Resources for mentors

Career mentoring is a supportive partnership where mentors share their experience to help students explore career options, build confidence, and gain insight into the world of work. It is a two-way relationship that benefits both mentee and mentor.

Mentoring is not:

• A way to request favours, jobs, or work experience
• Giving instructions or telling mentees exactly what to do
• A one-way transfer of knowledge

Mentors should:

• Listen and offer informal career advice
• Share different perspectives and personal experiences
• Encourage and support goal-setting
• Guide rather than direct

• Lead on arranging meetings and asking questions
• Be open, proactive, and honest
• Follow through on agreed actions
• Show appreciation and respect

Stages of Mentoring

1. Build Rapport – Get to know each other, build trust, discuss how your mentee likes to set goals.
2. Set Direction – Agree expectations, goals, and what success looks like.
3. Make Progress – Review goals, give feedback, identify barriers, encourage reflection.
4. Wind Down – Reflect on learning, discuss next steps, and decide if you want to stay in touch.

Meeting Options

In-person: Meet on campus; mentors can request free parking at Whiteknights. Inform the Thrive team at least 1 working day (Monday to Friday) in advance to have access to free parking.

Online: Meetings can take place virtually; mentees must schedule meetings.

Your First Meeting

Focus on getting to know each other and agreeing how you’ll work together.
Discuss: communication preferences, meeting frequency, goals, accountability, and introductions.

First jobs • Networking • Time management • Industry trends • Graduate preparation

Ethical Considerations

Keep conversations confidential, maintain boundaries, and respect diverse backgrounds.

How to Get the Most Out of Mentoring

• Encourage clear goals
• Ask mentees to prepare for meetings
• Support follow-through
• Maintain honest, respectful communication
• Stick to agreed schedules but stay flexible

All services below are free for students:

Wellbeing Support

• Financial Advice – Money guidance
• International Student Support – Help adjusting to the UK
• Counselling & Wellbeing – Professional mental-health support
• Welfare Team – Help with personal difficulties
• 24/7 Hotline – Advice and emotional support
• Life Tools – Free talks to support student wellbeing
• Disability Advisory Service – Advice for disabilities, long-term conditions

• RED Awards – Skills awards (Thrive counts towards these)
• Careers Appointments – CVs, applications, career coaching
• Careers Events – Workshops and employer panels
• Reading Internship Scheme – Paid, short internships
• Placement Support – Help with placement years
• Graduates First – Free psychometric test preparation
• LinkedIn Learning – Free online courses
• Forage – Virtual internships
• Career Options Resources – Tools for exploring career paths

Mentors can switch styles depending on the mentee’s needs.

1. Directive Mentoring – Mentor shares advice and experience.

Use when mentee is unsure or new.

2. Non-Directive Mentoring – Mentor asks questions to guide thinking.

Use when mentee is exploring ideas.

3. Developmental Mentoring – Focus on long-term skills and growth.

Use for building confidence, reflection, and resilience.

4. Connector Mentoring – Introductions, networks, opportunities.

Use when mentee wants industry insight or connections.

Useful Tools

• SMART Goals – Structured, achievable goals
• STAR Technique – Helpful for reflection and interviews
• Gibbs Reflective Cycle – A 6-step model for deeper reflection

Be open, respectful, and flexible. Students’ experiences may differ from your own.

General Tips

• Don’t make assumptions—ask how you can support them
• Respect preferred language and pronouns
• Keep communication clear and accessible
• Be flexible with meeting formats and pace
• Maintain empathy and create a safe space to share needs

Supporting Students with Disabilities

• Always ask before offering help
• Be patient and communicate directly
• Adjust meetings (timing, format, environment)
• Break tasks into manageable steps
• Provide accessible materials

Specific Considerations

• Deaf/hearing impaired: Face them, speak clearly, reduce background noise
• Visually impaired: Introduce yourself, describe surroundings, offer accessible formats
• Mobility aid users: Don’t touch mobility aids, sit at eye level
• Speech difficulties: Don’t interrupt; ask for clarification respectfully
• Dyslexia: Use clear fonts, bullet points, and ask about helpful tools

Neurodiverse Students

This is the mentee code of conduct, mentors are asked to follow a similar structure:

1. Respect

Treat mentors, staff, and students respectfully. Keep discussions career-focused.

2. Responsibility

It is the mentee’s responsibility to choose a mentor within one month of joining the platform.

3. Professionalism

Use appropriate communication and behaviour.

4. Consistent Communication

Meet at least once a month, where possible. Be punctual and keep one another updated in cases of cancellation or rescheduling.

5. Mentor Confidentiality

Keep any personal or organisational information shared by mentors/mentees confidential.

6. Mentoring Conversation Confidentiality

Discussions are confidential unless there is a safeguarding or legal concern.

Students who do not follow the code may be removed from the programme.

Contact the Thrive team if anything feels uncomfortable.