Most alumni have had a good experience at LSE and genuinely believe that their time here 'changed their life'. Many are now successful and wish to share their experience with others in the LSE community - many comments from alumni mentors state that they want to help because there was no such programme around when they were here. It is simply a way in which anyone can help contribute something.
Anyone can volunteer to help and advice other alumni and students, but you must have the right attributes - check the Alumni Mentor Job Description (PDF).
All mentees are told that the Alumni Professional Mentoring Network is solely for questions relating to careers and professional development, for example how they get into the career they want, how to change direction, or particular help in their current job to help progression.
Despite the information we provide to mentees you may get a question from someone who has misunderstood your role: they may think that you are able to help organise a work visa, or even find them a job. We strongly discourage mentees from going down this route, but if it does happen you must firmly say that this is not your role and refer them back to the LSE Careers Service or the Alumni Relations team so we can help them more effectively. For your information, the Careers Service does run a very efficient JobOnline service.
Unless you are happy to do so, we would not expect you to commit to more than one to two hours per month. This will comfortably cover a number of questions by two or three mentees via email or even the occasional phone call if you are happy with this.
We would prefer you to spend time on a small number of mentees rather than feel obliged to help everyone! When you have reached your personal comfort zone, contact us in the Alumni Relations Office immediately and we will 'hide' your details from potential mentees until you are ready to receive more.
Don't worry - it may be that your services are so specialist that you will only receive specialist requests for help. However, it may be that your personal profile is putting off potential mentees: make sure your skills and experience are clear and if you want to query these, you can always contact us in the Alumni Relations team to change your profile.
In the first instance you should ask the question directly of your mentee. We will also be ensuring that an annual monitoring system is established to ensure that help/ advice is being correctly directed.
Then you are welcome to search the online system to identify any appropriate person - the system is there for you to benefit as well as helping others.
Most alumni have had a good experience at LSE and genuinely believe that their time here 'changed their life'. Many are now successful and wish to share their experience with others in the LSE community - many comments from alumni mentors state that they want to help because there was no such programme around when they were here. It is simply a way in which anyone can help contribute something.
Generally, anything to do with your career, such as how you can get into the career you want, how to change direction, or getting particular help in your current job to aid progression. But it is not a jobs service and you should not ask the alumni mentors to help you get a job. If you are simply seeking a new job, visit the Careers Service's JobOnline. See Information for alumni
Please do not misunderstand the mentor's role. They are not there to help organise a work visa, or even offer you a job. We strongly discourage mentees from going down this route, and all mentors have been instructed to refer these questions back to the LSE Careers Service who can help them more effectively.
It will always help to start from the basics; reflect on your existing skills and experience, with appropriateness and validity being the key. Once you have recorded your skills/ experience, it will be easier for the alumni mentor to assess your situation and offer practical advice
It really depends on what you need, and how much time the mentor is prepared to give. We do suggest that more than two hours per month probably means you need more specialist advice.
There may not be a relevant mentor in every discipline, or with the exact experience you need. If there is no one even remotely suitable contact the Alumni Relations office and we will see how we can help.
In the first instance you should tell your mentor directly - if it goes deeper than that, please tell us here in the Alumni Relations office. We will also ensure that an annual monitoring system is established to ensure that help/ advice is being correctly directed.
