Student, apply for group mentoring 2020–2021 now!

The group mentoring 2020–2021 starts in November and it is the 10th anniversary of the programme. Students can apply by the 11ht of October 2020. The groups will be filled in order of registration, so act fast!

In group mentoring you as a student will get the opportunity to discuss different career paths and their strengths related to job hunting. The group brings added value, as students receive the support not only of their mentors, but also peers in the same situation.

After the previous season of the group mentoring programme nearly 100 % of the mentors and actors recommended taking part in the mentoring process!

I came to understand my strengths better and got many new ideas for searching for a job and developing my professional skills, says one of the actors who participated in programme in season 2020–21.

8 ENGLISH-SPEAKING MENTORING GROUPS (40 IN TOTAL)

The application time for students is 28th of September – 11th of October 2020. The groups will be filled in order of registration and you need to hand in an assignment with the application.

The programme is being organized for the 10th time and the following events are for all participants:

  • Question hours for mentors and actors in Zoom 18.11.2020 (16–17 pm for actors)
  • The group mentoring kick-off on 25.11.2020 at 17.00–19.00
  • Group meetings (5– 6 times)
  • The group mentoring closing in May 2021

The programme offers a choice of 40 mentors (8 English speaking), who are University of Helsinki alumni representing different fields in society. The background of studying at the University of Helsinki joins them all all. You may read their descriptions on the programmes website here.

Make use of this opportunity and sign up!

Read comments and experiences from actors and mentors last year on this blog post.

The programme is organised by UH Career services together with Helsinki Alumni -network.

Group mentoring is back – sign up as a mentor (we’ve extended the application period)!

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The group mentoring program 2020–2021 will start again in November, and we are now looking for mentors for students.

This is a jubilee year: this is the 10th year of group mentoring in HU! You now have a great opportunity to help students towards graduation and working life.

Group mentoring means sharing your own skills and life experience with a small group of students at different stages of study. 2–4 students are selected for the group. Language of the groups can be Finnish, Swedish or English. Students of the University of Helsinki need support from alumni of their own fields. You now have the opportunity to provide this support in the students’ path towards graduation and working life!

Applying for the 2020-2021 Group Mentoring Programme

The group mentoring programme of 2021–2021 will be kicked off with an initial meeting  on November 25th 2020. A final meeting will be organized in May 2021.

The joint events for this season of the mentoring programme are organised remotely. You can participate in remote events through Zoom. To participate, you need a computer, smartphone or tablet. Between the initial and final meeting the mentoring groups will meet approximately once a month.

Sign up for the programme on this page!

The last day to apply is 20th of Sebtember (NOTE! We’ve extended the application period)

We will contact all mentor applicants at the end of September.

More information: https://blogs.helsinki.fi/mentorointi/signup/?lang=en and Marja Peltomäki, (marja.peltomaki(at)helsinki.fi)

Group mentoring programme ended remotely

Ryhmäkuva päätöstilaisuudesta

The latest group mentoring programme ended on 18 May when the participants met to reflect on the past six months. As can be expected during this exceptional spring, the participants shared their experiences via a remote Zoom call. Vice-Rector Sari Lindblom also joined the call to virtually present the mentors and actors with certificates of participation.

Ryhmäkuva päätöstilaisuudesta
The mentors and actors greeted each other via Zoom at the closing event.

Mentoring gave confidence in the future and practical tips for job hunting

A total of 105 actors from various faculties participated in the group mentoring programme, launched in late November. During the wrap-up session, which utilised the Flinga platform, the participants praised the programme for giving them confidence in the future.

  • I feel more confident now and believe that even if I don’t have everything under control, things will eventually sort themselves out regarding my career.
  • Belief in my skills and the future.
  • Peace of mind about building my career: easy does it!

Many participants said that mentoring had clarified their thoughts about not only their career, but also their studies.

  • I came to understand my strengths better and got many new ideas for searching for a job and developing my professional skills.
  • Confidence, CV and job application tips, an updated LinkedIn page, information on the working culture of employers I am interested in, and flexibility.
  • Although the programme gave me a lot, it wasn’t what I was looking for.
  • I now approach career planning more systematically and with better tools.

The participants in the annual mentoring programme have usually also acquired practical skills, such as how to write a CV, and shared tips for job hunting. Some of this year’s groups had also discussed these topics, but others had engaged in a broader discussion of the future and themes relating to career planning.

The actors took to Flinga to describe what they were going to do after the programme ended.

  • My goal is to find a meaningful job.
  • I will continue my studies with more confidence and begin to make plans to apply for a trainee position while working on my bachelor’s thesis.

Praise for the actors’ active efforts and benefit for the mentors, too

The 28 mentors participating in the latest programme included both veterans and first-timers representing a variety of sectors, such as corporate leadership, teaching, law, marketing, communication and pharmacy. As the programme drew to a close, the mentors had encouraging words for the actors.

  • Thank you for being present as yourselves and contributing to a process that has enabled us to learn so much from each other!
  • Great discussions, brilliant actors! Be bold, believe in yourself and don’t shy away from challenges!
Sari Lindblom
Vice-Rector Sari Lindblom joined the call to virtually present diplomas of participation to the mentoring programme.

For the mentors, the opportunity to share experiences was one of the highlights of the programme. They also said that they themselves had learned a lot.

  • I probably gained as much as you in terms of reflection on my career.
  • It was great working with you! I not only gained new perspectives, but also acquired concrete skills.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the groups met remotely as of March. Many of the participants commended the remote meetings in their final feedback and said that the new situation had taught them new approaches they can use in the job market.

  • Thank you to my active team of actors! You put in a lot of effort to develop yourselves and were not afraid to start using the equipment required for remote work. You turned the exceptional circumstances to your benefit. Working with you was rewarding.

Kuva ryhmätyöstä.

Programme to be further developed – mentors can apply as of September and actors as of October

Participants in group mentoring are always asked for their feedback, which is used annually to develop the programme. Accordingly, the next programme will be developed, for example, so that the parallel use of Finnish, English and Swedish will function more smoothly. The possibility of organising separate orientation meetings for actors and mentors before the joint kick-off will also be explored. Further information will be provided in the autumn.

When group mentoring continues next autumn, it will be the 10th programme at the University of Helsinki. Prospective mentors can apply for the programme as of August–September. The aim is to find mentors that represent all faculties and sectors of society. Information on the application process will be provided through the University’s alumni channels and on this site.

Students can submit their applications later in the autumn, after information on the application process has been published in the group mentoring blog and Career Services’ communication channels. Information on arrangements for remote mentoring, if any, will be provided when the application process begins.

Career Services and HelsinkiAlumni would like to thank all the alumni/mentors and student/actors for contributing to the success of the latest programme and wish them a lovely summer!

Further information on group mentoring:

Alumni: HelsinkiAlumni, marja.peltomaki(at)helsinki.fi
Students: Career Services, careerservices(at)helsinki.fi

Text and pictures: Miika Mertanen

Sharing experiences and reflecting on responsibilities at an intermediate meeting for mentors

Ryhmät välitapaamisessa
The mentors gathered at Think Corner.

An intermediate meeting for mentors marked the midpoint of the 2019–2020 group mentoring programme.

At the end of February, mentors met at Think Corner to discuss their experiences of the first group meetings and to share good practices.

The meeting began with a talk by Leena Itkonen, a career counsellor at Career Services, regarding the support provided by the University for students’ career planning both now and in the future. Itkonen shed light on the significance of, for example, career courses, traineeships, portfolio work and career events for students’ career planning. Group mentoring is another important tool used for this purpose.

“At Career Services, we are adopting a new theoretical framework in which career skills are analysed through five different types of capital acquired during studies. These types of capital encompass, for example, networking, getting to know various actors in the field, understanding the cultural codes of various organisations and making career plans. Mentoring can play a key role in all these areas,” Itkonen noted.

Leena Itkosen puheenvuoro.
Leena Itkonen (Career Services)  spoke at the intermediate meeting.

DIVERSE PRACTICES AT THE FIRST MEETINGS

The overall impression of the first group meetings had been positive. The mentors praised the active and enthusiastic efforts of the actors. However, they also stated that the students interested in mentoring may be the most active in general, and the challenge is how to encourage those who are less active to take part.

Many mentors said that their role had primarily been that of leading discussions because their actors were no longer at the beginning of their education or career. This meant that the strength of group mentoring, peer support between the actors, was emphasised.

The Workbook for Mentoring, now used for the third time, had also been useful.

“The workbook has helped me plan the meetings,” one of the mentors said.

Ryhmäkuvaa lisää.

As in previous years, the practices of the mentoring meetings had varied. Some of the groups had visited the mentor’s workplace, whereas others had focused on discussing careers and job seeking. As before, the content of the meetings had depended on the goals set by each group.

FROM JOB SEEKING TO CAREER REFLECTION AND THE ROLE OF MENTORING

Several groups had discussed the following fundamental topics: what is a career and how do you get one? How do you create networks? How should you approach job seeking?

“The actors are interested in how to get their foot on the career ladder,” said one of the mentors.

Johanna Ruhanen of Career Services reminded the mentors that they do not have sole responsibility for providing advice on job seeking.

“Students can use, for instance, the Career Services’ Job Seeking Guide and the various workshops focusing on job seeking and LinkedIn. We also try to actively communicate about these tools to students,” she said.

The meetings had also given a lot to the mentors themselves.

“I have received feedback directly from my actors on the impact of my job, which I maybe was unable to think about in the same way before,” one of the mentors commented at the meeting.

The mentors’ understanding of the practical significance of mentoring had also increased, and their participation had inspired their friends and acquaintances to get involved in similar activities.

“An important insight for me has been that mentoring is not just something you do in your own time. It also entails a responsibility for the impression you give of the job market, so you must take it seriously,” one mentor remarked.

Panorama-kuva ryhmistä.

THE SPRING MEETINGS AND THE WRAP-UP SESSION MOVED ONLINE

The group mentoring programme will continue in the spring with group-specific remote meetings. The programme will conclude on 18 May with a joint closing session held online due to the coronavirus situation. New mentors will again be sought in early autumn, and students will have the opportunity to apply for the programme no later than October 2020. Stay tuned!

Text and pictures: Miika Mertanen

The group mentoring programme 2019–2020 kicked off in Minerva Plaza

The groups for the season 2019–2020 began their journey at the end of November.

The University of Helsinki’s group mentoring programme brings alumni and students together already for the ninth time. On 20 November, 28 enthusiastic groups set off on their joint mentoring journey in Minerva Plaza at Siltavuorenpenger.

The kick-off event of the ninth group mentoring programme was held in the traditional manner in late November. This time the event was arranged in Minerva Plaza, where the groups gathered to plan their six-month journey together.

In all, 107 students and 28 mentors took part in the event. Each group, consisting of two to four student actors, is mentored by one alumnus or alumna of the University of Helsinki. This year the programme is part of the International Talents Boosting the Growth of Companies –project, which is why the number of English-language groups was increased to four. One of the groups works in Swedish.

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New kind of orientation for the groups

The support material provided for the mentoring groups was revised this autumn based on the feedback from previous years. As in previous years, the participants had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the Workbook for Mentoring  produced by the University of Helsinki before the kick-off. New preliminary materials for actors and mentors included mentoring-themed orientation videos produced by Tevere Oy.

“It is our aim to provide the participants with materials that are as comprehensive as possible in advance, since it is good to give these types of things time to simmer,” says Johanna Ruhanen from Career Services.

Kuva Minna-Rosa Kanniaisen esityksestä.
Minna-Rosa Kanniainen talked about the meaning of communication in her presentation at the kick-off -event.

Aside from practical tips, the programme of this year’s kick-off event was built on an expert presentation from Minna-Rosa Kanniainen (Lifedesign). In her presentation, Kanniainen, who previously worked with the group mentoring programme for many years, focused especially on the interactive perspective of group-based mentoring. She, for example, emphasised the crucial significance of listening and mutual respect in group meetings and encouraged actors to be active at all stages of the process.

As a concrete tip, Kanniainen reminded the participants about making a conscious effort to replace “no, but…” comments so easily escaping from our lips with “yes, and…” The latter will almost automatically move discussions in a positive direction.

Ryhmästyöskentelyä

During the kick-off event the groups, of course, had the opportunity to get to know each other and create shared guidelines for mentoring. The groups were in fact tasked with drawing up a written mentoring agreement on their expectations and goals related to the process.

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The journey continues up until the summer

The groups will continue to work independently for about six months. It is recommended that the groups meet approximately once a month.

“We will organise an interim meeting for the mentors midway through the period, where they get to share their experiences from the first months of mentoring. Traditionally, the interim meeting has also been a good place to get new ideas for the activities of the groups,” says Ruhanen.

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In May, all the groups will return to the starting place Minerva Plaza for a joint wrap-up session. Then they will have at least 28 unique mentoring stories to share.

The next mentoring period will be announced on this page in early autumn 2020. The mentor recruitment will begin in September.

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Apply for the group mentoring programme!

The group mentoring programme 2019–2020 starts in November. Students of the University of Helsinki can apply by the 14ht of October. The groups will be filled in order of registration, so act fast!

In the mentoring groups, students discuss different career paths and their strengths related to job hunting. The group brings added value, as students receive the support not only of their mentors, but also peers in the same situation.

After the previous season of the group mentoring programme a stunning 100 % of the mentors recommended taking part in the mentoring process!

Mentoring increased my confidence and optimism and developed my self-reflection skills, says one of the actors who participated in programme in season 201819.

FOUR ENGLISH-SPEAKING MENTORING GROUPS (36 IN TOTAL)

The application time for students is 2nd –14th of October 2019. The groups will be filled in order of registration and you need to hand in an assignment with the application.

The programme is being organized for the 9th  time and the following events are for all participants:

  • The group mentoring kick-off on 20.11.2019 at 17.00–19.00
  • Group meetings (5-6 times)
  • The group mentoring closing 18.5.2020

The programme offers a choice of 36 mentors (4 English speaking mentors), who are alumni representing different fields in society. The background of studying at the University of Helsinki joins them all all. You may read their descriptions here.

Make use of this opportunity and sign up!

The programme is organised by UH Career services together with Helsinki Alumni -network.

Sign up as a mentor for the 2019 – 2020 programme!

The University of Helsinki group mentoring programme is starting again this autumn, and we are seeking new mentors. Mentoring is a valuable way of supporting students´ transition into working life and helping them to clarify their goals and ambitions. The students taking part in the programme come from different fields and phases of study. The group size is between 2-4 mentees.

You can sign up as a mentor here. We will contact the potential mentors at the end of September. More information on Sign up -page.

Several of our mentors have found the role of mentor so rewarding that they have taken part in the programme more than once. After the previous season of the group mentoring programme a stunning 100 % of the mentors recommended taking part in the mentoring process!

The programme starts with a kick-off for both mentors and mentees on Wednesday November 20th 2019 at 17-19 in Minerva Plaza (Minervatori). The closing will be held in May 2020. From November to May, the groups meet independently approximately once a month.

More information: Marja Peltomäki, (marja.peltomaki(at)helsinki.fi).

“Mentoring increased my confidence and optimism and developed my self-reflection skills” A successful conclusion to the group mentoring programme

The group mentoring programme, which began in late November 2018, concluded at Think Corner on a sunny day in May. The event marking the end of the programme on Tuesday, 21 May, provided the participants with opportunities for shared reflection and feedback. Before the next programme begins in autumn 2019, let’s take a moment to look back.

Actors gained confidence and practical insight

A total of 107 students from various faculties participated in the programme as actors. At the wrap-up session, they explained that the programme had, first and foremost, increased their confidence and trust in their skills:

  • “I gained confidence, learned about myself and became more curious about the job market.”
  • “I am now much more aware of my strengths, not just my weaknesses.”
  • “Mentoring increased my confidence and optimism and developed my self-reflection skills.”

Many of the actors also said that their optimism about the future and their confidence in their skills increased through, for example, peer support:

  • “Mentoring made me believe in myself and in (work-related) things turning out well when you put in an appropriate amount of effort.”
  • “Great conversations – I know I’m not alone in facing the challenges ahead!”
  • “Mentoring has made me more optimistic about the future.”

As in previous years, the mentors provided many practical tips for job-seeking and employment. Several actors decided to make the most of the advice offered, and some have already achieved concrete results, for example, in their job hunt.

  • “The hours you put in do not reflect your effectiveness.”
  • “During the programme, I found a traineeship, got a letter of recommendation and a job interview, and developed the confidence to try and contact people.”
  • “The mentoring gave me little practical tips concerning the culture of my field.”
  • “I’m now going to take the plunge and start looking for a job!”

Mentors also learned valuable lessons

At the wrap-up session, the mentors, all of whom were University of Helsinki alumni, had the opportunity to share their experiences not only with their group, but also with each other. Some of the 30 mentors who participated in the programme had also taken part in previous years. The mentors had many words of encouragement for their actors:

  • “Don’t be afraid of being yourself. You’ll do great!”
  • “Believe in yourself! Your knowledge and skills are not limited to what you have acquired through your degree.”
  • “Have dreams, make plans and follow them. There’s no limit to what you can achieve!”

At its best, mentoring is a two-way learning process. Accordingly, the mentors said that the process had clarified their thoughts and increased their self-knowledge.

As for the future of the programme, the mentors proposed that the University organise some kind of mentoring training before the actual programme begins. This feedback will be taken into account when planning the next programme. The mentors also wished that the University would engage its alumni more extensively in its activities.

  • “The University could also systematically use the professional experience of alumni in the form of a course.”
  • “The University should offer a course lasting throughout the degree programme and explaining the professional world to students.”

A comment on the development of career paths summarised the results of the mentoring programme:

  • “Everyone has a unique career path. Believe in your strengths and find your own path, don’t be afraid of detours or even the occasional step backward.”

A new programme to begin in autumn 2019

As of this autumn, the group mentoring programme will be offered for the ninth time. Prospective mentors who have graduated from one of the University of Helsinki faculties and currently work in various roles can submit their applications in August and September. Information on the application process will be provided through the University’s alumni channels and on this site.

Students can submit their applications later in the autumn, after information on the application process has been published in the group mentoring blog and Career Services’ communication channels. Career Services and Helsinki Alumni would like to thank all the mentors and actors for contributing to the success of the latest programme and wish them an inspiring summer!

Text and pictures: Miika Mertanen

News from the group mentoring programme for 2018–2019

The group mentoring programme for 2018–2019 has reached the halfway stage. The programme kick-off session in late November brought together a total of 30 mentors and more than 100 mentees at Think Corner. On 28 February, the mentors convened in the Teachers’ Lounge in Porthania to share their experiences so far.

The group mentoring programme started with a kick-off session at Think Corner on 20 November 2018. After the session was opened by Susanna Niinistö-Sivuranta, director of development at the University of Helsinki, the mentoring groups attending the session mingled with each other and enthusiastically launched the six-month mentoring process. Three of the groups are working in English, one in Swedish and the remainder in Finnish.

As was the case last year, the kick-off session also provided the mentors and mentees with training on mentoring and insight into its potential. The training, led by Päivi Kupias (Tevere Oy), focused on the significance of targets, commitment and confidential interaction for successful mentoring. The session concluded with each of the groups drawing up a mentoring agreement, in which the members committed to the process and scheduled their first meetings.

An interim meeting of mentors in February

As February turned into March, the mentoring programme reached the halfway stage. To mark the occasion, the mentors were invited to a traditional interim meeting on 28 February to share their experiences. The mentors in attendance discussed the diverse approaches they had used and gave their thoughts on how the mentoring had gone so far.

The groups had discussed a wide range of career options as well as how to identify and rely on one’s strengths. Other issues the groups had addressed included the practicalities of job-seeking and the development of an “elevator pitch”. Some of the groups had visited companies, which sparked an enthusiastic response from the mentors.

Of the numerous themes raised at the interim meeting, those explored by several groups included students’ coping skills, confidence in one’s abilities and a wider view of career options. The challenges brought up by mentors included encouraging students to think of interesting career paths, although one group had found this easy. The mentors cited the opportunity of mentees to support each other as one of the pros of the programme’s group approach.

Group activities to continue until May

The group mentoring programme will continue until the end of May when the groups will meet for a final wrap-up session. Information on the application process for the next mentoring programme will be provided in the summer, and students will be able to apply in autumn 2019. More information will be posted on this page by June.