Alumni career mentoring

What is alumni career mentoring?

Alumni career mentoring is an opportunity for students to meet with graduates who are now established in their working profession. You can provide students with insights into your chosen career and provide them with the benefits of your experience of your career. This gives current students the knowledge to plan their own progress towards achieving their personal career goals.

What are the benefits to mentors?

Many UHI graduates would like to keep in touch with the university, and contribute in some way to the success of new students. You can now do both by volunteering as an alumni career mentor. As well contributing to the success of UHI, you will be directly influencing the future success of new students by guiding them in their future career planning. The satisfaction of being able to make use of your experience to help new students makes taking part a rewarding experience.

Taking part also provides your own organisation with a higher profile at UHI, and amongst future potential employees. There are also opportunities to interact with UHI in other ways, such as providing placements or becoming a speaker at careers events.

What are the requirements to become a mentor?

To become a mentor you must be a graduate of UHI. It does not matter how long ago, or recently you graduated. While alumni who are now established in their careers make ideal mentors, many other graduates also make good mentors. If you are now in postgraduate study, community work, or voluntary work, we also wish to hear from you.

How will I be matched with students?

Students will contact the mentor coordinator who will match them to an alumni mentor who is working most closely in the career they wish to pursue. If you have worked in several industries, mention this on the form and we can list you under several careers.

How do I mentor students?

Mentoring will usually be by phone or online, although if you are both locally nearby, you may wish to meet for a face to face meeting. Whether you have one or several meetings is entirely up to you and your mentee.

When can I join?

We are always looking for new mentors. You can apply at any time.

How do I join?

To join the alumni career mentor network, simply fill out our online application form. Alternatively you may download and complete this paper version. Don’t worry if your circumstances change, and you are no longer able to serve as a mentor. You can leave the mentor network, or suspend your availability at any time.

What happens next?

Once we receive your form, you will be contacted by the mentor coordinator who will add you to the mentor database and provide you with induction information so that you are familiar with the role.

If you would like to find out more about alumni career mentoring, please email kevin.sinclair@uhi.ac.uk.