GRADUATE ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMME

(GAP) NETWORK
CAREER COUNSELLORS AND MENTORS INFORMATION
This document provides information about the roles and responsibilities of Career Counsellors and Mentors in the
GAP Network to enable them understand the Network and carry out their responsibilities effectively.

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About the GAP Network
The Graduate Advancement Programme (GAP) Network is an intervention that addresses three
critical areas that plague young unemployed graduates: lack of skills, unemployment or
underemployment and lack of employment opportunities.
These issues are addressed in a structured way through the GAP Network support system that
affords the Graduate Members the opportunity to interact with Trainers, Counsellors, Mentors,
Human Resource Managers, Employers of labour and other professionals to provide composite
skills graduates require to gain employment and grow their careers.
GAP Network is a six-week intensive programme that will expose graduates to one month
employability skills training; two months internship; career counselling and mentorship sessions
so that they will be thoroughly prepared for the work environment. At the end of the programme,
Graduate Members would work with KEC Career Service Unit and KEC partners to be matched
with an employer.

Main Objectives of the Programme

• Increase the employability skills of Graduate Members by 80% through structured
programme that includes mentoring, counselling, employability skills training and work
experience.
• Increase the employment opportunities of Graduate Members by providing social
network platform that would increase their access to Human Resources Managers,
Recruiters, Employers of labour and other professionals.

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GAP Network Membership Structure

Programme Structure
 One-month employability skills training.
 Two months internship
 Job Matching

GAP Network Process

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Roles and Responsibilities of Career Counsellors and Mentors
Career Counsellors
This constitute individuals or institutions specialised in providing career and job advice to the
graduates. They will be responsible for holding regular clinic sessions with the graduates
primarily online (WhatsApp, Zoom, Calls, Google meet etc.).

Responsibilities
 Hold at least 2 counselling sessions (career clinic) with the graduate member.
 The 2 immediate responsibilities of the counsellor are to review the graduate members’
resume and job-hunting plan.
 (The job-hunting strategy is a plan prepared by the graduate member to guide him on
how he/she intends to apply and get a job within a specified period of time). Please read
and give advice on the logic of the plan.
 Other areas that they could be helped are:
o Job Applications
o Interview preparation/ Mock interview sessions
o Graduate School Application
 Keep detail records of clinic sessions with graduate members.

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  Provide regular feedbacks of interactions with graduate members
 Provide a report to KEC at the end of your clinic sessions

Mentors
This constitute professionals from various disciplines, industry leaders and business owners who
desire to provide one-to-one support to graduate members by mentoring them in their specific
career fields.

Responsibilities
 The first responsibility of the Mentor is to review the graduate member’s Personal
Development and Career Plan. (This is a plan developed by the graduate member that
highlights his/her career goals and how to implement them in the short, mid and long-
term).
 Provide regular mentoring to graduate members during the one to one mentoring sessions
 Provide guidance and support to graduate members in developing their careers
 Mentors may provide support to graduate members but not limited to those listed below:
 Provide professional career advice and support
o May provide internship and employment opportunities
o Provide employment referrals and job reference
o Provide general guidance
 Keep detail records of mentoring sessions with graduate members
 Provide regular feedbacks of interactions with graduate members
 Provide report to KEC at the end of the mentoring sessions

CAREER COUNSELLING AND MENTORING SCHEDULE

SESSIONS SESSION NUMBER SESSION TIME-LINE DEADLINE FOR

SUBMITTING
FEEDBACK
Counselling & Mentoring First Sessions Sep. 21 – Sep. 29 Aug. 30
Mentoring Second Session Oct. 9 – Oct. 22 Oct. 23

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Career Counselling Second Session Oct. 9 – Oct. 22 Oct. 23
Mentoring Third Session Nov. 6 – Nov. 19 Nov. 20
Career Counselling Third Session Nov. 13 – Nov. 26 Nov. 27