Business mentors give students career-boosting support

Students from the Wolverhampton Business School have been working with Directors, CEOs and entrepreneurs who are running their own businesses or based in organisations in the region, and can give them a real world perspective.

Mentors offer advice and support, covering areas such as employment skills, CVs, interviews and job applications, as well as sharing insights into the world of work and helping mentees to focus on their future career choices.

Jenni Jones, Senior Lecturer in Human Resources and Leadership said the University was initially contacted by the Institute of Directors about offering their members to support our students with employability related aspects and initially 25 took part as mentors. The scheme has proved so popular; it has since been opened to any senior businessperson who would like to mentor our students.

“We want to give our students the best possible opportunities to develop their skills and career and the feedback has been extremely positive.

“The students are learning so much about the real world of work from experienced local business people, some of whom are graduates from the University, who are truly inspiring and encouraging,” she said.

Each mentor and mentee meets monthly, at the University or the mentor’s workplace, and keeps in touch regularly through phone calls and email.

Some mentors also organise tours of their workplaces, offer work placements or work shadowing or share their networks in order to get opportunities for the students beyond their organisation.

Mentor Stewart Thorley, Business Transformation Manager, Dimensons Data, said: “I have loved every minute of it as it is very fulfilling, I am actually surprised why this type of initiative is actually not embedded more in education at all levels using people with business experience. I believe it makes a massive difference in getting students into employment.”

Anyone interested in becoming a business mentor for our students should contact Jenni. Jones onjenni.jones@wlv.ac.uk

ENDS

For more information please contact Emma Pugh in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736

Date issued: Friday 11 April 2014