In your second year of study and above as a E12 Scholar, you can take part in the E12 Professional Mentoring Program, where you will be connected with mentoring from an experienced industry professional in the field of your interest.
Guided by your Industry Mentor in a small group with other E12 Scholars, you will:
Explore your career goals and aspirations in conversation with a supportive role model.
Build the graduate qualities and employability skills needed to successfully transition to employment.
Gain practical insights into the realities of the workplace and learn from your mentor’s experience as an accomplished industry professional.
Develop your networks with industry and build relationships with other E12 Scholars interested in similar career paths.
Industry Mentors
Industry Mentors are accomplished industry professionals from the University of Sydney's worldwide alumni and supporter community. They volunteer their time to mentor you, and receive training and support from the University of Sydney throughout.
You can choose to be matched with either an early career professional who has graduated within the past 2-3 years, or an experienced industry leader.
You can also submit up to three preferences for different industry areas you would like to be matched in, including Arts, Culture and Creative Industries, Banking and Financial Services, Engineering, Government and Defence, Healthcare and Medical, Legal and more.
Program Activities
Core activities
As a participant in the program, you will attend and actively participate in three small group mentoring sessions which each run for approximately one hour at the start of each month during Semester 2, 2024.
Meeting times, dates and locations are flexible and will be agreed upon by your group in advance. You also have the option to select a preference for in-person or online meetings.
Students who successfully complete the program also have the option to redeem a one-on-one mentoring session with their Industry Mentor.
Optional extra activities
You'll also have the option to access other networking and employability activities, including our formal Program Welcome in the historic Great Hall.
Induction, Pre-Session Work and Post-Session Work
To help you prepare for these sessions, make a good impression on your Industry Mentor and get the most out of the mentoring experience, you will need to complete an induction at the start of the program. Additionally, you will need to complete a pre-session reading and reflection, as well as a post-session reflection for each of the three mentoring sessions.
We estimate that your induction should take you approximately 2 hours to complete. Your pre-session reading and reflection should take 1 hour per session, and your post-session reflection should take 10 minutes.
Benefits for students
This program was co-designed by E12 Scholars in the spirit of partnership, and we are proud to say over 22% of our cohort contributed to its development.
As such, it is tailored to your strengths, challenges and needs as E12 Scholars.
It is designed to provide you with practical opportunities to support your professional development, career and transition to the workplace, while building social connections with other E12 Scholars, which the majority of you have expressed great interest in.
Mentoring Session topics include Career Exploration and Planning, Industry Insight and Workplace Behaviour, and Recruitment, Interviewing and Resumes. In these sessions, you'll receive advice and get to ask questions like:
How do I land my first job after uni?
How do I decide the correct career path?
How do you network without making it feel transactional?
What does a day in your life at work look like?
Throughout the program, you'll receive training and support to make the most of the opportunity, and as much flexibility, choice and optional extras as possible.
Program Commitments
To make sure you, your Industry Mentor, and the other students have the best possible experience in the program, we ask you to agree to:
Remain in regular contact with your Industry Mentor, other E12 Scholars and staff involved in the program.
Make a genuine effort to attend all three group mentoring sessions and let us and your mentor know if you cannot attend.
Complete your induction.
Complete pre-session and post-session work.
Abide by our program ethos of respect, understanding, appreciation and inclusion.
Industry Mentors are also asked to make similar commitments.
All students who follow these commitments throughout the program will receive a certificate of completion, and be eligible to access additional opportunities.
Timeline
Semester 2, Wk 2
7 Aug
Program Welcome Reception
Wk 3/4
12 - 24 Aug
Session 1: Career Exploration and Planning
Wk 6/7
2- 14 Sep
Session 2: Navigating
Workplace Culture
Wk 10/11
7- 19 Oct
Session 3: Recruitment, Interviewing and Resumes
Wk 12 onwards
21 Oct -
31 Nov
Optional one-on-one and other
networking opportunities
