ɫɫ��

At Aalto University, the mentoring program helps students design their careers with guidance from mentors active in the workforce. While the student’s wishes and needs steer the process, mentors benefit too —gaining fresh ideas and an opportunity to reflect on things they might not otherwise think about. Mentoring also offers a window into future professionals’ perspectives on work and careers.

What is expected of a mentor?  

At the heart of the mentoring program are one-to-one mentoring discussions between the student (the mentee) and the mentor, roughly once a month. Meetings focus on themes related to working life and careers, based on the mentee’s wishes. Although the mentee is in the driver’s seat, the mentor should be ready to encourage and help sustain the conversation and initiatives — especially at the start, if needed.

“Beforehand I was worried about whether I’d have enough time and whether I could be helpful, but my mentee had prepared an agenda for each meeting. Our mentoring discussions were deep and productive, and it was valuable for me too — after a 30-year career — to reflect on my own good and bad habits and how I could develop them.”

Mentors should have at least four years of work experience after graduation. We especially welcome mentors who are currently active in working life and primarily living and working in Finland, so that face-to-face meetings are possible.

Students also have access ɫɫ�� University’s Career Services and other guidance — so the mentor doesn’t need to be, for example, a job-search expert, even if that topic sometimes comes up.

Call for Mentors Opens Again in October  

Mentor applications for the next program open in late October. You’re warmly invited to help steer students’ career journeys and thinking.

Mentors are typically graduates of Aalto University or its predecessor schools, and alumni of Aalto University Executive Education. Other friends of Aalto are also welcome to mentor.