Mentoring Program Details

2010 Mentoring Program

On this page:

	What is mentoring?
	What are the benefits of mentoring?

	What is expected from the parties in mentoring?
	How to apply

What is mentoring?

Mentoring is a process where an experienced person provides advice, support, and encouragement to a less experienced person. Mentoring involves the development of a protected, non-judgmental relationship, which facilitates a wide range of learning, experimentation, and personal development. A mentor is an independent trusted adviser who through guidance and example actively supports and guides others to develop their knowledge and experience-base in the achievement of career or personal goals.

Mentors help Mentees help themselves. The primary purpose is to help Mentees discover answers to their own questions by providing pathways, insights and resources to further knowledge and understanding. This is one of the most important professional lessons that mentors can offer. For businesses, it’s a crucial strategy for transferring wisdom and growing talent in every area of the company and provides a solid foundation for advancing future business growth.

What are the benefits of mentoring?

Our mentors say the benefits for mentors are:

	Gain a great sense of satisfaction
	Give back, seeing your mentee grow and develop
	Articulating and sharing valued Technical and Professional skills
	Share wisdom, knowledge and understanding (often improving your own understanding)
	Build key skills such as feedback and basic coaching skills (useful for leadership positions)
	Build interpersonal skills (effective questioning, active listening, reflecting, influencing, and general communication)
	Build collaborative problem solving skills
	Identify areas for your own development
	Learning about other organisations and their cultures
	Networking with peers/other senior women
	Help others and contribute to others' growth
	Greater self awareness
	Gain a broader perspective
	This is what three of our mentors had to say: “I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much, thought it would take much more time than it did! It was easy to fit it into my life (after we scheduled the meetings), thought there would be more pressure. My mentee was very responsible so it made my part in things really interesting”. “I was blown away by the degree of commitment and enthusiasm of my mentee. She was inspiring!” “The program is excellent, well structured, well managed and a pleasure to be involved in. The matching process worked fantastically for us”. “It is a great program...great support and structure, great mentees and a fabulous opportunity to meet and network with a great range of women in IT”.

Our mentees identified the following benefits for the mentee:

	Develop technical and professional skills, knowledge and understanding
	Develop self-esteem, self-confidence, self-reliance, questioning assumptions
	Gain better insight into work situations such as: organisational politics
	Gain stronger soft skills such as Time Management, Conflict Management and influencing
	Gain a greater understanding of career options and paths
	Gain valuable feedback and different perspectives
	Gain a support system and a trusted advisor
	Gain an independent sounding board (all mentees found this invaluable)
	Gain a much broader perspective of the ICT industry
	Gain the opportunity to meet and network wtih a wide range of women in ICT
	Here’s what some of our mentees said: “Having business advice helped me achieve my goal of gaining a promotion. Initially I did not have much industry knowledge. The mentoring relationship was a safe relationship to ask questions, explore ideas and gain information. The Self Development day was MIND BLOWING! It’s given me a way to look beyond my current role and see a career path. It has given me something to engage my own management about my career path within my organisation. And, I gained a great deal of confidence along the way.” “The value I gained was having an avenue for finding a mentor; Having someone outside my company as a mentor”. “This program is excellent... I have gained confidence and growth in my interpersonal skills and professional sociability in the workplace. A greater understanding of myself, and my interactions in meetings and conversation. I am also well equipped to start out in the workplace next year, and to build on and achieve my personal and professional goals”.

What are the types of things that a mentor could help with?

If you are new to a role or recently promoted, or you are having a skills challenge, a mentor can help you gain your confidence and quicken your learning curve.

A mentor also helps you to gain broader business and industry knowledge. Mentors can assist you with your career path planning, helping you to consider where you are going with your career and identifying your potential. A Mentor will help you to realistically assess your strengths and weaknesses, help you identify possible opportunities and alternative pathways. Your mentor may also introduce you to people in their network.

A mentor helps you by being a confidential, impartial sounding board. Mentors can role model or role play new skills and behaviours to assist your learning if appropriate.

Some of the typical things a mentor can assist with are:

	Managing conflict
	Understanding a career path for you
	Developing technical competencies
	Managing projects
	Managing time
	Balancing work/life priorities
	Effective communication
	Strategic skills
	Business writing
	Understanding marketing

	Changing careers
	Giving presentations
	Motivating people
	Managing People
	Team building
	Negotiating
	Developing influencing skills
	Business planning
	Understanding sales
	Managing clients/customers

You are never too old or experienced to learn something new and develop new relationships!

What is expected from the parties in mentoring?

Mentors

	Must meet the minimum eligibility requirement (minimum 5 years ICT experience or 5 years experience within a given career path)
	Submit a completed Mentor Application Form by 31 March 2010 (applications closed)
	Be committed to assisting another FITT member achieve their goals
	Be able and prepared to share your knowledge and experience with your mentee
	Commit to a minimum of a six month mentoring relationship (via mentoring contract), including a monthly one on one meeting
	You MUST commit to attend four workshops (these are compulsory) Program Launch: Tuesday 18 May 2010 5:30-9:00pm Mentor Training: Tuesday 25 May 2010 4:00-9:00pm Mid program review: Tuesday 14 September 2010 6:00-9:00pm Wrap up/celebration: Tuesday 30 November 2010 6:00-9:30pm We also encourage mentors to accompany their mentee to the Self Development Day, although this is not compulsory. Mentors are offered the workshop at a discounted rate of $175 including GST.

Mentees

	Commit to a minimum of a six month mentoring relationship (via mentoring contract), including monthly one on one meetings and undertake agreed actions
	Must be prepared to travel to meet Mentor for mentoring sessions
	Take ownership of arranging meetings, time and location, ensuring your mentors expectations are met
	Be prepared and open to receiving insight and feedback about yourself
	Submit the Mentee Application Form by 31 March 2010 (applications closed)
	If you are accepted into the program, there will be a small cost of $525 including GST. There are no refunds. This investment includes a place at the Self Development Workshop! Other mentoring programs range between $590 and $1450.
	You MUST commit to attend four workshops (these are compulsory): Program Launch: Tuesday 18 May 2010 5:30-9:00pm Self Development Workshop: Saturday 29 May 2010 9:30-5:00 Mid program review: Tuesday 14 September 2010 6:00-9:00pm Wrap up/celebration: Tuesday 30 November 2010 6:00-9:30pm

Application Process (Applications now closed)

So how do I find out more and apply?

	Download brochure for program overview
	Complete the relevant application form and return by 31 March 2010 (applications closed) and email us together with an up-to-date copy of your Resume to mentoring@fitt.org.au
	If you are applying to be a MENTOR, simply complete this form
	If you are applying to be a MENTEE, simply complete this form
	You will be contacted within 2 weeks of your application to arrange a confidential application review interview. This will take approximately 30 minutes and will be done over the phone. If you are accepted into the program you will be notified by 23 April 2010.
	If you are invited into the program and you are a mentee, you go to the Mentees online registration page to register (you will need to create a login to AIIA if you do not have one already) and make payment. All payments are to be made by Credit Card only and are to be paid by 30 April 2010. If you are a mentor, you register online for the Mentors Workshop. Mentors Workshop online registration

Page last updated 15 April, 2010