Frequently asked questions

• Mentors are a mix of alumni and non-alumni experienced professionals who volunteer to take part in the 6-month scheme.
• They provide one-to-one careers advice, support and guidance to a University of Exeter student or graduate.
• Mentors can be based in the UK and overseas, covering a wide range of professions and sectors.

Mentoring opportunities are advertised on My Career Zone, where you will be able to view mentor profiles and apply for your chosen mentor. Each mentor profile includes information about:

• Their career history and current position.
• The ways they can help a student or graduate.
• Whether they are able to mentor current students and graduates, or just current students.
• Any other additional information that might help you with your selection.

View the scheme timeframes to check when opportunities are advertised. We recommend that you apply for your preferred mentor as soon as possible as profiles will be removed once all opportunities have been filled.

Log in to My Career Zone.

• Click on Search, then Vacancies on the top left.

• If you know the name of the mentor you wish to see write it in the Text Search  box and press enter.

• To see a full list of mentors type "University of Exeter Career Mentor Scheme" in the Organisation search box and press enter.

• To search for a particular job sector within the mentor profiles, scroll down and add on the sectors you wish to view under "Job sectors"

• You can also use the Location and/or Country boxes to select mentors in specific locations.

• When you have found mentors you would like to apply for, click on "Apply" at the top of the profile and you will be directed to the online application form.

• Please note that once a mentor is matched with a mentee, their profile will be removed from My Career Zone and you will no longer be able to apply for that particular mentor.

Yes mentees may apply if they will be based abroad or on a year in industry, or if they graduate by the time the scheme finishes. All mentees will be expected to take the lead in communication and to keep in contact with their mentor at least once a month via email, phone, video call etc., even if they are abroad or have graduated. You will also be expected to stay in contact with staff and provide feedback.

Yes. Students and graduates may participate in more than one round of the Career Mentor Scheme. You cannot apply to be mentored by the same mentor more than once however. If you have participated in the scheme before, you will be asked to explain on your application form why you feel participating again will be of benefit to you. 

Please note that the Career Mentoring Team reserve the right to reject a repeat application to the scheme, based on a mentee's conduct during a previous partnership. 

Mentees are not permitted to search for a mentor’s contact information or directly contact a mentor outside of the scheme’s standard recruitment and selection process. Successful applicants will be introduced to their mentor via email after the compulsory mentee training. Please maintain contact at least once per month by email, messaging, phone, video call or in person.

In person meetings should take place in a public place, preferably at your mentor's place of work so that you can gain an insight into their everyday working environment, help you to understand the culture of the company, and gain possible networking opportunities. This will not be possible for all mentors, so in this case we advise that you meet in an appropriate public location. Always inform a parent, guardian or friend when and where you plan to meet your mentor.

Mentees are not permitted to search for a mentor’s contact information or directly contact a mentor outside of the scheme’s standard recruitment and selection process. Successful applicants will be introduced to their mentor via email after the compulsory mentee training.

Mentees matched with non UK-based mentors are not expected to meet their mentor in person, so we ask that you take the lead in maintaining contact at least once per month via email, messaging, phone or video call. 

Successful mentees will need to complete compulsory online training before the mentoring parntership begins. You will be sent a Mentee Trianing Guide, which acts as a useful resource with skills development activity ideas and a step-by-step guide throughout the mentoring process.

To complete the training you will need to read the guide and answer a short quiz about the Career Mentor Scheme. Instructions will be provided.

At the start of the scheme, you will be asked to select from a list of objectives from the guide that you would like to achieve by the end of the scheme. The guide also contains a month-by-month action plan to help you and your mentor plan your communications and activities throughout the duration of the scheme. See  resources for mentees for further support and downloadable materials.

If they have any questions, require further support, or encounter any problems, please email a member of the team at careermentorscheme@exeter.ac.uk

It's normal to feel nervous when first contacting your mentor or when meeting them for the first time. Remember, your mentor wants to help you with your career aspirations, so try to relax and remember they were once in your shoes! 

The Mentee Support Guide has a list of topics and tips to help you plan what you want to discuss when you first meet or contact your mentor. See the resources for mentees to download the Mentee Support Guide.

The team are always happy to help you with the first steps. Contact us at careermentorscheme@exeter.ac.uk