The Career Mentorship Program
The Career Mentorship Program for the Workplace
Mentorship in the labour market
Belong’s career mentorship program is a seven-month mentoring program for foreign-born individuals who want to find their way into the Swedish labour market. As a participant, you’ll be matched with a mentor, take part in skill-building sessions, and have the opportunity to make new connections. The program combines individual support with networking and knowledge of the Swedish labour market—so that more people can grow and become included in society.
Key points
Mentorship that makes a difference
Each participant is assigned a mentor with experience of working life in Sweden. Over the course of seven months, you meet and talk about job search, networking and the labor market.
A community that inspires
Belong organizes group sessions that provide tools and tips for writing applications, practicing interviews and understanding the job market. Participants will also gain new insights on diversity and inclusion and have the opportunity to meet new people.
Real integration
Belong has matched thousands of mentor pairs, which has led to results we are proud of. In our latest major evaluation, 29% of participants had found jobs and 74% had expanded their networks, while 36% had received valuable references in their job search. In addition, 84% said they had increased their knowledge of the Swedish labor market.
For those who want to take the step towards the labour market in Sweden
You can register as a participant if you are a third-country national, that is, if youare nota citizen of an EU/EEA country. This means you can register if you arenota citizen of any of the following countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, or Austria. You must alsobe able to show that you havea valid residence permit in Sweden, be at least 18 years old, and reside in the Stockholm region or Uppsala.
How to become a mentor
As a mentor, you need to be over 18 years old, live in the Stockholm region or Uppsala, have experience of work and/or education in Sweden and speak Swedish and/or English. Most importantly, you need to be motivated and interested in supporting a person who is new to Sweden, and be able to meet your match once a month.
How it works
1. Expression of interest and matching
Fill out our form with basic information about yourself. We will then contact you to tell you more about the program and the next steps in the process. The information we collect is used to match participants with mentors based on goals, skills, and personality.
2. Mentorship start-up
Belong invites mentors and participants to a joint kick-off meeting. There, we’ll go over how the program works and offer some tips. You and your mentee will set shared goals and decide when your next meeting will take place. Over the course of seven months, you’ll meet at least once a month. Belong is available to provide support and serve as a sounding board throughout the mentorship.
3. Network meetings and closure
Participants and mentors are invited to network meetings about twice during the program. The meetings include skills-building activities linked to the labor market. The program ends with a joint closing meeting.
Join our mentorship program
FAQ
Who can participate?
The program is aimed at foreign-born individuals who want to establish themselves in the Swedish labor market. Mentors can be people with professional experience who want to share their knowledge.
How much time is needed?
Mentors and participants meet at least once a month for seven months. In addition, participants in the program can take part in joint meetings and networking events.
How does matching work?
We match participants and mentors as much as possible based on common goals and experiences, so that the meetings are rewarding for both parties.
What do I do as a mentor?
Your role as a mentor is to support and guide your participant based on the person's needs, conditions and goals. Together you navigate issues related to the Swedish labor market, job search or a specific industry. For the participant, it is especially important to have a mentor who is committed to the assignment and to give the time needed to build a rewarding relationship.
What is expected of me as a mentor?
There is no expectation that you, as a mentor, will find a job or training place for your participant. Your role as a mentor is to support the participant along the way. The main purpose of mentoring is to provide the participant with support and an extended network, which increases their chances of getting closer to a job in Sweden.
What do I get out of the program as a participant?
As a participant, you will receive job search support, interview training, networking opportunities and insights into the labor market. You will be matched with a mentor who has a similar educational or professional background. You will meet once a month for seven months.
Does it cost anything to participate?
No, participation is free of charge for both participants and volunteers.
Who runs the Career Mentorship Program?
The Career Mentorship Program is run by Belong with support from the PA Foundation and in collaboration with the SSR Academic Association and Fremia.
The Career Mentorship Program is funded by and implemented with the support of the PA Foundation.
The Career Mentorship Program is carried out in collaboration with the SSR Academic Association and Fremia, with funding from the Swedish Public Employment Service.
