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Mentorships

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring at IBR is a partnership that uplifts black students into the positions they desire to be in. A mentor may share with a mentee information about his or her own career path, as well as provide guidance, motivation and role modelling to help mentees progress. A mentor may help with exploring careers, setting goals, developing contacts and identifying resources. The primary purpose is to drive personal growth, knowledge and understanding. Our mentoring partnerships are based on mutual trust and respect from both mentor and mentees.

How does mentoring work at IBR: Mentors

  • You will be paired with a university student looking to go into the industry (or a similar one) that you currently work in.

  • We aim to pair based on same sex where possible, to provide the most relatable experience possible for our mentees.

  • Mentoring will work in bursts of six months at a time. This is to ensure mentees are gaining as much knowledge and experience as possible to help them on their career journey.

  • Throughout the course of the six months, we ask that mentors have brief monthly catch up’s with mentees.

  • We recommend that these mentoring sessions last around 30 minutes. You can of course spend more time if you like.

  • Mentoring sessions can be over the phone, Skype, Zoom or even in person if preferred.

  • We ask that during these sessions you share your knowledge and experience whilst also answering any questions that mentees may have with regards to your profession or career journey.

  • After the six-month period, you can of course continue your relationship with your mentee and if you have enjoyed the experience you can be assigned a new mentee.

  • Pairing of mentors and mentees will begin officially on the 10th of October from which point applications will close for six months and then will reopen again.

  • Prior to this, we will be holding an induction meeting for mentors to discuss various topics.

How does mentoring work at IBR: Mentees

  • Mentees will be assigned a mentor over the course of the six-month period.

  • Once mentors have been allocated, we will be holding an induction meeting for mentees to discuss various topics.

  • Mentees will have the responsibilities to reach out to their assigned mentors once allocated to them and be proactive in encouraging monthly catch up’s.

  • We ask that mentees uphold a professional code of conduct when interacting with mentors.

  • Mentees will be required to keep in touch with IBR by sending a short email report every two months with updates or any questions regarding their mentorship.

  • We ask mentees to inform IBR of any professional successes including; jobs, internships or work placements secured.

  • We will aim to carry out various events over the course of the mentoring programme which will include guest speakers from a range of industries, CV workshops and interview advice.

  • After the mentoring period, mentees will be able to be allocated another mentor within the same field of work.

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