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Mission:

³È×ÓÊÓƵ Mentorship Program connects students to alumni and career professionals who seek to nurture their mentees personal and professional growth by: support and accountability, creating pathways to achieve set goals, and supporting the university’s efforts in preparing career-ready graduates.

Take the opportunity to share your experience and knowledge with a ³È×ÓÊÓƵ student!

You can be a mentor and volunteer your time to help a ³È×ÓÊÓƵ student with his or her career exploration, life skills development, and networking opportunities.ÌýThis is a formal relationship in which the mentor will guide the mentee in his or her professional development through the structure of the ³È×ÓÊÓƵ Mentorship Program. A mentor will have the ability to challenge his or her mentee in identifying a course of action to reach his or her goal(s). The focus is on learning the skills necessary for the path ahead.ÌýA mentor and mentee will work together in partnership to foster meaningful conversation rich with integrity. The quality of the mentoring relationship is driven by the mentee.The mentee has an essential and active role to facilitate the professional relationship.

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Mentor opportunities may include:

• Job ShadowingÌý

• Giving back to your community and coaching a college student to success

• Awareness of your own professional knowledge, skills, and values

• Recruiting students for internships or jobs

• Offering advice on the transition from college to the workforce

Mentee opportunities may include:

Ìý• Networking with professionals within your chosen career field

• Increase awareness on soft and hard skills that pertain to industry success

• Understanding of what day-to-day duty requirements are for various jobs

• Potential for further opportunities such as internships and jobs

• Higher levels of confidence and self advocacy

• Enriches college experience and increases professional credibility for future employment

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What is Mentoring:

• MentoringÌýdefinedÌýbyÌýtheÌýAmericanÌýPsychologicalÌýAssociation:ÌýA mentor is an individual with expertise who can help develop the career of a mentee. A mentor often hasÌýtwo primary functionsÌýfor the mentee:Ìý
  1. The career-related function establishes the mentor as a coach who provides advice to enhance the mentee’s professional performance and development.Ìý
  2. The psychosocial function establishes the mentor as a role model and support system for the mentee.Ìý
  Both provide explicit and implicit lessons related to professional development as well as general work–life balance.

• MentorÌýdefinedÌýbyÌýtheÌýOxfordÌýDictionary:Ìý1.ÌýAnÌýexperiencedÌýandÌýtrustedÌýadviser.1.1ÌýAnÌýexperiencedÌýpersonÌýinÌýaÌýcompanyÌýorÌýeducationalÌýinstitutionÌýwhoÌýtrainsÌýandÌýcounselsÌýnewÌýemployees or students. AdviseÌýorÌýtrainÌý(someone,ÌýespeciallyÌýaÌýyoungerÌýcolleague).

• MenteeÌýdefinedÌýbyÌýtheÌýOxfordÌýDictionary:ÌýAÌýpersonÌýwhoÌýisÌýadvised,Ìýtrained,ÌýorÌýcounselledÌýbyÌýaÌýmentor.
  
  

Areas of Mentoring:

Life Skills

TheseÌýareÌýskillsÌýthatÌýareÌýhighlyÌýimportantÌýbothÌýprofessionallyÌýandÌýpersonally.ÌýMentorshipsÌýthatÌýfocusÌýonÌýskillsÌý developmentÌýhelpÌýtheÌýmenteeÌýlearnÌýspecificÌýskillÌýsetsÌýinÌýorderÌýtoÌýdevelopÌýhimÌýorÌýherself,Ìý addÌývalueÌýtoÌýtheÌýprogressÌýonÌýhisÌýorÌýherÌýcareerÌýpath.Ìý

SkillsÌýneededÌýtoÌýbeÌýsuccessfulÌýareÌýendless,ÌýbutÌýhereÌýareÌýaÌýfewÌýrecommendedÌýfocusÌýareas:

• EmotionalÌýIntelligence-ÌýtheÌýabilityÌýtoÌýidentifyÌýandÌýmanageÌýyourÌýownÌýemotionsÌýandÌýtheÌýemotionsÌýofÌýothers
• Initiative-ÌýtakingÌýtheÌýopportunityÌýtoÌýactÌýorÌýtakeÌýchargeÌýbeforeÌýothers
• TimeÌýManagement-ÌýplanningÌýandÌýexercisingÌýconsciousÌýcontrolÌýoverÌýtheÌýamountÌýofÌýtimeÌýspentÌýonÌýspecificÌý activities
• Communication-ÌýabilityÌýtoÌýcommunicateÌýeffectivelyÌýinÌýtheÌýfollowingÌýareas:Ìýverbally,Ìýnon-verbally,ÌýandÌýwritten
• TeamÌýPlayer-ÌýabilityÌýtoÌýworkÌýwellÌýwithÌýothersÌý
• ProblemÌýSolving-ÌýevaluateÌýtheÌýproblem,ÌýgatherÌýinformation,ÌýbreakÌýproblemÌýdownÌýintoÌýparts,ÌýidentifyÌý solutions,ÌýchooseÌýbestÌýsolution,ÌýtakeÌýaction,ÌýexamineÌýresults,ÌýtestÌýandÌýreview
• CriticalÌýThinking-ÌýtheÌýobjectiveÌýanalysisÌýandÌýevaluationÌýofÌýanÌýissueÌýinÌýorderÌýtoÌýformÌýaÌýjudgment
  
  

Career Exploration and Self-Awareness

• LookÌýtoÌýyourÌýmentorÌýtoÌýassist you inÌýmakingÌýinformedÌýeducationalÌýandÌýoccupationalÌýchoices.Ìý
• YourÌýcareerÌýsearchÌýisÌýaÌýlifelongÌýjourneyÌýandÌýyourÌýmentorÌýwillÌýassistÌýyouÌýwithÌýtheÌýmentorship,Ìýtools,Ìý connectionsÌýandÌýspaceÌýforÌýself-assessmentÌýandÌýreflectionÌýthatÌýwillÌýhelpÌýyouÌýtoÌýlaunchÌýaÌýcareerÌýthatÌýisÌý groundedÌýinÌýa senseÌýofÌýyourÌýownÌývalues,ÌýstrengthsÌýandÌýinterests.
• Allow your mentorship experiences to help you in becoming more self-aware, thus assisting you withÌý Ìý Ìý being more resilient and realistic in moving forward with your desired career path.

Networking

• AboutÌý80%ÌýofÌýjobsÌýareÌýnotÌýadvertised,ÌýsoÌýrelationshipÌýbuildingÌýandÌýconnectingÌýwithÌýpeopleÌýisÌývitalÌýforÌý professionalÌýgain.ÌýTheÌýrelationshipsÌýbuiltÌýnowÌýcanÌýbeÌýbeneficialÌýforÌýtheÌýrestÌýofÌýyourÌýcollegeÌýcareerÌýasÌýwellÌý asÌýthroughÌýyourÌýprofessionalÌýcareer.
• WhetherÌýyouÌýidentifyÌýasÌýbeingÌýanÌýintrovertÌýorÌýyouÌýviewÌýnetworkingÌýasÌýaÌýnecessaryÌýevil,ÌýlearningÌýandÌýÌý implementingÌýtheÌýartÌýofÌýnetworkingÌýcanÌýboostÌýyourÌýconnections,ÌýthusÌýboostÌýyourÌýopportunities.
• AversionÌýtoÌýnetworkingÌýcanÌýbeÌýovercomeÌýbyÌýpracticingÌýtheseÌýfourÌýstrategies:ÌýfocusÌýonÌýlearning,ÌýidentifyÌý commonÌýinterests,ÌýthinkÌýbroadlyÌýaboutÌýwhatÌýyouÌýcanÌýoffer,ÌýfindÌýaÌýhigherÌýpurposeÌýorÌýgoal.Ìý

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Important dates:

Jan. 26 | Final date for Mentee applicationsÌý

Nov. 20 | Final date for Mentor applications

Nov. 20-Feb. 2 | Mentee and Mentor interviewsÌý

TBDÌý | Mentorship OrientationÌý

TBD | Mentorship CeremonyÌý

Please call the Career Development Office at 318-342-5338 to speak with Kristin Chandler, Mentorship Program Director, to discuss the possibilities of connecting with a ³È×ÓÊÓƵ student/Alumni/Employer today!