Mentor(SHE:) – Kate Illsley Experience as a Mentee

Method Recruitment Group is so much more than just a working space. The business is built around an incredible culture that is defined by a set of beliefs and values that makes the organisation unique within the industry. Thus, Method provides an environment of growth, transparency and opportunities where employees feel supported and enjoy. In this article, we share how Kate Illsley, one of our Senior Consultants, embodies and embeds our values.

Kate started working for Method Recruitment Group in August 2016, by that time she was the only woman working for the company. At the start of 2017 her director, Ben Brown, suggested her to join VIC ICT for Women, since then she has been part of the organisation and started an incredible journey in the Mentor(SHE:) program; a program that supports women working in the Tech Sector. So far Kate has had the opportunity to be matched with three incredible mentors and she shares with us the responses she gave in an interview.

Mentee Interview

Kate has been part of Mentor(SHE:) for a few years now. What makes her keep coming back?

Each mentor Kate have been paired with have come from a completely different industry and have been able to provide contrasting perspectives. Having access to a dedicated person to bounce ideas off throughout the year has been a tremendous help for her, especially when working to overcome imposter syndrome.

Kate’s mentors’ stories of how they dealt with certain situations have helped her avoid making potential mistakes because she has been able to share in their learnings. They have helped to remove some obstacles, and at other times, simply giving her the confidence to try.

How did Kate set her goals based on the ones that were set at the beginning of the program?

Kate set her goals based on “Lessons from my 20s” by Ryan Allis. Her current mentor, Lisa, helped her break down her Google Doc table into more sizeable chunks so that it became less overwhelming. She helped Kate to prioritise by giving examples from her experience on what is achievable over certain time frames.

Who are some leaders in the tech industry who Kate watch or appreciate?

The people Kate look up to in the Melbourne tech industry are the people on the ground putting together community events. Through volunteering for the Grad Girls program over the last few years, Kate has had the opportunity to meet some very inspirational people who give up their spare time to push for equality and inclusivity. Those are the people who inspire her to do more and give back. Countless people don’t always have their names in lights who you can learn from! Check out Women Who Code’s hashtag #ApplaudHer for inspiration.

Kate has been in the recruitment industry for years. What are the changes she has seen? and what does she think job seekers should change or adapt?

Tech is constantly changing, and it changes fast. Kate believes that it is our soft skills that stand the test of time. She would always suggest developing communications skills and stakeholder management abilities no matter the level of the

As part of the learnings of this journey, Kate highlights the benefits of joining a mentoring program and/or reaching industry leaders that are willing to help and share their experience. If you want to learn more – feel free to reach out to Kate at Method Recruitment Group for more info.