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CANADEM's Mentorship Program provides support for our registrants wishing to advance their careers through one-on-one counseling from experienced professionals in the same field of interest. Junior professionals entering the international humanitarian field or established professionals wishing to change course will benefit from the advice and expertise of our seasoned roster registrants. Our program personally matches senior level professionals with mentorees to help provide direction to successfully pursue a career in international field work.
CANADEM's roster of over 20,000 experts have decades of experience working with major international organizations, governments, and NGO's covering most regions in the world. Fields of expertise include humanitarian emergency relief, rule of law, governance, human rights, child protection, security and policing, and elections observations.
For more information about our Mentorship Program or to become a CANADEM Mentor, please see the questions below.
- What is the Mentorship Program?
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Our mentorship program matches registrants who are seeking long-term career advice with senior professionals in the same line of work. It is a unique form of career counseling designed to provide the apprentice with one-on-one advice from a seasoned expert. For example, a lawyer wishing to undertake justice reform work in developing countries might be paired with a legal expert with significant UN experience. While there is a basic set of guidelines governing the relationship, once a match has been made, CANADEM leaves it to the mentor and the apprentice to negotiate the terms of the relationship, such as how to communicate (e.g. e-mail, phone, in person, etc.), the frequency of communication, and the type and amount of advice on offer.
- How does one become a mentor?
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To become a mentor, send an e-mail to info@canadem.ca with ‘Mentorship application’ in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail, we also need you to indicate (in no more than 100 words) the kind of advice you feel you can offer. A CANADEM program officer will review your application and get back to you within a few days. If we receive a request for a mentor that coincides with your strengths, we will contact you.
- What kind of advice are mentors expected to provide?
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This will vary from case to case and depend on the needs of the apprentice. Broadly speaking though, mentors are expected to point their students in the right direction regarding their careers. Besides answering questions and giving general advice, mentors could give them tips on how to improve their resumes or introduce them to some of their contacts when and where appropriate. It's important to emphasize that a mentor’s role is an advisory one, which means that they are not expected to do any work for their apprentices. For example, while it’s permissible to provide resume tips, they’re not expected to rewrite resumes for them.
- How does one request a mentor?
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To request a mentor, send an e-mail to info@canadem.ca with ‘Request mentorship’ in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail, we also need you to state your motivation and what you hope to achieve (in no more than 150 words). A CANADEM program officer will review your application and get back to you within a few days. If we feel that your career objectives can be meaningfully advanced through this program, we will initiate a search for a suitable mentor.
- Do mentors get paid?
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No. Mentors generously volunteer their time to participate in this program.
- Are there rules that govern the mentor-apprentice relationship?
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Yes.
• At any time, the mentor or apprentice can terminate the relationship.
• The mentor is not allowed to charge a fee to the apprentice at any time.
• The mentor’s role is to provide advice to the apprentice, not perform work on behalf of the apprentice.
• The maximum duration for the relationship is one year. - Is there a limit to the duration of a mentor-apprentice relationship?
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Yes. Depending on the specific needs of the apprentice, the length of these relationships will vary. However, the maximum duration is one year. This may be extended upon mutual consent of both parties.
- Can an apprentice have more than one mentor?
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Yes. Apprentices can take on as many mentors as is reasonable to help them achieve their career goals. However, there is an administrative fee of $125 (+HST) for every mentor-apprentice relationship established, payable to CANADEM.
- Can a mentor have more than one apprentice?
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Yes. Mentors are welcome to take on as many apprentices as they can handle.
- Do apprentices incur a fee for participating in the mentorship program?
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Yes. A fee of $125 is payable by the apprentice to CANADEM once there is mutual agreement between the mentor and apprentice to proceed with the relationship. This fee covers the cost of identifying a suitable mentor as well as administrative costs.
- Once a mentorship is underway, what kind of involvement does CANADEM have?
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CANADEM limits its involvement once a mentorship is underway. A program officer will touch base with both the mentor and apprentice once every three months to see how things are going.