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- Tasks: Mentor 16-17 year olds online, guiding them in career insights and professional skills.
- Company: Social Mobility Foundation, dedicated to supporting talented students from diverse backgrounds.
- Benefits: Make a real difference, gain mentoring experience, and enhance your communication skills.
- Why this job: Empower young people to overcome barriers and achieve their dreams.
- Qualifications: Experience in your career sector and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Flexible commitment of 1-2 hours per month with virtual support options.
Mentoring helps people dream bigger and reach higher. As an SMF mentor, you'll help talented young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds thrive in education and work.
What difference will you make?
Whilst talent is everywhere, regardless of social background, sadly, opportunity is not. Our SMF students face additional barriers to accessing top professions and they lack the support networks to help get them there. With the help of our fabulous mentors we support thousands of students each year across the UK to gain knowledge, develop skills, and feel confident that they can achieve their aspirations.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for someone with several years of experience and knowledge of their career sector, who is willing to share this with students. Ideally, volunteers will be understanding and encouraging to support a young person who is at the very beginning of their career journey. They will also be able to help students plan, research, and develop their time management, as well as professional skills such as networking and communication.
We are particularly looking for volunteers with expertise in the following sectors:
- Accountancy
- Banking & Finance
- Law
- Medicine
- Politics
- Science & Engineering
- Technology
Ideally, volunteers will have had experience of recruitment processes within their sector, and will have strong communication skills.
What will you be doing?
As a mentor you would support a 16-17 year old for around 9 months (April 2026 - January 2027). Matches are made based on career sector interest and typically you would support with career insight, professional skill development, CV guidance, and support with post-18 choices and Personal Statements for example.
Mentoring pairs communicate via our online messaging platform but also have the option to attend virtual events and have phone calls depending on their preferences. We ask mentors to commit around 1-2 hours per month to their mentoring relationship and be in contact around every two weeks throughout the programme.
Volunteers can sign up on our website until the 6th of March 2026 and we will be in touch with further details. For safeguarding purposes, all mentors must complete a DBS/PVG background check before they can be matched but the SMF will arrange this free of charge. Please feel free to contact the team (mentors@socialmobility.org.uk) if you have any questions.
Mentor 16-17 year old students online! - Volunteer in City of London employer: The Social Mobility Foundation
Contact Detail:
The Social Mobility Foundation Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Mentor 16-17 year old students online! - Volunteer in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Before your interview, dive into the SMF's mission and values. Understanding what they stand for will help you connect with the students and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your mentoring pitch! Think about how you can share your career journey and insights in a way that resonates with 16-17 year olds. Keep it relatable and engaging – they’ll appreciate your real-life experiences!
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to share resources! Whether it's articles, videos, or tools that helped you in your career, having a few handy will show your commitment to supporting the students. They’ll love having extra materials to learn from!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to get started on your mentoring journey. Plus, we’ll keep you updated every step of the way, so you won’t miss out on any important info.
We think you need these skills to ace Mentor 16-17 year old students online! - Volunteer in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When you're filling out your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your experiences and what motivates you to mentor young people.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for this role. Highlight your relevant experience in mentoring or your sector expertise, and explain how you can help our students overcome their barriers. This shows us you’re genuinely interested!
Show Your Passion: We love seeing enthusiasm! In your application, express why mentoring is important to you and how you believe you can make a difference in the lives of 16-17 year olds. Your passion will stand out to us!
Check Your Details: Before hitting that submit button, double-check your application for any typos or errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which is key in mentoring roles. And remember, apply through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Social Mobility Foundation
✨Know Your Impact
Before the interview, think about how your experience can make a difference in the lives of 16-17 year old students. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've supported others in their career journeys or helped them overcome challenges.
✨Show Your Understanding
Familiarise yourself with the barriers that students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face. This will help you demonstrate empathy and understanding during the interview, showing that you’re not just knowledgeable but also genuinely care about making a difference.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific mentoring situations. Think about scenarios where you might need to guide a student through CV writing or preparing for interviews, and be ready to discuss your approach and strategies.
✨Communicate Clearly
Strong communication skills are key for this role. Practice explaining complex ideas simply and clearly, as you’ll need to convey important information to students who may not have much experience in the professional world.
