Voluntary Graduate Mentor

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Objective : To support recent sustainability graduates in the City and Guilds Personal Development Award (PDA).

What is the role of the mentor?

The role of the mentor is to support graduates through the PDA process while they are on job placement with an organisation selected by StudentForce. Mentors provide their assigned graduates with guidance and feedback as needed, supplementing information provided in StudentForce material. Specifically, mentors guide graduates to choose a meaningful objective for their PDA, which will be useful in their current placement and enhance both their personal and professional development, and then support them in producing their PDA Plan, Log and Report. Usually, this support is given by telephone or ‘Skype’ and email. All mentors are voluntary. They come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including management, teaching, coaching and consultancy. Most do not work in the sustainability field, although they do have an active interest in it.

Who are City and Guilds and what is the PDA?

“City and Guilds is committed to developing the skills of people and organisations to secure their personal and economic growth and prosperity” (City and Guilds, 2009).

Operating in 81 countries worldwide and with 99% ofUKemployers recognising the City and Guilds name, the Professional Development Award gives graduates the chance to gain accreditation for their graduate placement with StudentForce and formal recognition of the knowledge and skills they gain through their work experience. The award that StudentForce accredits is a Level 4 qualification, aimed at graduates and those with a higher level of knowledge and understanding than many of City and Guilds more vocational courses.

The award encourages graduates to take control of their professional development by providing a framework to develop the work-related key skills that employers are seeking.

“This award formally recognises and demonstrates to employers the transferable skills and knowledge that you gain through work experience and a range of other structured activities. It helps you take an active role in your own personal and professional learning and development” (City and Guilds, 2009). 

Completion of the award helps graduates learn to set their own development objectives in the workplace, evaluate their experiences, and understand and articulate how the benefits gained from their placement will give added value to a future employer and enhance their future career in the sustainability sector. 

What are the benefits of being a mentor?

• Help an educational charity with a focus on young people working in and learning about sustainable development.
• Help graduates attain an accredited qualification and professionally develop themselves to become more employable.
• Develop your mentoring skills and experience.
• Develop your knowledge of the sustainability sector.
• Contact with other volunteers, staff and trustees of StudentForce as a part of a team, where your views and experience are welcomed.
• Access to our training opportunities.

What are the qualities required to be a PDA mentor?

Essential Criteria 1

A strong interest and enthusiasm for helping graduates develop professionally in the sustainability sector.

Essential Criteria 2

Excellent interpersonal skills. Calm, approachable and encouraging manner. Able to listen and communicate effectively.

Essential Criteria 3

Available for reasonable regular telephone or ‘Skype’ and email contact with assigned graduates and occasional telephone, email and face-to-face contact with StudentForce

Essential Criteria 4

Good organisational skills. Able to maintain records of contact with participants.

Essential Criteria 5

Easy access to telephone and email, and a computer upon which the free program ‘Skype’ can be installed if not already present (we will show you how).

Desirable Criteria 1

Previous experience of the PDA.

Desirable Criteria 2

Some experience of mentoring, training, teaching and/or coaching, in particular on professional development.

Expenses

• Reasonable travel expenses will be paid for meetings at StudentForce in Oakham.
• Telephone contact with graduates is initiated by the graduate so no telephone expenses should be incurred.