Alumni Mentorship Programme

• Alumni and students register for the programme in October: after which point we pair mentors and mentees based on experience, shared interests, and goals. We then ask that our alumni commit to meeting the students at least three times over the course of the academic year, either in person or over Zoom/Skype/phone call as is convenient.
• Before participants are matched, everyone is invited to take part in a brief online Q&A session, in which the programme leader will run through the programme and answer any of your questions.
• During these meetings, students are encouraged to ask the alumni questions about their career and professional insights. We ask that alumni answer questions to the best of their ability, provide feedback and encouragement, and provide relevant advice and insights based on their own knowledge.
• A full break-down of the programme can be found here.
  

There will be regular check-ins from the course convenor throughout the year, including a brief online Q&A session at the beginning of the Autumn Term. If anyone is experiencing difficulties with the programme, we ask that in the first instance you let the course convenor know.

The mentoring programme is set up to support our students: to enable them to access in-depth personal experience into the workplace that they might not always be able to obtain. Many of our students are already looking towards next professional steps after graduation, and the support of our alumni not only encourages them in these next steps, but also helps them work out career goals and gives practical insight into applications and development.

Although primarily set up for students, many of our alumni mentors have found that the programme is beneficial for them as well: not only as a CV-boosting exercise, but as a way of connecting with the next generation of professionals and analysing their own career aspirations.

You certainly can - both past alumni mentors and student mentees have shared their testimonies from the programme below:

"Initially, I found myself adrift and uncertain about the direction and focus of my dissertation. However, the encounter with my mentor marked a decisive shift. Her extensive experience and deep insights were invaluable. She guided me towards embracing critical thinking and significantly redirected my academic path...Her impact was transformative. Without her support, navigating the complexities of my dissertation would have been vastly more challenging, and I might not have developed a meaningful topic that significantly contributes to the field of international migration and public policy studies." – Earth Settawut Kongten, International Migration and Public Policy student participant.

"The EI Mentorship Programme was a great experience. My mentor was very supportive and helpful in discussing career goals and how to navigate the job market, and I am very grateful for his support. Hearing about my mentor's experiences and how he made career choices has been really insightful, especially when we discussed his experience at the EU. It has been very valuable for my future and my current process of finding out what to do next, after LSE. I highly recommend signing up for the mentorship programme to get support and better prepare for life after LSE." – Kezia Wexøe-Mikkelsen, European and International Public Policy student participant.

“The programme is a great way to be in touch with the LSE world and give back to our school by sharing our life experiences after graduation and give guidance to LSE students on how to approach the job market or further studying opportunities. The programme is well designed and does not require heavy commitments. Former students should really apply and make the most of this experience.” - Paolo Sasdelli, alumni mentor (2019, EU Politics)

"While I aimed to provide my mentee with information and guidance on the first steps in her potential career field, I found the experience insightful for myself as well. Engaging with my mentee reminded me of my own situation seven years ago. Our discussions prompted me to reflect on my career choices and consider my future aspirations. The mentorship scheme is truly a two-way street, and I highly recommend that potential mentors sign up for this excellent opportunity." – Tobias Mac-Lean, alumni mentor (2017, Political Economy of Europe)