Career Mentoring

The University of Aberdeen's Careers Service and Alumni Relations Office have established a successful Career Mentoring Programme for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Programme links students with alumni (former Aberdeen students) who are willing to share their professional experience and expertise.

What is career mentoring?

The Career Mentoring Programme gives you an opportunity to meet a working professional who is willing to offer you support in developing your career ideas. Your Mentor will provide you with the benefit of their own experience in a particular profession or employment area. This will give you an insight into the knowledge and skills required to succeed in your chosen career.

What are the benefits?

The Programme offers many employability benefits including opportunities to:

Learn about a particular profession or employment area.
Talk to a professional in their work place.
Gain an 'insider's guide' to job hunting and the application process.
Develop professional networks and meet people.
Increase knowledge and confidence.

Who is eligible?

All current University of Aberdeen undergraduate and taught postgraduate
students are welcome to apply*. You can apply at any stage in your degree. You must, however, be a student for the entire length of the session.

What is involved?

The Programme involves matching students with a suitable mentor. Once enrolled on the Programme, you will be required to:

Prepare fully for involvement in the Programme.
Attend an introductory and a mid-Programme workshop.
Commit to at least 2 face-to-face meetings, usually at your mentor's workplace; other interactions will occur via phone, email or virtually.
Take the lead in arranging, keeping track of and recording any actions from your meetings.
Provide feedback to the Careers Service and/or Alumni Relations Office about the Programme.

The Programme does not guarantee a work placement or future graduate employment.

Neither mentors nor mentees are paid as part of the Career Mentoring Programme.

How often does the Programme run?

The scheme will run twice during the academic year:

October – January.
February - May.

How do I apply?

The Programme is open to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students at the University of Aberdeen. You must, however, be a student for the entire length of the session.

Applications are now closed for the second session (February - May).

How am I matched?

You will be matched up with a mentor based on the information you provide on your application form and CV. If a successful match is made, you will be informed via email.

Please note that mentoring opportunities are allocated on a competitive basis. In the event of there being more students than mentors, priority may be given to students who show that they have already begun to develop a career plan. Unsuccessful applicants may request for their details to be held on file and considered for a mentoring place in a subsequent half-session.

Testimonials

"If you want to gain practical insights into one of the business areas in which you are most interested…join the scheme, it is a brilliant experience!"
MSc Strategic Studies, Career Mentee 2010/11

"This programme has acted as a window into the world of careers in marketing for me."
BSc(Hons) Physics, Career Mentee 2010/11

"Being able to meet someone who has worked for many years in the career I wish to enter gave me a real insight into the profession, increasing my desire to go into that career."
MA(Hons) English & History, Career Mentee 2010/11

"The mentoring scheme gave me the opportunity to pass on my own experience of the accountancy profession and to assiststudents with their chosen career path. The mentoring experience has shown me how tough today's job market actually is but armed with the correct job hunting skills and advice from mentors and careers services graduates can succeed in finding a suitable role."
MA Accountancy (1995), Career Mentor 2010/11

Case Studies

Antony Lademan
MA (Hons) History
Overall, I cannot be more positive about my mentoring experience. During my mentoring meetings I gained practical insight into Corporate Social Responsibility employment. My mentor was both friendly and welcoming, and incredibly generous with her time and help, and truly inspired me in my job hunt. I am still in regular contact with my mentor and I hope to keep in touch with her as my career begins and progresses. As a result of my mentoring experience I undertook a two-week work experience placement with BP in September, working under the Vice-President of North Sea Production. I think I am now a far more confident person, and feel more willing to engage in networking activity and speculative applications than previously. I hope to be able to pass on some of the experiences I gained through this by participating in the future as a mentor myself.

Daria Brovina
MSc (Econ) International Business, Energy and Petroleum
I decided to undertake the Career Mentoring Programme to gain a practical insight into the role of International Tax Manager. Overall, my feedback about the programme is very positive. It was a new and interesting experience with many benefits and new contacts. My mentor is an amazing person, both kind, incredibly friendly, and helpful. She always tried to do her best giving advice and even with my job hunt. She is very passionate about her job and this truly inspired me. However, I could also figure out throughout this time that that particular job was unlikely to become a part of my life and I am happy to have been able to figure it out. My mentor and I became very good friends. Moreover, this mentoring programme gave me the change to get to know better the oil & gas industry as an employer in Aberdeen and to practise my interview skills with my mentor before going 'live' in interviews.

* We are committed to ensuring that all opportunities are equally available and accessible to disabled students. The University’s Disability Advisers are available to provide advice to any disabled student and their mentor before and during the Career Mentoring Programme.