Mentoring
One of our core activities, discover what mentoring really means at LINKnet for mentors and mentees alike and how it could change your life.
Scroll down to read real stories from our mentors and mentees.
What is mentoring?
A supportive exchange where a mentor shares their experience, knowledge and skills to help their mentee develop personal, employment and educational goals.
Here at LINKnet, that looks like real, practical support: understanding the system, building a strong CV, nailing interview prep, and job searching with someone in your corner. But it's just as much about being a steady presence when things get hard and showing up to celebrate the wins, big or small.
Our mentors can give in depth, insider, friendly support to help with drafting personal statements when applying for job applications to sharing contacts for job and educational opportunities. Along the way, our mentors also help mentees understand workplace culture, confidentiality, and professional boundaries and just as importantly, build their confidence to keep going.
Become a mentor
Benefits
Anyone can be a LINKnet mentor, if you have knowledge or experience in employment or education, whatever your background, our mentees could benefit. We all have expertise in something and that expertise could make a real difference to someone who doesn't yet have it.
The only real requirement to become a mentor is the desire and commitment to help develop someone else's future.
Becoming a mentor with us benefits you in multiple ways, one of which is the great personal satisfaction you gain by developing and helping to improve the quality of life of another person. Your contribution does not end with the development of one person. It has a ripple effect which results in the development of many others.
Other Benefits:
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Sharpen your current knowledge
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Gain new knowledge
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Exposure to different cultures and environments
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Improve employability
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New contacts and wider networking
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See opportunities from within, private, public and voluntary sector organisations and/or educational institutions
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Review and revalidate what you have achieved so far
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Receive a good training that includes, communication, coaching and counselling skills and knowledge on equality legislation, confidentiality policy and cultural sensitivity
Click here to find out more to find out more about becoming a Mentor or to apply
Become a Mentee
Benefits
Anyone who belongs to a minority ethnic group can become a mentee and use our services to seek jobs or to access further/higher education. Prospective mentees will be expected to undertake an induction from us and commit themselves fully to the task until they achieve their goals.
All our services are offered free of charge.
By becoming a mentee with LINKnet you will receive the following benefits:
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Valuable support in a desired area of development
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Enhance existing knowledge
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Gain new knowledge and skills
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Widen contacts and horizons
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Gain inside knowledge about various institutes, their policies and opportunities
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Improve employability
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Speed up the process of getting jobs or education
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Increase self-esteem and self-confidence.
Click here to contact us about becoming a mentee.
How Does it Work?
We match people based on goals, interests, experience, location
(where relevant) and availability. We aim to create partnerships where
both people can build a positive working relationship.
Meet for 1-2 hours a week, either in-person or online for a minimum of
6 months. Support is provided throughout this period by LINKnet staff.
Meet our mentors and mentees below and find out what mentoring means to them:
Stories: Mentors and Mentees
Mentor: Stewart
"I had heard about LINKnet years and years ago so it was always on my mind. When I retired, I knew I wanted to give something back and LINKnet was the obvious choice."
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Mentor & Mentee: Natalie & Nat
"At first when I met Natalie, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure if I had to convince her to be my mentor and I was very nervous and worried but it was clear she was there to advise and support me from the start."
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