Why should I become a mentee?

Mentee Eligibility

To become a mentee in Connecting Skills Mentoring Program, you will need to:

• be legally entitled to work in Australia (permanent residency visa or citizenship – permanent work rights)
• have lived in Australia for five years or less
• have the appropriate English language proficiency to perform effectively in the workplace in their field. (Managers/professionals need IELTS Band 7 or equivalent. Technical/non-client facing roles need IELTS Band 6 or equivalent. For more information visit Department Home Affairs.)
• have a minimum post-secondary education equivalent to a diploma or degree
• have a minimum of two years of international work experience in your profession
• have (or will) attended the job readiness workshops*
• have limited or no Australian work experience in your profession. (Limited Australian experience means that you would have worked for less than a year in your profession/industry.)
• be currently unemployed or underemployed (i.e. not working in your field of expertise)
• have obtained a National Police Clearance Certificate within the past six months. If you do not have a police clearance, the Connecting Skills can apply for one on your behalf (at no cost to you).

Mentee Suitability

As a highly-skilled newcomer professional, you will need to:

• be actively seeking work in your professional field
• have current core skills required to work in your professional field
• be able to commit to working with a mentor for a minimum of 18 hours over three months.

Mentee Readiness

To show your employment readiness, you will need to show that you have:

• job search skills: an Australian-standard updated resume, knowledge of interview skills and basic networking skills
• appropriate supports: e.g. transportation, childcare or other supports required to start a suitable employment
• appropriate attitude: openness to receive constructive advice and willingness to try new approaches to job searching.