Canterbury Tech Mentor Programmes – Applications for Career Start now open!
Building on the success of the 2019 and 2020 Canterbury Tech Mentor Programme, this year we have expanded our programme and are excited to announce we will offer three separate mentor programmes being:
- Career Start
- Mid-Career
- Late Career
The Late-stage career Mentoring Programme is a new addition to the series for this year.
Mentors and mentees who took part in our previous programmes are most welcome to join us this year as well. Non-members of Canterbury Tech may also apply to join our mentor programmes.
You’ll find details of our first two programmes and application dates listed below. For full programme details head over to the webpage https://canterburytech.nz/resources/mentor-programme/
1. Career Start Canterbury Tech Mentor Programme
Applications open Friday 16 April 2021
The first mentor programme this year is to support people looking for their first tech job.
To apply as a Mentee you could be a student at Uni or another tertiary college, you could be an international immigrant, someone emerging from a mid-career change, you could be a self-taught developer or a tech-literate professional wanting to transition more fully into the tech industry. We all know how hard it is to get that first job before you have experience and before you have a network of professional support.
To apply as a Mentor you will need to have empathy for people finding their first job. For example, if you are not a native New Zealander and have experience adapting to the NZ tech culture, we would love to have you.
Important Notes:
This programme is NOT designed to find the mentee a job, the mentor is not acting as a recruiter, it is to arm the mentee with the professional skills and support to find a job for themselves. Mentor notes will step you through the process.
A $25 fully refundable application fee does apply to Mentees should your application be unsuccessful.
Potential mentors and mentees must attend the Meet & Greet event on Monday 3 May.
KEY 2021 DATES – CAREER START CANTERBURY TECH MENTOR PROGRAMME 1
Friday 16 April – Applications Open
Friday 30 April – Applications Close. The approval process starts.
Monday 3 May – Meet & Greet event. Meet potential mentors or mentees (attendance required)
Wednesday 5 May – Matches sent out
Friday 7 May through to Friday 16 July – Mentoring sessions begin. Fortnightly meetings, 6 in total.
Monday 9 August – End of Programme get-together, Retrospective online survey.
2. Mid Career Canterbury Tech Mentor Programme
Applications open Friday 23 April 2021
The second programme is aimed at people who are working and are midway through their tech career and looking for support to improve their current skills or make some changes to their career.
To apply as a mentee you must already have embarked on your career in tech. You might be a developer, an IT infrastructure specialist, a business analyst, project manager or one of many other tech sector roles. Often the mentees applying for this programme wish to develop their technical proficiency in some area or move from a purely technical role into some form of leadership, but anyone in tech can apply as long as you have some idea of what you’re trying to achieve!
To apply as a mentor you will need to have an empathetic approach in order to understand your mentee and their specific objectives, plus a genuine desire to share your knowledge, experience and perhaps industry connections with your mentee.
Note: A $25 fully refundable application fee does apply to Mentees if your application is unsuccessful.
KEY 2021 DATES – MID CAREER CANTERBURY TECH MENTOR PROGRAMME 2
Friday 23 April – Applications Open
Friday 7 May – Application Period closes. The approval process starts.
Monday 10 May – Meet & Greet event. Meet potential mentors or mentees (attendance required)
Wednesday 12 May – Matches sent out
Friday 14 May through to Friday 23 July – Mentoring sessions begin. Fortnightly meetings – 6 in total (An email with hints and tips sent to mentors every two weeks)
Monday 9 August – End of Programme get-together, Retrospective online survey.
For further details about all our mentor programmes please visit our website or contact us at mentorprogramme@canterburytech.nz
