Mentoring

Mentoring

Mentoring 2023 - PMI Sydney Chapter Mentoring Program (RELAUNCHED)

The PMI Sydney Chapter (PMISC) is NOW offers its Mentoring Program again in 2023 to its members so as to support them in:

• Connecting and positioning themselves as experienced Project Management Professionals.
• Improve their professional skills and address the challenges they experience in their work through one-on-one feedback.
• Share the wealth of their experience, learnings and knowledge with one another
• Contribute to the individual growth of members (both mentors and mentees) and the maturity of our chapter overall
• Access opportunities to further build and improve their networking, leadership and communication skills

This program is exclusive to PMISC members. The mentoring program team and mentors are PMISC volunteers, who offer their time and energy free of charge for the benefit of the mentees.

How it works

Mentors and mentees submit an application (see links below) to participate in the program.

The PMISC mentoring program team matches mentees and mentors according to their experience, career objectives, and where possible, work or home location provided in the participant's application.

All successful applicants are required to attend the briefing session that kicks off each intake. Once the matching has been completed, participants will receive an email with the details of the kick-off meeting.

The mentoring program includes health check surveys which are carried out by the mentoring program team during each intake to ensure that mentor/mentee expectations are being fulfilled, and to seek opportunities for overall program improvement through constructive feedback.

The mentoring intake ends with the close-out session, an opportunity to take stock of what was accomplished, learn from the experience and provide input so the next intake can be further refined and improved by the team.

Benefits for Mentees

The Mentoring Program is designed to support the mentee’s development path on all three sides of the PMI Talent Triangle, depending on their standing point.

Some of the common benefits for mentees include:

• Being able to have an open and confidential career discussion in a neutral environment
• Learning from the expertise, experience, and wisdom of a seasoned project practitioner
• Having access to an impartial and objective third party to work through current project and career challenges
• Gaining new insights and different perspectives on issues
• Broadening your professional network
• Earning PDUs

Benefits for Mentors

Mentors recognise the importance of developing the next generation of project management professionals but also benefit from participating in the mentoring role by:

• Giving back to the profession by helping less experienced professionals improve their skills
• Reflecting on missteps and accomplishments to assist mentees in their development.
• Gaining new perspectives from your interactions with your mentee
• Recognition as a seasoned practitioner
• Earning PDUs

How to apply

If you would like to join the Mentoring Program as a Mentee or Mentor, please submit your application online through one of the following links:

• Mentee application form 
• Mentor application form 

Applications for our 1st Intake for 2023 closes at 5pm on Friday 3rd March 2023.

If you would like to know more about the Mentoring Program, check out the FAQs below. 

If you have further questions, please email the Mentoring team at mentoring_team@pmisydney.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I earn PDUs?

Yes – as a mentee, a properly structured mentoring arrangement can help you earn PDUs in the Education-Informal Learning category.  Mentors earn PDUs through the Giving Back - Shared Knowledge category.  You do need to keep accurate records and be prepared to produce them if audited.

How much does it cost?

Mentors volunteer with their time and experience and do not pay a fee.

The mentees are required to pay a registration fee of $55.00 Includes GST to participate in the mentoring program.

How often do Mentors and Mentees meet?

Mentors and mentees meet as often as they see fit. We recommend that the initial 1-3 meetings take place weekly for about an hour to help you get to know each other, building trust and rapport to start which has proven to be a critical success factor.

Once the mentoring relationship is established and the mentees’ objectives are formulated and agreed, the frequency can be adjusted depending on mentor-mentee availability; the pair mutually agree to the timing, duration, and form of the meetings.

Do I need to be a PMI Sydney Chapter member to participate?

Yes.  This is a benefit that is only available to Chapter members.

What happens if the mentoring partnership is not working?

We understand that there will be times when a pairing does not work out due to changing personal circumstances, or for other reasons. The mentoring program team undertakes regular health checks to identify what is or is not working in a particular pairing. We encourage all parties to have open and honest conversations about the mentoring relationship before asking the mentoring program team to identify another suitable mentor/mentee; but in most circumstances, a recommendation to wait until the next intake would be one of the approaches used if unable to provide a suitable replacement for your allocated mentor.

When does the mentoring relationship end?

Typically, the mentoring program will run for the full intake period (5 months), but the mentoring relationship between some mentors and mentees may continue if both agree to continue beyond the formal closure of the intake.

Will my Mentor help me earn my PMP?

If your immediate goal is to earn your PMP then you should consider formal training and tuition.  PMISC offers a number of PMP/CAPM exam preparation sessions – you will find these listed in the Professional Development Certification section of the website. 

Will my Mentor help me find a job?

No – this is not the primary purpose of the mentoring program. However, the skills you acquire through the mentoring relationship will assist you if you are seeking new employment or career advancement. 

I don’t live in Sydney – can I still participate?

Yes, you can, as long as you are a PMISC member.