Individuals can still become professionally qualified through self-managed training without having completed an ICE Approved Training Scheme. Once you have gained sufficient experience you are able to apply for a Career Appraisal. However, the requirements of the ICE Development Objectives must still be met and verified through this process. For more information, visit the career appraisal page on the main ICE website.
I intend following the Career Appraisal route in pursuit of Chartered Civil Engineer status. Is having a mentor essential? If so, what qualities should I be looking for in a mentor and how do I find one?
An effective mentor is absolutely vital for you to succeed with the Career Appraisal route to membership. You will be self-managing your Initial Professional Development and will need someone to aid your learning by supporting and challenging you. Having your assumptions challenged is important, because it is notoriously difficult to be objective in the self-assessment of personal learning and performance.
Your mentor must have a working knowledge of the routes to membership, preferably through personal experience of ICE’s Initial Professional Development process. Having time to devote to the role is key. Face-to-face mentoring is preferable, although e-mail and telephone contact are good supports.
Mentors need a passion for learning and helping to develop trainees, together with excellent listening and communications skills. Other essential skills include an ability to guide by questioning and to challenge the trainee’s assumptions without demotivating him or her.
It goes without saying that all that transpires between a mentor and a trainee must remain confidential, with the mentor playing the role of a wise, critical and trusted friend.
In the early days, the mentor will inevitably take the lead in making the mentoring process work. However, a true mentoring partnership should soon develop with the trainee playing a leading role by seeking advice when required. If the partnership is really effective, the mentor will become progressively redundant as the trainee gains the experience and the confidence to make independent judgements.
Ideally, a willing work colleague has the attributes to be your mentor. If not, a business contact or someone you know through your ICE branch meetings can fit the bill. If all else fails, your Membership Development Officer will help identify a mentor for you. The RST trains mentors specifically for such situations and is always looking for volunteers to mentor trainee engineers.