Mentors share their business expertise with migrant mentees

Mentoring For Migrants

“Mentoring for Migrants” is a joint initiative of the Austrian Integration Fund, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, and the AMS job market service. The goal is to bring together experienced individuals from the business world – mentors – and people from a migrant background – mentees – and support them in their integration into the Austrian job market. Mentors work with their mentees for about six months to develop activities related to entering the job market. As well-networked figures in the business world, mentors can provide their protégés with valuable assistance, advice, and contacts.

The “Mentoring for Migrants” project is aimed at people from a migrant background who have completed a minimum of an apprenticeship or a higher level of training, demonstrate sufficient German skills, and have access to the Austrian labor market. Mentors are business people with sufficient professional experience and interpersonal skills.

Mentors work with their mentees to develop activities related to entering the job market. As well-networked figures in the business world, mentors can provide their protégés with valuable assistance, advice, and contacts.

Mentors:

• Recognize their mentees’ skills and potential
• Share their business expertise and the challenges encountered in the business world
• Provide their mentees with tips and assistance
• Take advantage of their networks and professional edge to help their mentees gain a foothold in the labor market
• Communicate their expectations clearly

Mentees:

• Exercise their own initiative and independence
• Convey their readiness to learn
• Communicate their expectations clearly
• Are open to discussing their cultural background with their mentors

Matching, or bringing together mentors and mentees, is the core of the mentoring project. Finding well-suited mentoring pairs is key to an effective mentoring relationship and requires particular attention and a good instinct.

The “Mentoring for Migrants” project is financed through funding from the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and the internationalization campaign, go international. The Austrian Integration Fund and the AMS job market service also contribute.

Location:

Austria, Austria

Policy/practice area:

Socio-economic integration

Keywords:

Culture and diversity, Employment, Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Equal access, Training,

Integration Practitioner:

International Organization, Regional Organization or UN agency

Name of Organization:

Österreichischer Integrationsfonds (ÖIF) (Austrian Integration Fund)

Website:

http://www.integrationsfonds.at/en/support/career_at_the_oeif/mentoring_program/

Contact Information:

Schlachthausgasse 30
1030 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 (01) 7101203195
Email: laura.neuper@integrationsfonds.at

Other stakeholders involved in this practice:

Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer Österreich)
Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarkt Service AMS)