“As alumni, we know how much the University gave to us. This is a satisfying way of giving something back while helping future graduates take their next steps with confidence.”

George Zervos, BSc Economics 1981, MBA 1983, alumni volunteer on the Career Mentoring Programme

The University of Hull’s Career Mentoring Programme connects current students with alumni who can share career insight, advice and encouragement as they prepare for life after graduation. We are currently looking for alumni volunteers to support students during the 2026/27 academic year through a series of informal online mentoring conversations, typically meeting once a month between November and April.

Mentoring is a rewarding way to give back, helping students build confidence, explore career options and develop a clearer sense of direction for their future.

If you have any questions about mentoring or are interested in other alumni volunteering opportunities please email the Alumni Engagement team at alumni@hull.ac.uk

If you would like to register as a mentor please do so here >>

Read on to hear from alumni mentor George Zervos (who graduated with a BSc in Economics in 1981 and an MBA in 1983) and his mentee as they share their experiences of the programme and the impact mentoring can have on both students and volunteers.

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After semi retiring from a 40 year career in technology and management, Hull alumnus George chose to give back and volunteered for  the University of Hull’s Career Mentoring Programme which helps students and recent graduates navigate one of the most important transitions of their lives. George saw this as an opportunity to support both the University that had helped shape his own career and the students following in his footsteps.

“I felt I could use some of my time to give back to both the University and students,” he explains. “I also felt that I could use my experience to support students at a critical point in their careers and lives.”

In today’s competitive job market, he believes mentors can provide something invaluable. While graduates face increasing challenges entering professional fields, mentors can offer practical insights, industry knowledge and networking opportunities that are often difficult to access elsewhere.

However, George is quick to stress that mentoring is about much more than finding a job.

“In fact, I would go as far as to say it’s not about job-hunting success,” he says. “It’s about helping people focus on their next steps, providing encouragement, and using experience to help them make well-calculated decisions.”

For mentees, having an independent source of guidance can be transformative. Unlike family members, friends or academic staff, mentors bring an objective perspective grounded in real-world experience. They help students build confidence and make informed choices about their future.

That impact is reflected in the feedback from George’s mentee, who credits the relationship with accelerating both their learning and professional development.

“George has been incredibly supportive throughout my experience, always prioritising my needs and wants,” they said. “With decades of experience in the tech industry, he offered advice on the sector and got me in touch with his professional network.”

The mentee also highlighted George’s ability to challenge their thinking in constructive ways.

“He is very good at identifying gaps in my knowledge and flaws in my thinking and approaches. Taking on his advice made me improve and learn much faster than I would’ve otherwise.”

Beyond sharing expertise, George has built a relationship based on trust and genuine support.

“He is friendly and understanding, and offered to continue his support even after the career mentoring service concludes.”

For George, hearing that his support has made a difference is one of the most rewarding aspects of mentoring.

“It is extremely satisfying to feel that I have added value in some way to a student’s or graduate’s objectives at the end of their university education,” he says.

Mentoring also encourages self-reflection. By stepping into a mentee’s shoes and understanding their challenges and aspirations, mentors develop greater self-awareness and continue to strengthen their own communication skills.

The experience has also deepened George’s connection with the University. Living nearby has enabled him to meet with mentees face-to-face on campus, something he particularly enjoys.

“I’ve been able to experience, through my mentee, the current rhythm of academic student life, which is totally different from what I experienced back in 1979 to 1981,” he reflects. “I found it fascinating, but at the same time humbling to see what young people have to do nowadays to progress.”

George believes that shared experiences at Hull help create trust from the very beginning of a mentoring relationship.

“The shared experience of education at Hull creates an unspoken bond between alumni and current students,” he says. “It gives both sides a similar frame of reference and accelerates the process of building trust.”

For fellow alumni considering becoming mentors, George’s message is simple.

“Whether retired, semi-retired or still in full-time work, consider it seriously. It does not take up a huge amount of time, and you will find a wealth of rewards from doing it.”

For him, mentoring represents a meaningful way to give back to the University while helping the next generation succeed. “As alumni, we know how much the University gave to us,” he says. “This is a satisfying way of giving something back while helping future graduates take their next steps with confidence.”