The PSSD Mentoring

Our mentoring program connects students with the Alumni of the M.Sc. in PSSD, to inspire meaningful conversations and guide the students in the transition from the educational path to the first professional experience.

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WHAT’S THE PROGRAM OFFER?

Get to know the mentoring program

One-to-one meetings

A series of auto-managed and informal conversations between Mentor and Mentee.

Advising Events

A cycle of collective moments for the participants to hear a word from HR experts and professionals of the field.

Inspirational Events

The opportunity to meet service designers with different job profiles and ask them your pressing questions about career perspectives.

WHY SHOULD I JOIN?

Ask yourself

Are you a PSSD student wondering what you'll be doing after graduation?

Are you a PSSD Alumnus willing to keep in touch with the university and to share your experience?

The PSSD Mentoring is our answer just for you!

HOW IT WORKS

Sounds great, but what will happen?

1

Application

Wanna be a Mentor or a Mentee? Fill in the form below and tell us something about you, your goals and your interests.
2

It's a match!

The Mentor-Mentee couples will be created according to common traits, expectations and profiles.
3

Toolkit

Receive the toolkit we designed to guide Mentors and Mentees along the experience: a roadmap for both, plus a reflective diary for the Mentee.
4

Connect with your Mentor/Mentee

Break the ice and organize the first meeting with your mate! It's the beginning of a long story made of informal conversations, mutual exchange and guidance. We suggest to plan at least 4 meetings, but you can have even more!
5

Take part in the events

Inspirational Events will set the goal line of your dream job, while Advising Events will provide you tips and tools in order to get there. Want to know the secrets of job interviews? Want to listen about job experiences? Feel free to ask!

WHAT THE EVENTS ARE ABOUT?

Take a seat in the events!

Required for Mentor and Mentee

Event #1 - Program kick-off

11.05.2021 | 17.30 - 19.00 [digital event]

The first event will be the kick-off of the program.
An introduction to the world of mentoring and to the PSSD Mentoring program; a collective moment to start together this experience!

Guest

Marco Laganà

team coach &
mentoring expert
25 years of professional experience with 27.500 meetings, of which 7.500 at distance, and 20 in international contexts, of which 10 abroad. Board member of the Italian section of the “European Mentoring and Coaching Council”, one of the two main organisations in the sector in the world. Author of 9 books about team coaching and mentoring.

Suggested for Mentee, organized by Career Service

Event #2 - Get ready for job interview by CS

25.05.21 | 17.30-19.30 [digital event]

A training activity to prepare M.Sc students in PSSD to the selection procedure often proposed by companies. During this activity, Career Service will present different steps of the selection procedure and propose exercises to improve participants’ preparation to face job interviews and group assessments. To participate, click on the pic of the event for more info and to apply through the Career Service webpage!

Required for Mentee, open for Mentor

Event #3 - Unboxing a service designer

24.06.21 | 18.00 -19.45 [digital event]

A discovery of the figure of the Service Designer, to understand what's behind this job title, providing you a picture of this current job title and envisioning its future evolution.

Guest

Career Service

Politecnico di Milano
Career Service of Politecnico di Milano helps current and graduated students of the university to develop their career and find job opportunities through the organization of campus events (job fairs, panel discussions, interview days, etc.) and online services (job boards, banners).

Transforming Designers

by Service Design Drinks Milan
Transforming Designers is a collaborative research by SDD Milan to assess, discuss and envision the evolution of the role of design around the world. Their aim is to uncover the hybrid transformation of the design discipline by sharing information about the different emerging design profiles, the potential of the design application in multiple fields, the expansion of the designer’s skills-set, new perspectives, and potential for the future. They are currently carrying on three different activities: a global survey, international debates, and interviews.

Required for Mentee, open for Mentor

Event #4 - Working as employee or freelancer?

15.09.21 | 18.00 - 19.45 [digital event]

An event focused on job profiles as PSS Designer, to highlight professional mechanisms of the two roles: what does working as Employee mean? Which are the activities of this profession? And what about working as Freelancer? How to start a business? The guests of the event will help you understanding these and other doubts.

Guest

Caffè Design

Podcast
Caffè Design is a podcast by Giuliano, Nanni and Riccardo, three designers. They talk about design, tech and cool stuffs in their online cafè. Giuliano and Nanni will co-host the event, bringing the funny and pop style of their podcast into the Mentoring!

PSSD Alumni

Employees & Freelancers
Six PSSD Alumni will be the protagonists of this event, bringing their work experience into the discussion! Three of them are freelancers, while the others are employees.

Required for Mentee, open for Mentor

Event #5 - Working in university or public sector?

14.10.21 | 18.00 - 19.45 [digital event]

An event dedicated to job profiles as PSS Designer, to show specific features of the two contexts: what does working in the Academic sector mean? Which are the activities of this profession? And what about working in the Public Sector? The guests of the event will help you understanding these and other doubts.

Guest

Caffè Design

Podcast
Caffè Design is a podcast by Giuliano, Nanni and Riccardo, three designers. They talk about design, tech and cool stuffs in their online cafè. Giuliano and Nanni will co-host the event, bringing the funny and pop style of their podcast into the Mentoring!

PSSD Alumni

University & Public Sector
Six PSSD Alumni will be the protagonists of this event, bringing their work experience into the discussion! Three of them work in the academic context, while the others are Service Designers employed in the public sector.

Mentor and Mentee you are more than welcome!

Event #6 - Networking: closing aperitivo

09.11.21 | 18.00 - 20.00 [physical event]

A final moment to consolidate in presence the relationships developed during the program and cheer together! It will take place in PoliMi Bovisa Campus; the specific place will be directly communicated to the participants.

SORRY, APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED!

Read the feedback about last edition!

With the PSSD Mentoring program I didn't only get very useful and actionable insights on my future career paths, but I also found a new friend in my mentor. It might seem banal, but I really enjoyed the one-to-one meetings, their relaxed environment and genuineness!

Serena, mentee

It was a good experience being in-touch with someone who was once in a place where you were standing and had the same struggles. We, designers, always claim empathy. I felt it in every session I had with my mentor and I found out how it can be impactful when dealing with too much uncertainty, not only in doing projects, but also in life!

Amir, mentee

An essential path in such a complicated and confused moment of our life: the transition from the university to the working world. It opened my horizons and I learned a little more about the designer I would like to become.

Martina, mentee

This program is definitely very useful for those who do not have clear ideas about their future. In addition to explaining better what service design is, it helps students to see all the job opportunities that this profession can have. Thanks to the mentors, the students at the end of the program are certainly more confident about their future and also more willing to start their career.

Simone, mentee

It's a fundamental initiative to help young designers to see the world outside the university, giving them different perspectives and useful information to draw their future. I would have loved to apply when I was a student!

Silvia, mentor

I think it was a great initiative that kept me closer to the PSSD community and also gave me the opportunity to share what I learned.

Carolina, mentor

I loved being a mentor for the first PSSD Mentoring program. For me it started a bit wobbly as it was the first time being a mentor, but with each one-to-one meeting, I got to know my mentee better and got more comfortable. It was such a joy to offer support to a young service designer stepping into the workforce.

Alexandra, mentor

Through the PSSD Mentoring program, besides creating a relationship with my mentee, I also discovered more about myself and my career path. It gave me the opportunity and time to look back and analyze my steps!

Martina, mentor

About the PSSD Mentoring

Who can apply?

First and second year students of the M.Sc. of PSSD (Politecnico of Milan) can apply as Mentees. New graduates and Alumni, graduated in the M.Sc. of PSSD (Politecnico of Milan), can apply as Mentors.

When is the deadline for application?

Application deadline for the PSSD Mentoring program 2021 is the 19th of April 2021.

How long will the mentoring program last?

The PSSD Mentoring will last from May 2021 to December 2021. When the application will close, Mentor-Mentee couples will be created and communicated before the 11th of May. The 4 one-to-one meetings and the 6 events will take place from May to November. In July and in November/December we will collect your feedback about the experience.

How many events and meetings will I attend?

Each Mentee will participate into 6 events (5 mandatory + 1 suggested) and will plan 4 meetings with the Mentor.
Each Mentor will take part into 2 events (other 3 are optional) and will plan 4 meetings with the Mentee.

Where events will take place?

All the events are planned to be digital, besides the final event, which we hope to be able to make in presence. This means that if you are not in Milan (or Italy) you can still apply and take part in the program!

Hey, have you said «certificate»?

We would like to give you a proof of your participation in the program, as Mentor or as Mentee. We are currently working to provide you a digital badge.

Do you have other questions? Don't hesitate to ask!