Alumni Office and Careers Service
Joint Mentorship Programme
2010/11
Careers Service
Student Support & Development
Joint Mentorship Programme
Contents
Joint Mentorship Programme Partners—About Us
P1
What is Mentorship
P2
Timeline
P2
Benefits and Goals
P3
Testimonials from Mentors
P3
Mentor Roles and Responsibilities
P4
Mentee Roles and Responsibilities
P5
Activities
P6
Questions and Answers
P7
Mentor/Student Goals
P8
Joint Mentorship Programme Contacts
DCU Alumni Office: Emma Flynn, Alumni Relations
Ph. 01-7008686: Email: emma.flynn@dcu.ie
DCU Careers Service: Muireann Ni Dhuigneáin
Head of Careers Service
Ph. 01-7005162: Email: muireann.nidhuigneain@dcu.ie
Joint Mentorship Partners—About Us
Mentor/Student Goals
Use this area to record your personal expectations and goals of the Joint Mentorship
Programme.
Goals:
DCU Alumni is the graduate association that helps graduates keep in touch with
DCU and with each other both socially and professional. The Alumni Office is committed to giving graduates an opportunity to learn, share and collaborate as well as
providing you with information on learning and job updates, social events, networking and volunteering opportunities. There are over 37,500 graduates of DCU. For
more information go to:
Ms. Emma Flynn
Alumni Relations
alumni@dcu.ie
http://www.dcu.ie/alumni
DCU Careers Service aims to help students make informed career decisions, set
realistic goals, and develop the skills necessary to accomplish their goals. The
Careers Service provides a wide range of services to help meet the career planning
and job search needs to DCU Students.
Ms. Muireann Ni Dhuigneáin
Head of DCU Careers Service
careers@dcu.ie
http://www.dcu.ie/careers
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What is Mentorship?
Questions and Answers
Mentoring is an interactive learning and educational experience, provided to
students to assist them in their personal and career development. Each mentoring
relationship involves two people to facilitate an exchange of business experience,
knowledge, expertise and career advice. A mentorship pair consists of a mentor
and a mentee (student). The mentor acts as a role model for the student. The
mentor shares his/her personal and business experiences to advise, guide and
inform the student.
Q:
A:
What are the contact details for the programme?
DCU Careers Service
Muireann Ni Duaneáin
Ph: 01-7005162
Email: careers@dcu.ie
DCU Alumni
•
•
•
Mentorship is designed to help you make contacts in the business
community and to provide you with an opportunity to enhance your
professional skills outside the classroom.
As a business professional, your mentor can respond to your questions, help
you make connections, and give you feedback on your job search skills.
“A Mentor is a person who, through a negotiated programme of regular
support, assists in the development of another person—the mentee…. There
is an underlying respect from and towards both parties at all times… Finally,
there is a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each party
within this programme”
Emma Flynn
Ph: 01-7008686
Email: alumni@dcu.ie
Q:
What is the Joint Mentorship Programme?
A:
The programme provides students and mentors with an opportunity to meet, to
discuss career goals, to network, to have fun in a social environment and to
assist students in enhancing their professional skills outside the classroom.
Q:
Will the programme have a cost to participants?
A:
The cost of all programme events will be covered by DCU Alumni and DCU
Careers Service. Additional costs incurred outside the organised events on cam-
Ref: Mentoring Young People: Lessons from Youthstart, 2000
pus are at your expense.
Timeline
Mentors are required to attend 3 Events (highlighted in bold) in DCU and
organise a Work Shadowing Day
• Launch of Structured Mentorship Programme—Mentors and Mentees Tuesday
Q:
Will transportation to events be provided?
A:
All events will take place on the DCU Campus. Students and Mentors should
coordinate transportation for the Job Shadowing day.
9th November 2010
•
•
•
•
•
Time Management & Developing Reflective Practice Workshop Tuesday 23rd
November 2010
Q:
Will a receive a Certificate for the Programme?
A:
On completion of the programme, mentors and mentees will receive a certificate
Inspiration Speaker Event Tuesday 14th December 2010
Presentation Skills Workshop Tuesday 8th February 2011, designed for mentees only
Network Skills Workshop Tuesday 22nd February 2011
of participation.
Q:
Whom should I contact if I cannot attend an event?
A:
Alumni should contact Emma Flynn at DCU Alumni Office.
Mentors will invite their mentee to their company/organisation/place of work for a
•
day of working shadowing which the mentor will organise (any day during the
period 31st January 2011—28th February 2011
Student Presentation—Mentees Present Report on their Work Shadowing Ex-
•
perience Tuesday 8th March 2011—Mentors not required to attend
Closing Event and Awarding of Certificates Tuesday 22nd March 2011
Students should
contact Muireann Ni Dhuigneáin at DCU Careers Service.
Q:
Who are the Join Mentorship Programme Partners?
A:
DCU Alumni and DCU Careers Service have collaborated to make possible the
Join Mentorship Programme.
Mentors can contact their mentee as they wish via e-mail or phone
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Q:
Will there be an evaluation of this Programme?
A:
There will be an official evaluation on completion of programme
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Activities
Benefits and Goals
Together, we will provide a diverse programme of campus events to support the
mentoring relationship. The events have been selected to provide students with a
variety of business experiences outside the classroom including networking, a
company job shadow day, inspirational speakers, etc. Both mentors and mentees
should plan to attend all of these events to gain full benefit from the programme.
Please see the timeline for dates and details of these events.
Benefits to Mentees:
• Work with an experience role model from the business community
In addition to the campus events, each mentor/mentee pair should work together to
set goals for additional contact during the programme. You will not have time to
fulfill every type of activity and you do not need to, to be effective. Mentors should
let their mentee know where they are willing to help and what kind of information or
support they can give that they believe will be particularly helpful.
• Gain an insight into the workplace and link your academic programme to
the world of work
• Increase your understanding of the entrepreneurial spirit and the range
of business opportunities available
• Broaden your awareness of the variety and scope of economic activities
comprising the area’s business community.
• Strengthen your confidence and self-awareness.
Activities:
The table of activities below is not intended to be exhaustive or required.
• Add the programme to your CV
This is a short list to start you thinking about what your goals and activities might be
during the programme.
Benefits to Mentors:
• Participate in a unique programme connected to both DCU and DCU
Alumni Association.
One-to-one Activities
Company Activities
Review Curriculum Vitae/Letters of
Application
Attend professional company events
Practice interview techniques
Attend community involvement events or
in a volunteer activity or organisation
• Establish/Re-establish a link with the university community.
Conduct interview role plays
Attend company social events as
appropriate
• Network with other mentors/colleagues from your industry sector.
Share business experiences and insights
Take a tour of the company or customer
facilities
• Keep you up to date with academic developments in your line of
business.
Act as a sounding board by providing
constructive criticism and honest advice to
projects, career goals, etc.
Shadow your mentor for a day
Provide professional advice
Attend company or staff board meetings
Act as a reference for student
Organise student interviews within the
mentor’s company for the student to
interview various colleagues
Introduce student to other professional
colleagues
Work on a project at the mentor’s
company—for experience, no payment
should be expected and no job
• Share your experiences with young people interested in your line of
business
Testimonials from Mentors:
“As a Business Studies graduate I was delighted to be given a second year
BBS undergraduate to mentor. It enabled me to give something back to DCU
and I am delighted to have re-established a link with the university”. James
Corcoran, BBS 1990, Mentor
“Participation in the mentorship programme gave me the opportunity to provide
support to a student, which I would have availed of if the programme had
existed during my time at DCU” Tony Costigan, BBS 1990, Mentor
“Initially I thought that this was going to be hard work but in hindsight to be a
mentor was mainly great fun. I hugely enjoyed the various events and the
interaction with the students. I learnt as much from my mentee as she gained
from me”. Tommy Nielson, Fingal Junior Chamber of Commerce, Mentor
Read and discuss a book or current events
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Mentor Roles and Responsibilities
Mentee Roles and Responsibilities
To successfully achieve the goals of the programme, all participants must work
together. Thank you for volunteering your time - without the dedication of the
mentors, we could not provide this programme. DCU Careers Service and DCU
Alumni are committed to providing an excellent programme of events to support the
mentoring relationship.
DCU Careers Service and DCU Alumni have collaborated to provide you with an
excellent programme of events to support the mentoring relationship. However, the
only person that can ensure personal reward from the programme is you. You’ve
taken the first step to proactively managing your career by applying for an participating in the DCU Joint Mentorship Programme. We now encourage you to use
the guidelines below to make your experience a success.
Mentees:
The mentees participating in the programme are taking the first step to proactively
managing their career. They will be responsible for communicating their goals and
expectations and initiating regular contact with you throughout the programme. The
mentees are second year DCU students.
General:
•
Commit to attending all the events of the programme
•
Be proactive and willing to meet your mentor.
Mentor Roles and Responsibilities:
•
•
Commit to attending 3 programme events in DCU—to allow your student to get
the full benefit of the programme.
•
•
Establish from outset the needs and expectations of your student—including the
amount of time and guidance they expect and the amount you can provide.
•
Work with the student to help him/her develop and establish realistic and
obtainable career goals.
•
Meeting your Mentor:
•
Initiate regular contact with your mentor via phone, email and/or meetings.
•
Where appropriate, promote your mentee’s accomplishments to others in your
department and institution, as well as at conferences and other meetings.
•
Give constructive criticism as well as praise when warranted. Present it with
specific suggestions for improvement.
•
Include your mentee in professional activities whenever possible.
•
Teach mentees how to seek other career help whenever possible.
•
Be willing to provide support for people different from yourself. Avoid the
temptation to assist only those who are most similar to yourself.
•
Encourage your student to explore new areas.
•
Attend schedule events and notify the programme if you are unable to attend.
•
Follow up on commitments made to the student.
•
Contact your student if you are unable to attend schedule meetings and return
phone calls/emails in a timely fashion.
•
Contact programme staff if you have a concern about the mentor relationship.
DCU Careers Service: Muireann Ni Dhuigneáin, Head of Careers Service
Ph. 01-7005162: Email: muireann.nidhuigneain@dcu.ie
DCU Alumni: Emma Flynn, Alumni Relations Officer
Ph: 01-7008686: Email: emma.flynn@dcu.ie
Discuss your goals, expectations, and what you hope to gain from the
relationship with your mentor.
Contact your mentor. This may require persistence on your part. Leave
messages that inform him/her when and how to reach you.
Get the most out of meetings with your mentor by arriving prepared with
questions.
Professional Approach:
•
Act professional at all times, and return phone calls/emails in a timely
fashion.
•
Ensure you are on time for all meetings and contact your mentor if you are
unable to attend a scheduled meeting.
•
The relationship is not designed to provide you with employment, therefore,
mentors should not be solicited for job leads within their company.
•
Mentees will also be asked to keep a reflective journal of their experience.
Contact Details:
•
Watch your email throughout the programme for important Joint Mentorship
Programme instructions and updates.
•
If your contact information changes during the programme, please contact
DCU Careers Service to update your information so you will receive all the
necessary programme information and so we have a way of connecting with
you.
•
Contact DCU Careers Service if you have any concerns about the mentor
relationship. Muireann Ni Duaneáin: Ph. 7005162: Email: careers@dcu.ie
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