Mentee Phuong Linh Vi and mentor Keith Middleton are an excellent example of what the Lucy Mentoring program aims to accomplish: work on career development, widen professional circles, and identify role models.
When the pair met, Linh was in the final year of her degree in electrical engineering. However, due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, she hadn’t been able to network and was looking for clarity in career pathways and opportunities that worked for her. Her objective was “to get involved in the real engineering industry as soon as I graduated and develop my career to the fullest.”
Under the Lucy Mentoring program, industry mentors provide at least 20 hours of one-on-one contact over six months. Linh and Keith decided to focus on building her networks and her career confidence. Keith explains: “For example, we developed her elevator pitch so Linh could articulate her value proposition to the people she met at various industry events that we attended together.”
Throughout the program, Lucy mentees are able to work on their career development, widen their professional circles, and identify role models. “Mentoring is something I feel very strongly about,” Keith says. “I had excellent mentors when I was a young engineer, and it’s important that I pay it forward.”
Linh described Keith “very enthusiastic and understanding” and says that they met often to review progress and do exercises around job-seeking and career skills such as interviews and planning. Keith also set her challenges, says Linh, “such as making seven new connections at a networking event to help me reach my goal: getting ready to find an engineering job.”
And she did! Before her time with Keith ended, Linh secured a role as a graduate engineer at Nepean Power, based in Newcastle. Keith was delighted: “It gives me great personal satisfaction to see young people start their careers and develop their electrical engineering skills, which are a key foundation for a successful career.”
Linh says she has learned key lessons from her time with Keith: Career confidence and a clear elevator pitch are very important and can influence whether a conversation and a relationship develop or not. “Practice and more practice is key.” She has also learned that it’s important to develop short-term and long-term plans for your career.
You need to be very proactive to develop the career you want: Join as many networking events as possible and connect with people who can offer you a job or an influencer who might recommend you as a potential employee.
Phuong Linh Vi
Keith found the mentoring experience “very rewarding” and has already taken on another UTS mentee through the Lucy Mentoring program, which he says is “extremely well run and well supported by the university”. Linh is very grateful for the Lucy program, calling it “a wonderful experience”.
Keith adds, “It’s easy to forget how hard it is starting out for young people. As a more experienced person, it’s important not to make assumptions about what level of skill or confidence a fresh graduate may have in putting themselves out there for opportunities.”
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To those who are joining the program, Linh has this advice: "Don’t be shy when talking with your mentor. Also, if your mentor gives you homework, remember to do it, because it can bring so much value in helping you to reach your target. Last but not least, you may want to question your mentor about their experiences and failures, since they are lessons for you."
Connect with Linh on LinkedIn