The Professional Mentoring Platform (PMP) provides a space for UTS students, alumni and industry professionals to come together to connect, find a community, and to find a mentor or mentoring opportunity.
Mentoring
Connect with a mentor based on shared interests, aspirations and affiliations without any awkward introductions or long-term commitment.
As a student on the platform, you can:
- get career guidance, resume feedback, advice around interview preparation, insights into alternative career pathways, and more
- start and end mentorships when you feel it’s appropriate
- make multiple industry connections
- keep your mentorship online or meet in-person - it’s up to you.
FAQs for Mentees
What kind of mentorship experience can I expect?
The informal nature of the platform allows mentees (YOU) to connect with mentors based on similar interests, aspirations and affiliations. No awkward introductions. No long-term commitment.
Who is eligible to be a mentee?
Current UTS students and recent graduates who are within two years post-graduation.
Two years post-course completion you will be eligible to become a mentor. We will transition your mentee profile to a mentor profile if you opt to stay on the platform as a mentor.
- How do I connect with industry mentors?
- Complete your mentee profile on the Professional Mentoring Platform
Based on the information you provided in your profile, a selection of recommended mentors will be live on your homepage. This is a good place to start your search.
Alternatively, open the Network tab to browse all mentors in the program by using filters or the search bar.
Before you connect with a mentor, review their profile to determine what you hope to achieve from the relationship.
We have developed some ‘auto-fill’ messages you can use as they are, or edit and personalise to suit your desired outcome.
- Things to remember before you reach out to a mentor
- Approach the mentor with professionalism and respect.
- Be specific about what you hope to accomplish so the mentor can decide if they can support you.
- If you have a specific question or goal, include it in your request.
- If you don’t have specific questions or goals, simply tell the mentor why you believe you could learn from their experience.
- Do not ask for a job or an internship. This program is a resource to gain knowledge and grow your professional network.
What do you ask a mentor?
As a mentee, you are in the driver’s seat. To have that control, you need to do a personal assessment and know your goals.
Before you reach out to a mentor you should be able to articulate what you’d like the mentor to help you with. Once you’ve articulated your goals clearly, your mentor will be better able to advise and guide you.
Need some inspiration? Here are six discussion topics to help inspire your mentoring relationships.
A mentor has replied to my message – what’s next?
Congratulations! This is a great outcome.
Once a mentor receives your message, they can directly respond through the platform – similar to a group chat. Then it’s up to you to continue the conversation based on your goals.
Both parties can leave the conversation at any stage (just make sure you say goodbye first).
My mentor hasn't responded
Mentors are volunteers and some are incredibly busy. They’ll get back to you when they can. If they don’t respond within a few days, they’ll start receiving automated prompts to respond to your message.
If they still don’t respond it’s not you, it’s them – trust us! Keep searching for and reaching out to other mentors. You’ll soon find the right one (or multiple ones) for you.
Report inappropriate conduct
Mentors (and mentees) registered on the Professional Mentoring Platform are required to adhere to strict terms of conduct. If you feel these have been breached, do not hesitate to raise your concerns by:
- clicking the red ‘Report User’ button in the message thread to notify UTS.
- directly contact UTS Careers email careers@uts.edu.au or call +612 9514 1471.
- click ‘Support from UTS’ in the platform and submit the form.
- Update the way we communicate with you
- Log in to the Professional Mentoring Platform
- Click on your profile picture on the top right-hand side of your screen and go to ‘My Preferences’.
- Change the notification preferences on your network activity updates.
- Experiencing technical difficulties
- Use the ‘?’ button in the bottom right-hand corner.
- For any further support, please submit this form and a UTS staff member will follow up with you.
Mentorship Tips
- Review
- Prepare
- Set Expectations
- Show Professionalism
TIP #1 Review
Review Yourself. As you prepare for flash mentorship, take some time to review. Consider your future and what you would like to achieve. Think about your short and long-term goals. Assess your skills, values, interests and personal style. Reflect on your experiences in education, employment, voluntary and community activities, hobbies, sport and recreation.
Review the Mentor. Carefully review your potential mentors profile, read their bio, look at their current and past experience, consider their background, check out their education, and explore their help topics and industries. The ultimate way to impress your mentor is to show you’ve done your research. The more you know about their background, the better equipped you’ll be to think about ways they might be able to support you.
TIP #2 Prepare
Clarify Your Intentions. Before your first interaction with a mentor, clarify your goals.
What are you trying to achieve with your mentor? Is it..To gain advice and support. To better understand a specific role or industry. To get an opinion on a specific topic. To build your professional network. Or perhaps simply to seek insights through knowledge sharing.
Remember, this is flash mentorship. Optimise the limited time you may have with a mentor by preparing.
Put it in Writing. Personalise your request message based on your goals. Be specific with the mentor about what you hope to accomplish, to ensure your flash mentorship is focussed and productive. If the mentor accepts your request, create a list of talking points or questions. This will help you get the conversation going.
TIP #3 Set Expectations
Set Expectations For Your Flash Mentorship. Don’t put all the pressure on one person. Seeking out multiple mentors takes the pressure off each one. Recognise there are levels of limitations in each mentor’s skill area. Capitalise on the skills they exceed in, and appreciate the support given. The platform allows you to have multiple mentors, so take advance of the mentor pool.
Set Expectations for Communicating. Communicate on your mentor’s terms, remember they are a volunteer. Respect your mentor’s time, work as much as possible around their needs. Be Flexible. Make things as easy as possible for the mentor in terms of communicating, scheduling or logistics. Make sure your goals are attainable, don’t expect too much from your mentor.
TIP #4 Show Professionalism
Be Proactive. This program is mentee-led, it's your responsibility to drive it, prepare yourself, set the agenda and the tone, and follow up when required. Listen to advice. Don’t be afraid to let your mentor know if you don’t understand something or have a different opinion.
Be Reliable and polite. If you have organised a call or meeting, be on time. If you need to reschedule, give at least 48 hours notice if possible. Avoid distractions such as your phone when communicating with your mentor. Respond to messages in a timely manner. Don’t disclose any personal or confidential information the mentor might share with you. Don’t ask for a job. Remember to thank your mentor and show gratitude for their time.
Remember – every mentor in the professional mentorship program has volunteered to help YOU! So get out there and start networking.
Terms and conditions
UTS Professional Mentoring Platform participants are required to agree to the following terms and conditions.
Both mentors and mentees are required to:
- Provide accurate information, including work experience and qualifications.
- At all times conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner and agree to abide by the UTS Student Charter(UTS students) and UTS Code of Conduct (UTS staff, UTS alumni and external volunteers).
- Maintain the confidentiality of information shared within the mentoring relationship.
- Show respect, reliability and commitment on the platform.
- Maintain professional correspondence within the mentoring system, ensuring that behaviours comply with UTS’s Provision and Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy.
- When asked provide feedback to enable UTS Careers to review and improve the platform.
- Consent to your profile being visible to users.
UTS Careers reserves the right to withdraw, suspend or refuse your participation on the platform for any reason without notice. In particular, this right may be exercised where, in our opinion, any of the following has occurred:
- UTS Careers has a reasonable concern regarding non-compliance with any of these Terms and Conditions and guidelines, or any applicable law or regulation.
- Misleading, deceptive or incorrect information has been provided by an individual.
- A complaint has been received about the individual.
- An individual’s participation on the platform is likely to, or does, damage or lower the reputation or standing of UTS.
Any participant who is under 18 years of age should contact careers@uts.edu.auor 9514 1471
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