At a Glance
- Tasks: Guide students through online mentoring, sharing your career insights and expertise.
- Company: Join Arden University, a forward-thinking institution dedicated to innovative education and student success.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, gain valuable skills, and enhance your CV while making a real impact.
- Why this job: Make a difference by empowering diverse students to achieve their career goals in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: No prior mentoring experience needed; just a passion for helping students and sharing your knowledge.
- Other info: This is a voluntary role with a commitment of 1-2 hours per month, fully remote.
Volunteer Mentor – Arden Careers & Employability (ACE) Mentoring Programme
Programme: Arden Careers & Employability (ACE) Mentoring
Department: Careers, Employability & Alumni
Employment Type: Voluntary (non-remunerated)
Location: Remote (online)
Term: 6 Months (renewable for future cohorts)
Time Commitment: Approx. 1-2 hours a month (minimum 4 x online meetings + ad-hoc support as required)
Click here to read the full role description
About the Opportunity:
Arden University is launching the \’ACE Mentoring Programme\’ to help close gaps in progression and graduate outcomes for students from priority groups. As part of our Access & Participation Plan, this initiative will connect current students with industry professionals and alumnifor structured, online career mentoring.
As a volunteer mentor, you’ll share your industry expertise and professional insight to help students build confidence, develop employability skills, and progress into meaningful work or further study through clear, achievable career plans.
You’ll be matched with mentees from priority groups, including:
- Students from ethnic minority backgrounds
- Students with disabilities (including mental health conditions)
- Students who are care experienced
Mentoring takes place online via our approved 3rd party mentoring platform, Mentorloop. You’ll receive training and support to help you get started and make the most of the experience.
Programme Timings:
The programme runs from Autumn 2025 to Spring 2026 over a period of 4-6 months. All mentoring will take place online meaning the schedule is flexible. We ask mentors to commit approximately 1–2 hours per month, including ad-hoc support between mentoring sessions. We recommend holding a meeting roughly every 4 weeks, lasting 60–90 minutes, however, this may be more or less frequently, depending on your availability and how often your mentee wishes to meet.
What we are looking for:
We welcome professionals from all sectors and backgrounds. You don’t need prior mentoring experience, just a genuine interest in supporting students and the ability to share practical career insight. Ideal mentors will be:
- Enthusiastic and committed to the idea of mentoring to support students from a wide range of backgrounds.
- Willing to help others develop and succeed by sharing real industry insights and personal experience.
- Strong communicators who can offer encouragement and constructive feedback
- Respectful, inclusive, open-minded and able to mentor without judgement, bias or discrimination.
- Relevant professional experience in any sector including self-employment, with the ability to share insights and networks.
- Able to manage mentoring around a busy schedule and communicate reliably.
What\’s in it for you?
Mentoring is a powerful way to give back, but it’s also a rewarding experience for you as a professional. Whether you\’re early in your career or a seasoned leader, mentoring offers the chance to reflect, grow, and make a real difference.
- Make a meaningful impact by supporting students from diverse backgrounds to grow in confidence, skills, and career clarity.
- Develop your leadership, coaching, and communication skills -mentoring is a credible form of volunteering that enhances your CV and demonstrates your commitment to people development.
- Gain fresh perspectives through reverse mentoring and insights from the next generation of talent.
- Access bespoke mentor training and ongoing support from the programme team.
- Enjoy flexible volunteering -just a few hours a month, fully online via Mentorloop and designed to fit around your schedule.
- Raise your organisation’s profile and support CSR goals.
- Identify emerging talent and build your future pipeline by engaging with motivated students.
About Arden University:
We are an aspirational and multi-award-winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.
There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines, forge worldwide partnerships, and expand our locations.
About Careers, Employability & Alumni:
Since its inception in 2021, Arden University’s Careers, Employability and Alumni Team has grown into a sector-leading unit of 30 professionals, supporting a diverse, non-traditional student population of over 40,000 and over 6,000 alumni across seven UK campuses, online and via transnational partners. Guided by data, fuelled by innovation, and embedded within university policy and curriculum development, the team has redefined careers education at Arden, taking an inclusive and strategic approach to embedding employability into the curriculum, running subject-specific pathways, and delivering co-curricular micro-internships, and live employer projects, leading to measurable improvements in student outcomes.
Our Values:
Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness, reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you.
There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines and locations.
Closing Date: 30th September 2025
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:
As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people\’s age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups
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Volunteer Career Mentor employer: Arden University
Contact Detail:
Arden University Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Volunteer Career Mentor
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the ACE Mentoring Programme and its goals. Understanding the specific needs of students from priority groups will help you tailor your mentoring approach and demonstrate your commitment during any discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with other professionals who have experience in mentoring or working with diverse student populations. This can provide you with valuable insights and tips on how to effectively support your mentees.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your own career journey and the challenges you've faced. Sharing personal experiences can help build rapport with your mentees and encourage them to open up about their own aspirations and concerns.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on current trends in employability and career development. Being knowledgeable about the job market will allow you to provide relevant advice and resources to your mentees, making your mentorship more impactful.
We think you need these skills to ace Volunteer Career Mentor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and expectations of a Volunteer Career Mentor. Highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect relevant experiences that demonstrate your ability to mentor and support students. Include any previous mentoring, coaching, or leadership roles, even if informal.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your enthusiasm for mentoring and your commitment to supporting students from diverse backgrounds. Share specific examples of how you can contribute to their development.
Highlight Soft Skills: Emphasise your communication, empathy, and inclusivity skills in your application. These are crucial for a mentoring role, so provide examples of how you've demonstrated these qualities in past experiences.
How to prepare for a job interview at Arden University
✨Understand the Role
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Volunteer Career Mentor. Familiarise yourself with the ACE Mentoring Programme and think about how your skills and experiences align with the role.
✨Show Your Passion for Mentoring
During the interview, express your genuine interest in supporting students from diverse backgrounds. Share any relevant experiences that demonstrate your enthusiasm for mentoring and helping others succeed.
✨Prepare Examples
Be ready to provide specific examples of how you've communicated effectively or provided constructive feedback in the past. This will showcase your ability to mentor without judgement and highlight your strong communication skills.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask the interviewers about the programme and their expectations. This shows your commitment and eagerness to contribute positively to the mentoring experience.