Mentoring is about getting acquainted with the professional world and job roles under the guidance of an experienced colleague. The goal is to help the mentee, also known as the actor, find their career path and gain more insights into the working world. Through mentoring, one can also identify their own strengths and build valuable networks.
Mentoring is intended for recent graduates, PhD holders, or those in the final stages of their studies who are contemplating their place in the professional world and are looking to build networks in the workplace. Mentoring is suitable for proactive and networking-minded members who have the time and ability to forge their own path in the Finnish job market.
Those who have completed the program have gained a clearer vision of their dream job, identified their strengths, established valuable contacts, and received tips for building their career path.
Schedule
- The mentoring program application period occurs twice a year. The application is announced in the Loimu magazine, member newsletter, and Loimu’s social media channels.
- The application for the mentoring program is open until September 29, 2024, for the mentoring period that runs from January to June 2025.
- Mentoring pairs are formed in November-December or May-June, depending on the start date of the program.
- The mentoring program lasts for 5-6 months, during which the pairs meet five-six times one-on-one and participate in group meetings.
Mentorointiryhmän yhteiset tapaamiset ovat - The kickoff meeting will take place on January 13, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
- The mid-term meeting will be held on March 24, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
- The closing meeting will take place on June 9, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Mentoring Application Process
Applicants to the program are invited to an actor coaching on an online platform, where the suitability of mentoring for the applicant’s needs is assessed, motivation is evaluated, and potential mentors are identified. The union assists in identifying suitable mentor candidates, but applicants are expected to consider their own needs, preferences, and areas of interest.
In advance, applicants can research a few interesting organizations or individuals, for example, through LinkedIn. Once suitable mentor candidates have been identified together, the applicant can choose a preferred mentor from the options and ask them to join the program.
Please note that mentoring group meetings are held in Finnish. Applicants must have some basic understanding of the Finnish language before applying to the program, as it will make participation in group meetings easier. Mentoring is also a great way to further develop language skills! Pair work can be conducted entirely in English. Mentoring requires also a commitment to the project for a little over half a year, from October to June or from April to December.
What Does the Mentoring Program Include?
The mentoring program lasts for six months, during which participants meet one-on-one with their mentors and attend group meetings with the mentoring cohort. These group meetings provide an opportunity to learn about others’ career choices, practice job search skills, and build a professional network.
The group meetings are conducted in a hybrid format, held both in-person at the union office in Helsinki and online via Teams. Travel expenses will be reimbursed for those attending the in-person meetings. The mentoring program is conducted in collaboration with The Finnish Association of Academic Agronomists.
Between the group meetings, the mentor and mentee engage in confidential one-on-one discussions related to work and career development. They can stay in touch by meeting in person, over the phone, or through any electronic communication tools. It is recommended that they meet about once a month.
Landing the dream job with encouragement and support
When Paavo Lyytikäinen became Tania Afrin’s mentor, she got a tireless supporter for her job search. Joint reflection and Tania’s efforts led to Tania finding employment – and a friendship.
Mentoring helps to clarify career plans
For those representing fields within Loimu, there are many career options available, but they can sometimes feel out of reach. It’s not always easy to see all the job opportunities that the field has to offer.
Mentoring is an excellent way to explore and consider various career options.
If your primary goal is to find a job quickly, mentoring may not be the best approach due to its process-oriented nature and longer duration. The mentor is not expected to assist in obtaining a job.
A mentoring relationship may lead to finding a thesis project or a job, but that is not its primary goal. The main objective is to explore and pave the way for your own career path while getting to know experienced professionals in your field. Their experience in the workplace and insights as experts or supervisors provide valuable knowledge that cannot be gained elsewhere.
We are continuously looking for professionals in the workforce to become mentors!
We provide training for all mentors, so no prior experience in a similar role is required. There is a shortage of mentors, as there are many young and eager mentees from all fields.
We are looking for mentors who have:
- insight into navigating the professional world, gained through several years of work experience especially on Finnish job market-
- a collegial desire to help others succeed in the job market.
- a willingness to help those in the early stages of their careers find their own career paths by sharing knowledge and experiences from their own professional journey.
- an interest in sharing their experiences and insights.
- a desire to gain fresh perspectives from the world of students and recent graduates.
Mentors will receive a coaching session before the start of the mentoring program.
Express your interest in becoming a mentor by emailing us at urapalvelut@loimu.fi.