Mentorship & Professional Network

Overview

Professional connections grow through relevant conversations, shared interests and respectful follow-up. This pathway explores how to approach peers, professionals and institutions with a clear purpose and an accurate explanation of your background.

Networking can help you understand a field and learn from other people’s experience. It is not a promise of an introduction, referral or job. The focus is on building relationships over time, asking thoughtful questions and recognising how you can contribute to an exchange.

This page brings together the intended focus of career mentoring, professional talks, alumni and expert exchanges, and networking. Specific participants, events and mentoring arrangements require confirmation before they can be offered.

Use the connected support request to explain your goals and the topic you would like to explore. Any session, delivery format or participation arrangement will be confirmed separately.

What this pathway focuses on

• Career mentoring: prepare a focused professional question and consider what you would like to learn from another person’s experience.
• Professional talks: identify the industry or professional topic you want to understand and questions you could explore.
• Alumni and expert exchanges: consider how different experiences can inform your own preparation without assuming the same route will fit everyone.
• Networking: practise clear introductions, relevant questions and respectful follow-up.

Who this pathway is for

For learners, students, newcomers and professionals interested in broadening their understanding of professional environments and building meaningful relationships.

Prepare your next step

Identify a field or professional question you want to explore. Prepare a short introduction and two or three relevant questions. Share your networking goals in the inquiry rather than requesting a guaranteed employer introduction.

What you can work towards

How to request support

1. Identify the question or skill you want to explore in this area.
2. Use the connected request form to explain your goals and relevant background, without sharing sensitive documents.
3. Review any information EBDA provides and confirm practical arrangements before taking part.

Sending a request or registering interest does not guarantee participation, a place or employment.

About the provider

This pathway is presented in EBDA’s Career Development catalogue. Specific delivery and partner arrangements will be confirmed before participation.