Benefits of the scheme
The following statements have been made by students who have participated in the GET Mentoring Scheme:
“It has been a privilege to have been mentored within the Houses of Parliament for the past eight months. Whilst engaged on the scheme, I took advantage of a vast range of career enhancing opportunities from the outset, with gratitude of course to my dedicated mentor.
Over the course of the scheme I was given a mock job interview, met several of my mentor’s senior colleagues and experienced the variety of work that is essential to keep the body of Parliament fully functioning. I found the diversity of team meetings, work and cooperation inspirational.
In addition to the mentoring scheme I also gained work experience and for one week I worked with the Home Affairs Section, plus one day within the Department of Chamber and Committee Services, for the Upper and Lower Table Offices. Undoubtedly, the two departments’ nature of work is quite different nevertheless, the reason why I applied for this scheme was to learn from areas of work that were previously arbitrary to me. I successfully achieved this goal. Thus, I have learnt life-long applicable lessons for my future professional career.
My fundamental aspiration is to be a screenplay writer within the contexts of Hollywood. It is with momentous acknowledgement that I offer my thanks to the University of Greenwich and the Guidance & Employability Team for giving me this special opportunity. Ultimately, participating in the mentoring scheme has enabled me to gain vital professional contacts and has subsequently opened many new paths for me.”
(Ashley De Silva, BA Hons Creative Writing)
“ We made really good progress on organisation techniques, presentation techniques, my CV and writing covering letters. At the start of the scheme I suffered from a lack of confidence and I really do think being in this scheme has helped me to build my confidence up! I also think because I had a fantastic mentor she gave me that confidence and believed in me even when I didn’t [believe in myself]. I feel my overall personal development has progressed very well. My biggest achievement on this scheme has to be winning the award for ‘Mentee of the Year’. Winning this award has affected me because I now do truly believe anything is possible in life. ”
Forhana, BSc Hons Multimedia and Internet Technology
“ The aim of my participation in this scheme was to improve my prospects for employment at the end of the scheme; this was to be done through improving my academic achievement, improving my interpersonal skills and also through gaining further insight into the profession that I wanted to enter.
Within every session we had over the academic year we set out to revisit the overall goals that had been set in order to make sure progress was being made towards those, and we would then seek to implement improvements to our original plan of action. This involved contacting new people, research for careers, completing applications and using new learning techniques (such as discussion groups).
Achievements over the course of the year [included]: maintaining improved grades, securing work experience, establishing my career path [and] improving my interpersonal skills. Through this scheme I have gained a wealth of knowledge and been highly motivated throughout the year. Looking back at the beginning of the scheme in comparison to the end, I can see that I have developed in all of the areas agreed with my mentor and will now strive to make future development. ”
Ashley, BSc Hons Accounting and Finance