Becoming a mentor
SPEAR is designed to spark a transformation in the lives of unemployed young people and the six week programme is tailored to each student to ensure that they find a new sense of vision and direction for their lives. Each graduating student will leave SPEAR with a plan for the their future but when Monday morning comes, getting out of bed can be a major battle.
The SPEAR mentors play a vital role in the lives of SPEAR students for a variety of reasons. It is the mentors that ensure the students maintain the momentum they have gained over the six weeks by providing encouragement and direction once the programme is over.
What's involved?
Training
Before committing to becoming a SPEAR mentor we will invite you to attend our training sessions. The training focuses on understanding the culture and worldview of the students you are coaching and gives a model to help you structure the meetings.
Training typically occurs on two consecutive Monday evenings at SPEAR.
Assigning you to a student
The SPEAR team will assign you to a student mid-way through the SPEAR term. Mentors and students are matched on interests, personality or industry. Wherever possible mentors are assigned to students of the same sex but this is not always achievable. We do however avoid assigning male mentors to female students.
Mentor-Student Introduction Day
You will meet your student for the first time along with the other mentors and students at the Mentor-Student Introduction Day. Introduction days are held on a Saturday and will consist of structured activities designed to build rapport and trust between students and mentors.
Supervised Mentoring Session
The introduction day will be followed by a supervised mentoring session with the student at SPEAR. These sessions are typically held on a Monday evening and will be supervised by a member of the SPEAR staff. At this stage students will have already completed modules 1 & 2 of the programme and should have started to form a vision for what they would like to achieve career-wise. The mentor’s role is to support the student in attaining their goals and keeping them accountable beyond graduation.
Support
SPEAR will regularly update you with any news and progress about your student and you will have a dedicated point of contact in the SPEAR team. Formal reviews will occur at 1, 3 and 6 month junctures.
The Commitment
We ask you to commit to your student for up to six months after he or she graduates from the programme. Not all relationships will continue for this period and meetings will invariably become more sporadic but it allows a good period to make real progress.
Simon Lee
Finance Manager, Diageo “Mentoring with SPEAR has provided me with a great opportunity to develop my coaching skills outside of the workplace. I know that these are valuable skills to have and use in all walks of life. It has not been without its ups and downs, but has been immensely fulfilling. It has been exciting to coach my student through a problem and to see his eyes light up as the penny drops!”
Carlton Crabbe
Senior Financial Planner, Paradigm Norton Financial Planning
“Mentoring on SPEAR requires patience, understanding, perseverance and time. Through SPEAR, you have the opportunity to ignite someone's life with a new passion and a new vision for what they want to do with their lives. By being given the privilege and opportunity to share someone else's journey, I have seen transformation. That apparent sacrifice has become a big reward.”
Alexandra Burrell
Assistant Vice President at JPMorgan Chase “One of the most rewarding aspects of being a SPEAR mentor is watching the transformation in the students between the first day of class and graduation evening. The development of business knowledge, presentation skills, self-confidence, and belief in their own capabilities in a relatively short time frame is truly spectacular. It is an honour to be a part of SPEAR.”