mentee based on trust and
mutual respect, and through identifying their needs, support them with practical advice,
opportunities to develop their skills, and enhance their experience of the working world.
Mentors should have the skills to:
Improve the mentee’s breadth of knowledge
• Share examples, information and resources
• Share critical knowledge
• Share a broader perspective of organisations, culture and strategy
• Provide contacts/networks for mentees to follow up (if appropriate)
• Share own experiences and career decisions made
Improve the mentee’s breadth of skills
• General skills such as communication, time-keeping, organisation and
prioritising
• Specific skills relevant to their chosen career route (e.g. creating a portfolio of
work)
• Interview skills, CV writing and application forms
• Professional work conduct
Help mentees to articulate their aspirations and realise their potential
• Inspire to excellence
• Offer challenging ideas
• Stimulate creative thinking
• Encourage winning behaviour – role model behaviour
Raise the mentees self-confidence
• Offer encouragement
• Recognise and reward positive change in behaviour
• Provide tailored, accurate and regular feedback
• Trigger self-awareness and encourage reflection

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
• Meet with your mentee when agreed
• Manage time commitments
• Work with your mentee to identify their needs and agree priorities (driven by
mentee)
• Prompt mentee to draw up their own personal development plan (PDPs)
• Initiate reviews of progress at regular intervals
• Ensure confidentiality as agreed with mentee
• Confront and reflect on positive and less positive behaviours/actions
• Prompt mentee to keep the Programme Co-ordinator in Alumni and
Development updated on progress
• Manage feelings/emotions when closing down the formal relationship
WHO MAKES A GOOD MENTOR?
We are first and foremost looking for dedicated and enthusiastic alumni who have a
genuine interest in seeing people advance. You may also identify yourself as having the
following:
• A wide range of relevant skills to pass on
• A good understanding of your potential mentee’s context
• Patience with good interpersonal skills
• Sufficient time to devote to the relationship
• Ability to command respect
• A relevant network of contacts and influence
• Recognition of your own development and support needs
• A continued desire to learn
NEXT STEPS
If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a mentor and you’re still interested in joining
the programme, then all you need to do is complete our Mentor Enrolment Form and
email it to Amy Roberton in Alumni & Development at: a.roberton@wlv.ac.uk
CONTACT US
Alumni & Development
University of Wolverhampton
MX Building, City Campus North
Camp Street
Wolverhampton
WV1 1AD
Email: alumni@wlv.ac.uk
Tel: 01902 323056 / 1157