ICAS launches Career Connections, its new mentoring platform
ICAS has launched Career Connections, the new mentoring platform that helps all Members and CA Students to benefit from the mentoring process.
At ICAS we understand the importance of career mentoring and the vital role it can play in your professional success, whether you’re just starting out, seeking to change direction or keen to enhance your leadership skills.
Benefits for mentor and mentee
Working with a mentor can be beneficial at all stages of your career, from your training contract, through your early post-qualified years and even when you’re an established manager or leader.
A mentor helps you take the next step
A good mentor will provide a sounding board for your ideas, offer insights and expertise specific to your goals and expand your knowledge and network. They may help get your career off the ground, help you to take the next step up the ladder or advance the development of a project, such as starting a business.
Mentoring played a pivotal role in my early career and continues to do so today. It’s vital as it allows you to reflect and receive constructive challenge and feedback from a mentor with more expertise or lived experience.
Indy Hothi CA, ICAS Deputy President
The benefits of becoming a mentor
Becoming a mentor is a great way to enhance and develop your leadership and communication skills, and even the most experienced CAs can benefit. Through what’s known as ‘reverse mentoring’, you’ll gain invaluable insights from your mentee that can keep you connected to your workforce, open you up to new ways of working or add expertise such as enhanced digital skills. There’s also the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped a less-experienced CA to achieve their ambitions.
My mentor and friend encouraged me to push the boundaries of my comfort zone, which helped me to learn and gain new experiences.
Clive Bellingham CA, ICAS Vice President and Career Connections mentor
Every CA can become a mentor
To become a mentor, it doesn’t matter where you are in your career and there’s no requirement to be an expert in any specific area of business or practice. The main requirements are good interpersonal skills, a passion for helping others and the time to commit to the process (around one session per month).
Career Connections makes mentoring easy
With the launch of Career Connections, it’s now easier than ever to find or become a career mentor and reap the benefits of the mentoring process.
The new platform is designed to enable relationships between ICAS Members, connecting prospective mentors and mentees, no matter where they are in the world, and includes the ability to message, set up and host either online or in-person meetings.
Puts you in control of the process
With Career Connections the process of finding a mentor is entirely led by the mentee themselves, from creating a profile to searching for a mentor with the skills and experience to match your requirements.
If you’re seeking to become a mentor, start by creating a profile, including details of your relevant skills, experience and current availability, then wait for a prospective mentee to get in contact through the platform.
And from our template Mentoring Relationship Agreement to our detailed guidelines, the resources section within Careers Connections contains everything you need to guide you through the process and help maintain a productive mentoring relationship.
Get started with Career Connections
How to find a mentor
Read our guide to finding a mentor with Career Connections and start your mentoring journey.
How to become a mentor
Read our guide to becoming a mentor with Career Connections and start your mentoring journey.
The value of your ICAS membership
At ICAS we’re always working hard to help fulfil your career ambitions and realise your potential, whether that’s through our established professional and technical resources or new services such as the Career Connections platform.
Learn more about the value of your ICAS membership and all that we’re doing to support you.