Career mentorship ensures that graduates are ready for work

Dr Martina Jordaan

The value of a degree from the University of Pretoria was further reinforced in 2019 when a survey revealed that 93% of its alumni were employed within six months of graduation, according to Prof Norman Duncan, Vice-Principal: Academic. It is, therefore, necessary to train students to not only find employment after they graduate, but also to excel at those careers and become leaders in their industries.

Career mentorship has been identified as an important element in developing work-ready graduates. In light of this, the University launched a Career Mentorship pilot programme in 2019 as part of its Ready for Work initiative. This programme was aimed at getting the involvement of alumni in the mentoring of final-year students in the School of Engineering. It aimed to develop work-related skills and confidence associated with the engineering profession and to build effective career networks.

Mentoring can be described as the relationship between two people, where the mentor has the knowledge, expertise and insight to assist in the development and growth of the mentee. Through mentorship, a career can be guided and assistance provided in the induction of a profession, as well as through progress and promotion.

Mentoring can be seen as an interlinking task and can take on various forms. The outcomes can be positive for the individual involved, depending on their commitment and investment of time in the process.

The students in the School of Engineering who were selected to participate in the Career Mentorship pilot programme, conducted from April to July 2019, had to indicate why they would like to be part of the programme. The names of potential mentors were provided by the University’s Alumni Office, as well as the engineering consultancy, Aurecon. Eventually, 33 students and 24 mentors participated in the programme. The mentors, who varied from early-career engineers to senior professionals, had the option of choosing the mentees they thought they would be able to mentor.

The mentorship process included two meetings, either online or faceto-face, and one job shadowing session. The mentors and mentees could decide on the topics they wished to discuss. The following themes were typically addressed:

How to cope with the new work environment The process of becoming a registered engineer The work experience of the mentor How to develop management skills How to apply for a job

As both mentors and mentees had demanding schedules, which often made it logistically challenging to meet, they often communicated via email or telephone calls. The main reflection of the mentors on the programmes was that they enjoyed watching someone grow personally. It gave them personal satisfaction and the opportunity to give back to the University.

At a function held on 16 July 2019 to acknowledge the work of the mentors and the involvement of the mentees, Prof Duncan reflected: “Of course UP alumni will assist us significantly in preparing our graduates for the workplace by joining us in this career-mentoring endeavour in the knowledge that current mentees will one day give back by mentoring others in future.”

Following the success of the pilot programme, it was extended to the remainder of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, as well as the Faculty of Theology, in 2020. There are currently 90 students and 78 mentors involved in the programme.

In a survey upon completion of the programme, the mentees reflected positively on the programme and felt that the mentors had made a difference in their lives. The students indicated that they especially enjoyed the job shadowing day.

Career mentorship has been identified as an important element in developing work-ready graduates. The Career Mentorship pilot programme aimed to develop work-related skills and confidence associated with the engineering profession and to build effective career networks among final-year students in the School of Engineering.

“The programme gave me the opportunity to interact with someone who is already in the industry and to learn from them about what I am currently studying.”

“I gained a broader perspective of what the workplace expects. I learnt from the mistakes the mentor made and was able to plan my career in such a way as to avoid those mistakes. I gained a network partner I can contact if I need more information or help in future.”

“The programme allowed me to interact and learn from someone who is already in the industry.”

The mentors, on the other hand, also reflected positively on the programme:

“Until I was integrated into the workplace, I realised that I still needed to learn to function as an engineer in a very fast-paced industry.”

“The enthusiasm and willingness of the mentees to listen and question what I had to say was very positive. The mentees went out after the sessions and researched what had been discussed, and that made me feel that I was contributing to their future success.”

STAR COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECT MODULE ALUMNI PARTICIPATE IN THE CAREER MENTORSHIP PILOT PROGRAMME

Paul Ssali

“It is by standing on the shoulders of giants that we are able to see further. It is critical to the development of the key skills required for our country’s development. The only way to empower people is by empowering them to empower themselves, and that can be done by learning from those that have gone before us.”

Altus Bisschoff

“I could easily see that my mentor was an expert in her field and knew what she was talking about. The one thing that she told me that stood out was that you, as a person, are solely responsible for your happiness in the workplace (that is under normal circumstances, excluding situations such as terrible bosses or ridiculous working environments). If you are unhappy, you have the power to change that.”