What is Ask An Alum

Ask An Alum is designed to provide knowledge sharing between alumni network members without the pressure to develop a long-term relationship. 

You can opt-in to being an online mentor by logging-in to this website (IDS Alumni Network website) and going to your profile page. You get to your profile easily by clicking on your name on the right hand side of the home-page after you have logged in. 

On your profile page you can edit your details, including adding a photo (essential for Featured Online Mentors) and your help categories, which show members looking for advice what you are happy to talk to them about,

Clicking edit mentor status will take you to the settings tab of your profile where there are extra controls for online mentors that allow you to:

• Change your categories of help, for example, career advice or job interview preparation
• Limit how many people you're willing to hear from at any one time
• Option to temporarily hide yourself from Ask An Alum for 30 days
• Option to permenantly opt-out of Ask An Alum and be hidden from the search results

How does the Ask An Alum search work?

Online members of the IDS Alumni Network website are able to search for and find other members who are willing to provide advice. When they conduct a search the results will show those who are Featured Online Mentors at the top of the list, then all the other Online Mentors who match the criteria underneath this. The results will not show members who have opted out, members who have reached their specified number of requests they are happy to support, or those who do not meet the search criteria.

Requests from Ask An Alum?

If another member messages you through Ask An Alum you will receive an email notification  (to the email address you use to sign-in to the IDS Alumni Network website) from the IDS Alumni Network website, including a personal message from the member and a series of options for your response.

By clicking one of the links in the email notification you will communicate your decision to the IDS Alumni Relations Office.

If you are unable to help this will automatically take you to the page where you can update your settings in your member profile.

If you click on Yes I Can Help, you will be redirected to your IDS Alumni Network website messages so you can reply to the member asking for your advice. 

You are free to use whatever communication platform suits you and the member seeking your advice. However, it is very important that your first response is by clicking one of the links in the email notification so that the IDS Alumni Relations Office can track how well this system is working for Ask An Alum users.

Support for Online Mentors

Once you have opted-in to being an IDS Alumni Network Online Mentor you are added to the Mentors Group so you can easily see all the guidance and resources available to you. You will also be invited to join our two IDS Alumni Network Mentors Skills Workshops in February and July.

If you need any further assistance please contact the IDS Alumni Relations Office via email alumni@ids.ac.uk

You can also contact Michelle Cruickshank, Alumni Relations Manager at IDS or Zoe Windsor, FDO Coordinator at IDS.

Useful Links

• 2022 Changes to the IDS Alumni Network Mentoring & Advice Programme
• Find out how to be an Online Featured Mentor
• Find out how to search for an online mentor
• Find out what mentoring isn't
• Read our best practice guide for mentors and mentees
• Watch useful videos (for both mentors and mentees)
• Download our Mentor/Mentee Codes of Conduct for alumni mentor to alumni mentee or alumni mentor to student mentee
• Download our suggested Mentoring Agreement to help you in your first meeting