Mentoring students

The Horizon Professional Mentoring Program is set up as a long-term mentoring program, with a duration of anything between 3 and 6 months. This form of mentoring allows mentor and mentee to develop a personalised relationship and monitor and reflect on progress over time.

We expect / encourage a number of connections, usually 4 -6  (in person, via phone or email) where you can progressively address a number of goals and monitor progress and outcomes.

Mentoring is when a more experienced or knowledgeable person helps guide a less experienced person through their professional and personal development. It is a two-way relationship built on trust and respect, where both parties benefit.

A mentor is able to answer questions by sharing their knowledge gained through experience.

The Horizon Professional Mentoring Program is a career mentoring program designed to assist Flinders students prepare for the transition from study into professional employment.

The mentoring is formal, being a facilitated and supported process defined by time and focus restrictions. Participant's mentoring goals define the boundaries of the guidance.

The benefits can vary according to your reason for mentoring and your experience.

Some benefits include:

• increased self-awareness from reflecting on your own career
• gain access to new ideas and insights
• apply and develop your leadership qualities
• enhance your interpersonal and communication skills
• pass on your knowledge and experience to the next generation of professionals
• gain enjoyment from watching students grow and succeed professionally and personally.

As a mentor you can offer your knowledge gained through experience, as well as a willing and independent sounding board for ideas and concerns. It is not necessary to have all the answers, instead you assist by sharing your knowledge.

Some ideas on what you may be able to offer can include:

• career planning
• career progression
• career lessons learnt
• working overseas/remotely
• technical expertise, experience and knowledge
• behavioural competency expertise, experience and knowledge
• transition from study
• industry knowledge
• job searching and application preparation
• job interview experience
• career change
• entrepreneurship.

Students apply to be part of the Horizon Professional Mentoring Program and after acceptance, complete self-awareness activities prior to be offered to be connected with a mentor. They will have developed their goals, be aware of their responsibilities, and have realistic expectations of what can be achieved in the relationship. They are expected to take control of the mentoring relationship and follow through with their commitments.

Flinders has a highly diverse student body and it can be worth considering the students you may come in contact with.

Students can:

• be studying at any level, from first year to PhD level
• be adult entry students who may be starting a new career or enhancing skills for their current career
• be commencing university study directly after finishing high school
• be international students, particularly within postgraduate courses, who may be seeking employment in Australia or may want to take their new knowledge home
• have varying levels of experience and confidence in professional interactions and may require your assistance to build an understanding of what is expected of them
• have a very clear career objective, or be completely unsure of where their study could take them.

Once all the requirements of the program have been met, mentees and mentors submit a profile and preferences. The mentor coordinator pre-matches each mentoring connection and will provide you with your options. You are not obliged to accept the request if you feel you're unable or unwilling to mentor the student.