FAQ

Looking for a job

Where do duos meet?

Duos have premises equipped with computers connected to the Internet and printers at their disposal.

But it is also possible that you end up in a coffee shop, for example, if this can facilitate your meetings.

Can I re-enter for a second coaching?

In order to give a chance to everyone to participate in this free individual coaching, you can only register once.

What happens if I can't find a job at the end of the 6 months?

Not finding a job at the end of the six months is not necessarily negative. We have 70% positive ratings at the end of 6 months. Maybe you’ll find a training or an internship that will suit you. The goal is for you to become autonomous in your job search and for you to have a better idea of your professional desires and your skills.

What does the mentor expect from me?

The mentor is there to help you and give you the necessary tools for your job search. His/her role is not to get you a job. He expects you to be motivated and that you give yourself the possibility of finding a job.

Where do duos meet?

Duos have premises equipped with computers connected to the Internet and printers at their disposal. These are located at 144, boulevard Lemmonier above the Symbio mutual and at 48, rue Stassart in Ixelles, not far from the Porte de Namur metro station.
But it is also possible that you end up in a coffee shop, for example, if this can facilitate your meetings.

What are the prerequisites to become a mentee?

To be eligible for the programme, you must :

Be between 18 and 33 years old
Have a non-EU nationality OR be Belgian with an immigration background (at least a parent or grandparent was born outside of EU)
Be able to express yourself in English, French or Dutch
Have a valid Belgian residency card (no student visa or orange card)
Be active in your job search

How long does take to find a mentor?

We cannot say how long it takes to form a duo. It depends on the registered mentors, your needs… What we can say for sure, however, is that in the end, we’ll find a mentor that will correspond to your personality and your expectations.

What happens if I find a job before the end of the mentoring?

If you think you no longer need to be followed by your mentor after you found a job, you can always put an end to the programme. However, we recommend that you continue to keep in touch in case you have questions about your new job.

What if I don't get along with my mentor?

If a conflict arises during the mentoring or you feel discomfort in your duo, feel free to contact your coordinator to tell him/her. We will then try to find a solution so that everything goes as well as it can.
However, if you still don’t get along, we will put an end to your duo and we’ll find a mentor with whom an agreement is possible.

Is it a paid service?

No fee is required, whether it is for the registration or participation to the program.

What are the criteria to become a mentee?

To be eligible for the programme, you must :

Be between 18 and 33 years old
Have a non-EU nationality OR be Belgian with an immigration background (at least a parent or grandparent was born outside of EU)
Be able to express yourself in English, French or Dutch
Have a valid Belgian residency card (no student visa or orange card)
Be active in your job search

What is the purpose of DUO for a JOB?

DUO for a JOB is a non-profit association that connects young job seekers from diverse backgrounds with people that are more than 50 years old, so that they coach them in their efforts. Through this intergenerational mentoring, DUO for a JOB wants to contribute to ensure the same opportunities of access to employment.

Become a mentor

After 6 months, can I re-enroll for a second mentoring?

Once the 6 months are over, we ask you to fill out an evaluation where you specify if you want to mentor another young person. 91% of our mentors renew the experience.

How many mentees should i accompany?

You accompany a young person for 6 months. This rule is intended so that you can focus on one mentee at a time and for you to be able to give a few hours a week without it overwhelming you work.

What does the mentee expect from me

Each mentee is different, His/her needs and expectations are therefore not always the same. In general, he doesn’t always have the necessary tools for his job search. Therefore, he expects you to help him define his professional desires and identify skills, to write his CV and cover letter or to search for job opportunities. It is a team effort.

Where do duos meet?

Duos have premises equipped with computers connected to the Internet and printers at their disposal.

But it is also possible that you end up in a coffee shop, for example, if this can facilitate your meetings.

Is there a minimum study level required to become a mentor?

We don’t target a specific study level. The key is that the mentor has a professional experience to value and share.

What if I'm not retired?

One of the conditions to become a mentor is to be more than 50 years old. Being pensioned is not an obligation as long as you have a some time to give to your mentee.

What if i don't get along with my mentee?

If however you still don’t get along, we will put an end to your duo and we will put you in contact with a young person whose personality suits you better.

Is the mentor always in the same sector of activity as the job seeker?

The mentor has worked in the same sector of activity as the mentee to the extent possible.

However, the sector is not the only criterion taken into account. Indeed, we also take into account the personality and interests of the young person.

How does it actually happen?

After registering, we get back to you as soon as possible. We then agree on an interview, to better define your profile and your expectations. It will also allow us to answer any questions you may have about mentoring. Following this interview, we put you in touch with a mentee (in the shortest delays, according to demand).

A DUO for a JOB coordinator will be present at your first interview, and will follow your duo during the mentoring.

What do i get out of the DUO adventure?

As a voluntary mentor, you:

Receive a specific training of 4 days, so it is not at all necessary to have experience in accompaniment.
Are supervised by a professional team.
Regularly meet other mentors in order to exchange experience.

Why would I become a mentor?

To share and transmit your professional experience.
Develop new social skills through a program of continuous training.
Live a unique and rewarding human experience.
Sign up for a voluntary action of active citizenship.
Integrate an active network of mentors.

Am I qualified to become a mentor?

A four-day training is organized so that you have all the necessary tools to properly mentor the mentee in his/her job search. In addition, during the 6 month mentoring, you are asked to participate every two months in an intervision. This allows mentors to exchange and share their experience as a mentor.

Will I be paid?

As a volunteer, you don’t get paid. However, DUO for a JOB supports entirely the training each mentor has to assist.

What are the criteria to become a mentor?

To take part, you must:

Be over 50 years old
Have professional experience to share (whether you are retired or still working)
Be available for a few hours each week

What is the purpose of DUO for a JOB?

DUO for a JOB matches young job seekers with an immigrant background with people over 50 years old who have a professional experience in related fields and who can accompany and support them in their job search.

Through this intergenerational mentoring, DUO for a JOB wants to contribute to maintain the level of the current rates of access/return to work, which is twice as high as the “natural” insertion rate.