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ALUMNI: Want to
be a mentor?
Register with the Mentor Program and contribute to the
personal and career development of current students interested in joining your career field.
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Access the database login by
clicking here to visit the Career Center Online Posting System.
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Click on "Become an Alumni
Mentor"
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Once you have logged in the
database you will need to update
your profile information allowing current students access to begin
searching for those individuals that match their areas of interest.
If you have any questions or
problems logging into the database
contact us at career@unca.edu or 251-6515.
Tips for
Getting Started as a Mentor:
What is the purpose of my mentoring?
Effective mentoring requires that you agree to work
together on a set of common goals. Vocational mentoring usually focuses on one
or more of the following:
- Insights into industry and/or industry experience.
- Networking.
- Support of personal career development.
- Exploration of career options.
If you have more than one goal, make a priority list and
start with the most important. Goals need to be specific and achievable –
negotiate openly together to make sure the plan suits you both.
What should I expect?
Your expectations need to be stated at the beginning to
ensure you are in agreement. The following questions must be considered:
How often shall we communicate and who should initiate
contact? (Usually mentors expect the students to drive the program, but students
are often reluctant to ‘bother’ their busy mentor. Subsequently the
communication breaks down. Avoid this by planning a regular monthly email.)
What is your preferred style? (Do you prefer to be formal
or informal? Organize your meetings based on pre-prepared topics or ad hoc
discussions? Are you action oriented, or reflective? Do you want your meetings
to be about Doing or Discussing? Do you find it easy to talk or do you prefer to
listen? Do you prefer to communicate verbally or by writing?)
How to keep it going?
Things you can do together: (Note: We
recognize that some of these may not be feasible due to workplace restrictions
and/or geographic location issues)
- Orientation to the mentor’s workplace
- Job-shadowing (following the mentor through a typical
morning or day)
- Work together on a project or presentation, eg. update
a website, write a paper for a conference (great for the resume)
- Find resources for project work
- Explore options for work experience
- Go on site visits
- Informational interviews with other colleagues or
contacts of the mentor
- Further workplace experience ie. attending team
meetings, training sessions
- Go to relevant seminars or events together
- Attend professional association functions
More things to talk about together:
- Subject/ course choices – how they relate to your
industry
- Ideas for projects or research
- Career choices available in all related areas
- New trends in your field
- Where the jobs are, nationally and internationally
- What are employers looking for now and in the future
- Analysis of different careers to suit student’s
strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes
- How to progress towards career goals. How did you get
started? How did you get to where you are today?
- How to maintain motivation
- Transition issues from college to work
- Dealing with difficult people or situations that block
your career goals
- Balancing work and lifestyles
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