SGSSS Career Pathways Mentoring Scheme 2023/24

Mentees selected for the SGSSS Career Pathways Mentoring Scheme will each have the opportunity to work one-to-one with a mentor, and to set and work towards their own objectives for mentoring. Mentees are proactive in the mentoring partnership: they set objectives for their own learning, lead the agenda for the one-to-one sessions and decide how best to use their time.

Generally, through this scheme we aim to:

• Enable current PhD researchers to understand the drivers and culture of a sector that they are interested in out with academia (public, private or third sector);
• Enable current PhD researchers to understand the skills, knowledge or experiences required to succeed on a career pathway out with academia;
• Define a mentoring skill set and build a culture of ethical professional practice in mentoring for the PhD alumni community;
• It should be noted that each mentee will have the opportunity to set and work towards their own objectives for mentoring.

Who are the Mentors? All the mentors are voluteer PhD graduates. They will have experience working in or with the private, public or third sector. 

What are the benefits? The scheme is designed to support researchers in understanding the business environment, drivers and culture, and the range of private sector professions open to them.

The general anticipated benefits to mentees are:

1. An opportunity to learn how different organisations work, the research they do, and the people they recruit, along with an understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities of a range of role types.
2. Dedicated time to focus on career options and planning with access to a knowledgeable sounding board for testing out ideas.
3. Increased professional networks and points of contact via the mentor, and the other mentees and mentors in the programme cohort.
4. Increased self-awareness, awareness of the transferability of research skills, and confidence in joining new work environments.

Some activities that are not expected of mentors are:

• Advice or guidance on the content of the mentee’s PhD studies, or the PhD Thesis;
• Act on the mentee’s behalf, solve problems for them, or take action to contact the mentee’s colleague(s) or university department(s) to advocate for the mentee;
• Providing work experience, internships or placements;
• Offering a job, offering to ‘put a good word in’, or offering to influence a selection panel;
• Sponsorship to study, or to attend conferences, training, or meetings, etc;
• Provide a counselling or therapy service