What is THRIVE? | University of Reading

About THRIVE

THRIVE is a career mentoring scheme for those of you who are in their second year of your undergraduate degree or for postgraduate students in our select departments. Getting involved provides you with a year of collaboration with a successful professional. Working with our mentors will enable you to create an environment where you can test out your aspirations and talk through any ideas you have about graduate life. You can see what past students have said about the programme by visiting our ‘What our students say’ page.

Participating in THRIVE will provide you with the opportunity to broaden your understanding of the type of professional you would like to become and realise what attributes you hold which set you apart from other graduates in the labour market. We want you to feel confident and prepared when embarking on graduate life and our mentors are available to offer honest insights which make that possible.

We often see the collaboration between mentor and mentee leading to unique opportunities in the workplace and beyond. Mentors may be able to offer; a workplace visit; introductions to fellow professionals and industry experts; bespoke guidance on CVs and interview technique and the opportunity to learn a lot about yourself as well.

To find out more about the programme, please see our list of frequently asked questions below which students tend to ask us.

Please note: Henley Business School students are not eligible for the scheme but have access to a separate mentoring programme - find out more.

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The THRIVE Timeline

Sign up in the Autumn term – undergraduates will sign up during September/October after browsing our mentor database and selecting a professional career mentor. Our select departments of postgraduates are invited to sign up in January but see our Frequently Asked Questions for more postgraduate information.

Mentee preparation session in the Autumn and Spring term - when you sign up, you will be invited to book into a preparation session via email. During each session, we will provide you with an overview of how THRIVE works, information about the support and resources available, and a chance to ask any questions you might have. You must attend a preparation session before being matched with a mentor and they are run on a weekly basis through September to February so there are plenty of opportunities.

Introduction to your Mentor – term is student dependent - Once you have attended a preparation session, you will be given your mentor’s email address and be expected to send them an introduction email within 10 working days.

Mentoring is flexible for each partnership but generally runs from 4-6 months. Each month you will spend 1-2 hours communicating with your mentor.
The THRIVE Mentoring Team is around to support you and provide you with resources to make the most of your partnership. Please do get in touch with us if you have any queries or concerns.

Scheme closes in Summer term - the THRIVE Scheme closes toward the end of the Summer term in late July but some mentoring partnerships may end earlier than this.

Frequently asked questions

What is mentoring?

“Mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be.'” – Eric Pasloe

Eric Pasloe was one of the founders of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and an experienced international executive coach-mentor.

What are my responsibilities as a THRIVE mentee?

Our mentoring partnerships are led by the student, so it is your responsibility to initiate contact with your mentor and respond to their emails promptly. If you have any other commitments or responsibilities, we advise you to let your mentor know so that they are aware.
You are expected to behave in a professional way throughout and can seek help from the THRIVE Team at any point if needed, as we understand this may be the first time some students have had to communicate with someone in a professional context.
All mentees are expected to send their mentor an email to let them know when they want to end the partnership and the Mentoring Team are available to help you do this in a professional way.

What can you achieve through the scheme?

If you commit fully to THRIVE, you will really see the benefits of having a career mentor. What we see through the programme is:

Boosted confidence when planning your career after university
Expansion of your professional network, networking, and interpersonal skills
Development of your written and verbal communication
A greater sense of motivation which will help you to be more proactive
Some mentees gain tangible experiences such as workplace visits, shadowing, interview experience, placements and even a graduate job
A great addition to your CV to show connections to industry and your willingness to develop and explore your career.

Your career mentor will be with you every step of the way as you explore your thoughts and aspirations. The partnerships are led by the mentee so make the most of this experience and ask for any support you may need.

How long do mentoring partnerships last for?

This depends on when you join the scheme but on average they last between 4-6 months.
For students who sign up in the Autumn term, the partnership can last for just over 10 months – September through till the end of July.
However, we do also see students in partnerships for only 3 months so THRIVE is flexible around your availability and other commitments.
Partnerships can continue after the scheme closes in July, outside of THRIVE, providing your mentor is willing to maintain the contact with you.

How can I make the most of my mentoring partnership?

What you put in is what you get out! The more committed you are, the more you will take from the scheme. Being proactive and arranging meetings, emailing your mentor promptly, creating a list of goals or questions beforehand – all these things can help you get the most from the scheme.
Asking for support where you need it is also a good idea – the THRIVE Team are around to help with any issues, big or small so please do email us on mentoring@reading.ac.uk
See this article from the National Careers Service for more ideas on this topic!

How does THRIVE work for Postgraduate students?

Very similar to our undergraduate programme, THRIVE offers you the chance to work with a mentor who can offer you insights and potential opportunities within the workplace.
We offer THRIVE Mentoring to select departments of Postgraduates every year so please email us on mentoring@reading.ac.uk to check if you are eligible.

What are the mentors like?

Our mentors come from a large variety of backgrounds, some are Alumni of the University of Reading and have studied exactly what you are doing now. Others are professionals from the local area and even from other countries.
The mentors on the scheme are not as scary as you think! They are all part of the scheme as they want to volunteer to support you in a practical way that will positively benefit you.

Do I have to know what I want to do to take part in the THRIVE scheme?

Absolutely not! It is common for students on the programme to be unsure of their career path. THRIVE is a good way to explore potential job roles or interests you might have to get a unique insight.
As the scheme is extracurricular, it allows flexibility which allows you to make mentor choices in areas that may be outside of your subject area if you wish to.

What if I don’t get on with my mentor?

It can be daunting to be matched with a professional, but we want to make sure you feel as comfortable and supported as possible during your partnership. It can take a little while for you and your mentor to get to know each other but the THRIVE Team will provide resources to help you do this. If you feel you would like to change mentor at any point for a variety of reasons, please get in touch with the Mentoring Team and we will support you with this.

What if I am not eligible for the scheme?

If you are not in your second year or studying as a Postgraduate student, unfortunately you are not eligible for THRIVE. The THRIVE Team are happy to provide you with support to find a mentor yourself so please contact the team on mentoring@reading.ac.uk.
Alternatively, if you are a first-year student then look out for our early bird promotion in March/April time and register your interest then!
If you are a student studying with Henley Business School, there is a different mentoring programme available for you.

If you have any questions, or just want to get to know the team, then please feel free to contact us on mentoring@reading.ac.uk. We look forward to working with you as part of THRIVE!