GradLink Mentoring Programme
The School of Natural Sciences has participated in the GradLink Mentoring Programme since 2014. The programme offers Junior Sophister students the opportunity to be mentored by a graduate from the School. The programme is launched at the beginning of the academic year and the mentors meet up with their students throughout the year. There are also many e-mentors who live abroad participating in the programme.
The School values maintaining strong links with its graduates in order to draw on the wealth of experience that they can contribute to undergraduate learning. Students benefit enormously from the exchange of ideas with graduates and gain useful insights into optimising their time abroad and how they can best manage their career development. For their part, graduates feel that as well as “giving something back” to the School and keeping in touch with College, they also benefit on a more personal level.
What’s involved for students?
If you are unsure what to do after College, need help with your CV or LinkedIn Profile or are interested in finding out more about a particular job or sector then the GradLink Mentoring Programme might be just what you are looking for.
Join us at the launch event to find out more. It will be an excellent opportunity to meet graduates working in fields such as research, academia, technology, consulting, climate change adaptation, law and public service. Please note space may be limited so make sure to register for the launch event if you are interested in participating in the GradLink programme.
Register to attend – Please click here
Date: Tuesday 15th November, 2016
Time: 6.30-9.00pm
Venue: Museum Building, Trinity College
At the launch event graduates will give an overview of their career and what they can offer as a mentor. Afterwards there will be a networking reception where students will have the opportunity to meet the graduates and find out more about their careers and expertise. Students who are interested in being mentored can sign-up at the launch event and will find out which mentor they have been assigned at a follow up workshop. Participating in GradLink involves meeting with a mentor 2-3 times, over the course of the academic year.
What’s involved for alumni?
student and mentor Graduates of Botany, Geography, Geology and Zoology, with 3+ years professional experience were recently invited to register for the 2016/2017 GradLink Programme. We are delighted to have over 40 mentors confirmed who are currently working for employers such as Salesforce, Dublin Zoo, Eirgrid, An Taisce, Science Gallery, and Focus Ireland.
As a mentor graduates work with a small group of students (up to three per mentor) who they meet up to three times during the programme. The focus of these meetings is generally professional development and other career-related topics. The time commitment of the programme for mentors is approximately 10 hours, inclusive of the launch event.
Students benefitted enormously from the exchange of ideas with alumni and gained useful insights into how they can best manage their career development.
Additional Information
The Gradlink Mentoring Programme is run by the School of Natural Sciences, in conjunction with the Trinity Development and Alumni Office and the Careers Advisory Service. Please visit the following websites for more information:
Development and Alumni Office website
Careers Advisory Service website
Or email the School's GradLink Coordinator Catriona Kennedy at snsmentoring@tcd.ie