Volunteer Career Mentor

Arden University

5d • Remote

About The Position

The Arden University 'ACE Mentoring Programme' aims to bridge progression gaps and enhance graduate outcomes for students from priority groups. This initiative connects current students and recent graduates with industry professionals and/or Arden alumni for structured, online career mentoring. As a volunteer mentor, you will share your industry expertise and professional insights to help students build confidence, develop employability skills, and progress into meaningful work or further study through clear, achievable career plans. You will be matched with mentee(s) from priority groups, including students from ethnic minority backgrounds, students with disabilities (including mental health conditions), and students who are care experienced. Mentoring takes place online via the approved 3rd party mentoring platform, Mentorloop. Training and support will be provided to help you get started and make the most of the experience. The programme runs from Autumn 2026 to Spring 2027 over a period of 6 months. All mentoring conversations and meetings take place online, offering a flexible schedule. Mentors are asked to commit approximately 1–2 hours per month, including ad-hoc support between mentoring sessions. A meeting is recommended roughly every 4 weeks, but this can be adjusted based on availability and mentee preference.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of professional experience in graduate or management level employment.
• Genuine interest in supporting students.
• Ability to share practical career insight.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to mentoring students from diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to help others develop and succeed by sharing real industry insights and personal experience.
• Strong communication skills.
• Respectful, inclusive, and open-minded.
• Ability to manage mentoring around a busy schedule.
• Experience in any sector, including self-employment.

Nice To Haves

• Prior mentoring experience is not required.

Responsibilities

• Share industry expertise and professional insight to help students build confidence.
• Help students develop employability skills.
• Assist students in progressing into meaningful work or further study through clear, achievable career plans.
• Engage in online mentoring sessions via the Mentorloop platform.
• Provide ad-hoc support to mentees as required.
• Participate in approximately 4 online meetings per cohort.
• Communicate with mentee(s) reliably.
• Offer encouragement and constructive feedback.
• Mentor without judgment, bias, or discrimination.
• Share insights and networks.

Benefits

• Make a meaningful impact by supporting students from diverse backgrounds.
• Develop leadership, coaching, and communication skills.
• Enhance your CV and demonstrate commitment to people development.
• Gain fresh perspectives through reverse mentoring and insights from the next generation of talent.
• Access bespoke mentor training and ongoing support.
• Flexible volunteering - just a few hours a month, fully online.
• Raise your organization’s profile and support CSR goals.
• Identify emerging talent and build your future pipeline.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed