The WorkLife Central Annual Matching Scheme

A:  Any member of the WorkLife Central community can apply to join the Scheme. You do not need to be a parent, or based in London to apply - the Scheme is open to all members of the WorkLife Central Network and Cityworks Network, and welcomes those seeking a virtual/Skype mentoring partner. There are no formal criteria required to be either a mentee or mentor.

 

A:  This is for the mentee and mentor to choose between themselves, with the mentee driving the process.  Typical areas are matters such as career planning, work/life balance, tips for pursuing personal goals and objectives, communication and influencing, raising profile, personal confidence and focussing on a specific skill to improve.

 

A:  The relationship is assumed by WorkLife Central to last for a maximum of a year, after which you are of course free to remain in contact, but as individuals rather than members of the Scheme.  We ask you agree to meet approximately every six weeks for a year.

 

A:  Yes, it can - please respond to the appropriate question in your application form, and we will endeavour to match you with a mentoring partner who is also seeking a virtual pairing. 

 

A:  We don’t consider this necessary because we all work within the same broad business environment in the City and can share common experiences; however some mentees may prefer to work with a mentor in her/his area of work, and we try to accommodate this where possible.

 

A:  Both mentors and mentees need to apply at a time when a window for applications is open.  Application windows are expected to open annually, and network members will be notified at least a week in advance. During the application period, prospective mentors and mentees need to register via our website, and will then be asked to fill out an Application Form. .

 

Individuals can register directly to the Scheme via our website. We cannot guarantee that all applicants will be matched.

 

A:  Yes, there is an opportunity for mentors to indicate if would like to mentor more than one person.

 

A:  You can indicate this on your application form.

 

A:  Yes, you would need to register both as a Mentor and Mentee, and complete both Mentor and Mentee Application Forms.

 

A:  We cannot guarantee you will be matched as we do not know on any occasion how many people will apply to the scheme or what criterion they will indicate are most important to them in their mentoring pair.  In our view, having periodic annual application windows rather than a rolling process of applications increases the chances of making successful matches. 

 

A:  Shortly after the window has closed, matching will be undertaken by the Scheme Adviser, and matches will be communicated by email within 4 weeks.

 

A:  A charge to participate in the Annual Matching Scheme may apply. Notification of any fees payable will be posted online and shared with WorkLife Central members in advance of the Spring 2020 Matching Window.

 

A:  The Scheme Adviser uses their best efforts to take into account a mentee and mentors preferences based on information they provide in their application form. 

 

A:  We ask people to identify their organisation when they apply to the scheme.  This information is not communicated generally to other applicants but allows us to avoid such matches. 

 

A:  We aim to match mentors and mentees as soon as possible after we receive your application and we will aim to match the majority of people within 6 weeks closing of the application window, but sometimes it can take longer.

 

A:  Mentoring pairs are notified that they have been matched, and you will be asked to contact each other within 10 days of receiving the matching email, to establish that you are happy to work together. If you do not do so, you might not be able to continue within the Scheme.  In the unlikely event that you do not hear from your mentoring pair within 10 days, please let us know and we will chase and if necessary, attempt to rematch you.

 

A:  We suggest various ways to “break the ice”, by discovering connections between you, talking around current work projects, career accomplishments and common interests and then finally that you ensure you have a clear agreement as to how you contact each other to arrange meetings, when and where you will meet, who will be responsible for setting up meetings and other practical matters.

 

A:  We suggest that the mentee takes responsibility for this, and confirms the meeting shortly in advance of it happening, though exact details of arrangements can be agreed between yourselves.  As a courtesy, we suggest you do not cancel meetings at short notice unless it is really impossible to avoid.

 

A:  There could be a variety of reason for this and we ask that you first discuss any issues directly with your mentoring partner unless you feel that is impossible, or otherwise with the Scheme Adviser and she will get in touch with your mentoring partner if you wish her to assist. Either way, please inform the Scheme Adviser as soon as possible if you feel the relationship is not working out.  Please note that, once you have confirmed you are happy with your match, if you decide you no longer wish to proceed for any reason the mentee fee will not be refunded except in exceptional circumstances.  WorkLife Central may try to find you an alternative mentoring pair, but for practical reasons this may not be possible; if it is not, if you wish to continue in the scheme you will need to apply through the next application window in the normal way.

 

A:  In a number of ways.  First, we ask applicants to read and comply with the Annual Matching Scheme Code, which you can read here. The Code was designed by WorkLife Central and contains our ethical code, based on best practice from a variety of relevant sources including the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, the Association of Coaching and the British Psychological Society, and also takes into account our obligations under the Data Protection Act.  Secondly, our Mentoring Scheme Adviser is available to mentees and mentors to answer queries during the course of your membership.  Thirdly, we provide an online induction to the scheme and conference calls and other support during the course of your membership, and ask for your feedback periodically.  

 

A:  We will typically ask for your feedback in survey or email form.  If you do not respond electronically, as stated in the Code, we may follow up by phone to the number provided in your application form.  We do not want to intrude but it is extremely important for the efficacy of the scheme that we monitor the scheme regularly.