What is Speed Mentoring?
It’s quite simple! You have short, professional conversations with four different, experienced academics. You’ll get fifteen minutes with each of them, and they’ll offer their own perspective on a challenge, question, or goal specific to you.
What institutions are involved?
Universities of Bath, Cambridge, Kent, Oxford, Oxford Brookes, Sussex and King’s College London.
What are the benefits?
Because you’ll have the chance to speak to four distinct mentors with their own experiences and knowledge unique to them, you’ll likely get different ideas or ways of navigating your career. This will allow you to reflect on the positives and negatives of each idea to make sure you’re making the right decision for you.
Would I be able to speak with someone in my research area?
There may be some cross-over, but the aim is for the conversations to have a more general focus on career development.
How do I make the most of the sessions?
You will take away the most from the session if you think about any problem, issue, or challenge that you’re facing and would like to discuss.
Take some time to think of some ideas on how you might like to proceed with an issue and note these down, as well as any advantages and disadvantages that you can think of. This will mean your limited time will be more focused on finding solutions rather than identifying problems.
It would also be helpful to both you and the mentors to note down a brief description of you and your current role. This will help the mentors picture where you’re situated in your career, and where it could lead.
How do I apply?
Head over to this page on the Oxford website to find out more information and register as a mentee. Applications close on 23 February.