Mentoring with Purpose: Developing Future Talent
Watch the video and learn more about what this mentorship experience has meant for students and mentors.
Discover how Ulster University and Hays connected experienced recruitment professionals with human resource management students, to help students build confidence, develop career-ready skills and gain valuable industry insight.
Overview
Embedded into the Employability and HR Profession module, the programme was delivered through a group mentoring approach, which ensured every student had access to professional mentors, careers guidance and industry insight, removing barriers often associated with extracurricular one-to-one mentoring opportunities.
- 42 first year BSc Human Resource Management students.
- 9 Recruitment specialists from Hays.
- 4 mentoring sessions were delivered throughout the semester, each lasting 2.5 hours.
- Sessions were delivered in person on campus during seminar time.
- Mentoring sessions involved a blend of expert-led presentations, practical tasks and focused conversations between mentors and students.
- 2 mentors who are also Ulster University alumni gave additional talks on their career journeys since graduation.
- The programme culminated with a workplace visit to Hays' Belfast offices, gaining first-hand insight into a professional working environment and the opportunity to build relationships with industry professionals.
As a result of the mentorship, students increased confidence, developed stronger networks, enhanced employability skills and improved their career readiness.
Student outcomes:
- Developed a better understanding of employer expectations, workplace behaviours and in-demand skills.
- Gained practical insight into recruitment processes and current labour market trends.
- Enhanced preparedness for placement opportunities and future employment.
- Improved confidence and developed skills in networking, goal setting and professional communication.
- Better understanding and use of LinkedIn and personal digital presence.
- Increased awareness of ethical recruitment, inclusive hiring and workplace trends.
- Built connections with recruitment professionals and industry contacts.
For Hays, the programme strengthened talent pipelines, enhanced employer reputation, supported staff development opportunities and delivered measurable social impact.
Hays & Mentor outcomes:
- Strengthened links with emerging talent at an early stage of their education journey.
- Offered meaningful opportunities for staff to give back and support students.
- Contributed to the development of a skilled and confident future talent pipeline.
- Enabled mentors to share knowledge, reflect on industry best practice and develop their own leadership skills.
- Provided the opportunity to build connections with aspiring recruitment professionals.
- Demonstrated commitment to social mobility and widening access to professional networks.
- Contributed to the creation of a model future employer-university collaborations that support student success and regional workforce development.
Eva shares her experience of the mentorship:
Eva (left), with her mentor, Meghan (middle) and classmate, Sean (right).
It was really good to be able to make connections with people within the industry and get that opportunity that maybe you wouldn't any otherwise without the mentoring programme.
I really enjoyed the [CV] short-listing activity, as it gave me and the rest of my peers a lot more confidence in our own personal abilities.
- Eva, BSc Human Resource Management student
Matthew reflects on the importance of mentorship in early career development:
Matthew (middle) with the students he mentored throughout the programme
As recruitment specialists, we have a unique view of the skills, behaviours and confidence employers are looking for. Programmes like this help students start building those foundations early, while giving them direct access to professionals who understand the realities of today's labour market. It's been fantastic to see students grow in confidence, expand their networks and take practical steps towards their future careers.
- Matthew McArthur, Specialist HR Talent Partner at Hays and Ulster University alumnus
