What is Ask An Alum?

Ask An Alum is an online tool for alumni and students to request one-off advice and support on a variety professional development topics from an IDS Alum. Online mentors can support with e.g. interview preparation, job and PhD applications, industry knowledge, and relocation.

Ask An Alum is a space for knowledge sharing without the pressure of developing a long-term mentoring relationship. However, it can also act as a trial for a new 1-on-1 mentoring relationship, and can help broaden networks.

NB: For all types of help and advice IDS refers to those looking for help mentees and those offering help mentors. We also expect everyone using the IDS mentoring and advice programme to abide by the code of conduct outlined in the alumni-alumni mentoring code and the alumni-student code. 

Online Search

You need to login to the IDS Alumni Network website to use the online search and find Online Mentors. The Mentoring & Careers page has information of all IDS Alumni mentoring programmes. Here you will also find the link to Ask-An-Alum and Finding a Mentor.

You can refine your search based on the type of advice or support you are seeking. The search results will only show Alumni Network members who have volunteered to be Online Mentors, and who match your search criteria.

Please contact the IDS Alumni Office (alumni@ids.ac.uk) if you have any issues with the search function.

IDS Featured Mentors

If you see a match with Featured Mentor next to their name (like Sian Morley-Smith in the example above) this means that they are one of our most committed mentors (usually around 15-20 people at any time). To find out more about becoming a Featured Mentor, please see the criteria list. You can search only for Featured Mentors by selecting Yes under the Featured Online Mentor search criteria.

Messages

By clicking the message button, you can select the type of support you would like (e.g. CV Review, Career guidance, Answer to specific questions, Industry/sector specific help, Interview prep, Mentor relationship, Returning to work, Setting up a business, Relocation). You can then send a personalised message to your selected Online Mentor.

Tips for your first message to an Online Mentor:

1. Be clear and precise about your request. Check your spelling to ensure clarity.
2. It is recommended to reference something specific about e.g. their work, or something you have in common.
3. Keep it short and do not ask too many questions in one message.
4. Be polite and respectful, remember to use the recipient's name, and to say thank you.

More help on writing your first message.

What Happens Next

Your message is sent to the Online Mentor via email. The Mentor can either accept or decline the invitation to connect with you. If they accept, they will message you back. If they decline, the Alumni Network will let you know. 

Once a successful match is made you will be emailed a feedback form to complete.

Advice-seeking from Online Mentors is typically conducted online, but you can also opt to meet face-to-face. This is up to the mentee and mentor to agree on.

Even if you are not expecting to have a 'traditional' mentor/mentee relationship, a mentoring agreement may be useful for guidance. We expect everyone involved in the IDS Alumni Mentoring and Advice Programme to abide by the codes of conduct (alumni/alumni code and alumni/student code).
 

Discover Ask-an-Alum

Tips for success in your Ask-an-Alum mentoring session(s)

Initiating contact, more guidance for your first message