How the GET mentoring scheme is structured

The scheme runs for six months, from 1 November to 30 April each academic year. Student selection and training takes place during October each academic year.

Each mentoring relationship is structured around the student’s career-focused goals which are discussed and agreed with the mentor at the start of the scheme. Some examples of career-focused goals that a student on the scheme could be working towards are:

To research a specific graduate career and routes into the sector.
To gain a first-hand insight into working life within a particular career.
To complete a simulated application for a currently advertised graduate job vacancy.
To find out more about opportunities within a particular career area.
To develop employability skills relevant to a particular career.

Mentors typically agree to offer their student mentee around two hours of contact time per month for the six month scheme, communicating via e-mail or telephone and meeting face-to-face. The scheme is flexible: meetings and activities are mutually agreed between mentor and mentee. Examples of activities include:

One-to-one discussions, goal setting and action planning.
Office tour and introduction to colleagues.
Simulated job application and feedback.
Simulated interview and feedback.
Insights into specific areas of employment relevant to the student’s goals.

Such activities aim to build student confidence within a professional environment, to develop employability skills and to prepare for a successful transition to graduate-level employment.

The aim is for the student mentee to make significant progress towards achieving their career-focused goals over the course of the six month mentoring relationship. The scheme formally ends after six months, usually with a final meeting to review activities, assess progress and to agree on future objectives for the student to work towards individually.