The Industry Mentor Program at Masai School

Who can take part?

We are excited to now expand the Industry Mentor Program to all the students as soon as they finish Unit 4.

What can I expect?

Our Industry Mentors are working professionals from the tech industry who choose to volunteer their personal time. They come to Masai to help, guide, and support you as you approach the end of the course. 

They will meet with you once a week for 8 weeks, via Zoom. The sessions usually last for 1 hour and are based on one of the topics given by your instructors.

• These mentors come from a diverse variety of backgrounds but they all work in or around technology.
• The mentors are very keen to help new talent enter the industry and are volunteering their personal time to support you.

You’re in charge!

This mentorship is for you. Mentors benefit greatly from meeting you and they thoroughly enjoy helping you succeed. But however, only you are the primary participant who sits in the driving seat of this relationship.

You are expected to take the lead in all aspects of the relationship. This includes:

• Reach out to your Mentor confidently and professionally via email once you are introduced and connected.
• Organizing a time to meet, which suits both of your schedules.
• Creating Calendar invites, including links to Zoom (or any other).
• Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and the things you want to explore with your mentor.

What are your goals?

Before joining the program, you should think and reflect upon your individual goals and what exactly you would like to get out of your mentorship.

Everyone is different and your goals for this mentorship will be unique to you.

We would highly recommend that you have at least 3 clear goals before you meet your mentor for the first time.

Examples:

• Practice technical interviews.
• Learn about the daily life of a developer.
• Be more confident in talking about code and projects.

Things to remember

1. Your mentor is an industry professional who is volunteering his or her personal time to support you. Be respectful and conscious of their time.
   
2. You are representing yourself and Masai School and are expected to take the relationship in a professional manner at all times.
   
3. This program is for you. Take ownership of the relationship and be confident in asking for help and support.
   
4. We are here to help. If you have any questions or issues, let us know via the help desk.

Common Questions

Can I ask my mentor for a job?

• Some students have been hired by their mentor or their mentor’s network, but this is not expected of them. If you feel you would be a good fit at your mentor’s company, please talk to them about it. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask!

What if I don’t happen to like my mentor?

• Please reach out to us straight away through the help desk. We’ll work with you to come up with a way forward and can match you with a new mentor if needed.

What happens if I can’t attend a scheduled meeting?

• You should let your mentor know directly if you are not going to be able to attend a meeting, and then reschedule for another day. The mentors are busy professionals and it is important to be considerate of their time.