Mentoring
We run an annnual mentorship programme to help the community grow – not just in terms of skills, but also to form meaningful connections between ourselves!
How it works
This year we have a cohort of 8 mentors and 8 mentees for a period of 8 weeks starting April 2023
The idea is for mentees to get 20-30 mins of time every week with their mentor to talk about business / tech / digital / anything else that’s on their mind (soft skills are equally valid talking points!)
You may use this programme to upskill technically (e.g. to learn a programming language) however mentors will not be prescribing exercises or tasks – they’re here to help guide you, not teach you!
As this is a new program, we will be sending out feedback forms to both mentor and mentees at the end of the program to help us transform this program into a recurring one.
Both mentors and mentees will receive peer support in their own slack channels, moderated by TechExeter core team members.
Programme Goals
- To help individuals in their professional life through upskilling, exploring new areas and improving their connection with the local digital and tech community.
- Mentors will receive experience in coaching others and contributing to the community in a more focussed and structured way.
Key Information
- Programme administrators – Sarah Marks and Philippa Carnelley
- Deadline for filling in the form : Midnight Monday 20th March
- We cannot guarantee matching everyone who applies but we will try our best to match as many people as possible
- Our community code of conduct is mentioned in the form and will be communicated again once matched
- We will be in touch the week of March 20th with next steps
- The mentorship duration will be 8 weeks, commencing 3rd April
- The program requires at least one 20 minute mentorship session per week – this may be a voice call, or video chat, at a time agreed by both parties
- All program members must be part of our Slack Community as we’ll have private mentor and mentee channels to post updates and answer questions
Sign me up!
To become a mentor, or to be a mentee, please follow this link to fill in the application form. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions!
>> sign up here
Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQ
What is the duration of the programme?
8 weeks – starting on Mon, April 3rd and ending on Fri, May 26th.
How much time a week do I need to commit for the programme?
20-30 minutes per week
Where can I provide feedback on the programme?
We will be sending a short feedback form halfway through the programme, then another (slightly longer) feedback form at the end of the programme. As this is the first time we are running a mentoring program we are keen to develop it and will be taking all feedback on board.
What method of communication can I use to talk to my mentor/mentee?
We prefer all communication to take place over Slack (Teams or Zoom for any video/voice calls) but do use the best platform for you (which your paired mentor/mentee must agree on also).
Who do I reach out to if I am experiencing problems in the program?
Please reach out to the programme admins (Sarah Marks or Philippa Carnelley). They can be contacted via Slack or email.
I’m not on slack, what do I do?
You will be emailed an invite before the program starts and added to the relevant #Mentors or #Mentees private channel. If you do not receive this please reach out to the programme admins (Sarah Marks or Philippa Carnelley).
For Mentors
What happens if my mentee doesn’t respond?
Please allow a couple of days for the mentee to respond. If you haven’t heard from them for over a week, please reach out to the program admins (Sarah Marks or Philippa Carnelley) via Slack.
I’m away for a week or off sick within the program, what do I do?
We understand there are some cases when mentors or mentees may be away one week or unable to commit to 20-30 minutes one week, if this is the case please try to make up the time. E.g. have 2 mentoring sessions the week before or after, or have one session twice as long, etc. Please make sure you communicate to your mentee that you will be absent that week so they are aware.
Are there any tips to break the ice with my mentee?
Yes we have created a document with tips to break the ice with your mentee which can be found on the private #Mentors slack channel.
What if my mentee and I don’t seem to be clicking?
We understand that sometimes things don’t work out the way we want them to. So if you are really struggling to mentor your paired mentee, please reach out to the program admins (Sarah Marks or Philippa Carnelly) via Slack.
What support is there for mentors during the program?
We have a private #Mentors slack channel where updates will be posted for mentors. There will also be resources the mentors can access on the channel. Program Admins Sarah Marks or Philippa Carnelly will be checking in with mentors on the channel to ensure all mentors are happy.
For Mentees
How do I contact my mentor?
We prefer all communication to take place over slack and all mentors and mentees will be added to the slack group. But do use the best platform for you (which your paired mentor must agree on also).
What happens if I can’t get hold of my mentor?
Please allow a couple of days for the mentor to respond. If there is still no contact after more than a week, please reach out to the program admins (Sarah Marks or Philippa Carnelly).
What support is there for mentees during the program?
We have a private #Mentees slack channel where updates will be posted for mentees and you can ask any questions you’d like.
I don’t feel comfortable with my mentor, what should I do?
We understand that sometimes things don’t work out the way we want them to. So if you are struggling with being mentored by your paired mentor, please reach out to the program admins.
I’m away for a week or off sick within the program, what do I do?
We understand there are some cases when mentors or mentees may be away one week or unable to commit to 20-30 minutes one week, if this is the case, please ask the mentor if you can make up the time. Please make sure you communicate to your mentor (with as much notice as possible) that you will be absent that week so they are aware.
What can I expect from my mentor?
20-30 minute sessions on a weekly basis and full confidentiality.
