SGSSS Career Pathways Mentoring Scheme 2023/24

What is mentoring? Mentoring is a learning relationship that includes elements of listening, advising, planning, challenge, support and sharing experience. In this programme mentoring can be understood as: “A confidential active learning process whereby an experienced, empathic person (the mentor) facilitates the development of another individual (the mentee).”

What are the aims of this scheme? 

• The Career Pathways Mentoring Scheme is designed to support researchers in understanding the business environment, drivers and culture, and to be able to build productive relationships across sector boundaries, regardless of post-PhD career choice.
• The scheme is also designed to support researchers in understanding the range of private sector career choices available to them and the skills required to succeed in these careers.

Please see our guidance for full information.

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.

The general anticipated benefits to mentors are:

1. Management and leadership development: self-awareness, active listening, challenging, motivating others, building commitment to action, coaching
2. Increased professional networks, via the mentee, and the other mentees and mentors in the programme cohort
3. Appreciation of the skills and experiences of PhD researchers and the benefit they can bring to private, public and third sectors organisations
4. Satisfaction of helping others who are transitioning from academic research into other sectors and/or research opportunities

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.