HOW CAN MENTORING HELP?
Mentoring in ActionA mentor is a person who:
- Listens and gives information, advice and counsel when requested.
- Provides moral support
- Acts as a source of information
- Offers suggestions regarding career development
- May be able to teach specific skills
- Has knowledge of your industry and vocational area
You may have clear career goals but need help in finding out how to reach those goals. A mentor can talk to you about your employment goals and help you to achieve them.
Perhaps you are not sure about what career opportunities are open to you here in Australia – a mentor may be able to offer you advice and direct you to find further information that can help you identify jobs that suit your skills.
If you have specific problems that are holding you back from obtaining employment, and need help with things such as resume writing or interview techniques, a mentor can offer suggestions about how to improve your skills in these areas.
You may need specific information from someone who works in your industry and understands your qualifications. They will be able to tell you about issues that are important in the local industry here in Australia.
A mentor may even be able to introduce you to other professionals/organisations that will enhance the development of your skills or provide networking opportunities.
WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO DO?
You will need to arrange to meet with your mentor face to face to see if you feel comfortable with them. If you are willing to undertake a mentoring relationship with your mentor, you will then need to sign a Mentoring Agreement.
This is so that both of you understand the “ground rules” that will govern the relationship. Things such as times when you are both comfortable being contacted, how you will meet and how often, and what goals you will aim to address will all be laid out in the Agreement and signed by both of you.
Once the mentoring relationship has commenced, you will need to contact your mentor or meet with them on a regular basis to discuss your goals and talk about problems and issues that you would like to resolve. Your mentor is not going to solve them for you, but will offer you advice and information to help you to solve them for yourself.
WHAT WILL MY MENTOR BE LIKE?
Mentors are volunteers who have offered their time for free to help skilled migrants who have enrolled in our program.
They are professional people who want to offer advice and support so that you can reach your employment goals.
Sydney Community College will match you with a mentor who comes from the same vocational area and industry as you do, so that they will understand your concerns and questions.
You will have an opportunity to meet with them to decide whether you feel comfortable with them and confident about their ability to help you achieve your goals. If you don’t, you can talk to Sydney Community College staff about your concerns at any time.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
To find out more about being matched with a volunteer mentor, contact our SMMP team at the college on 8752 7555.