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Wofford College Mentoring Network Guidelines for Students
- 2. Training Session Agenda What a career mentor is What a career mentor isn’t Do I need a mentor? Working with a mentor The importance of gratitude How to use the Mentoring Network database
- 3. What a career mentor IS Coach
- 4. What a career mentor IS Coach Role Model
- 5. What a career mentor IS Coach Role Model Interested in helping you succeed
- 6. What a career mentor IS Coach Role Model Interested in helping you succeed Provides guidance/feedback
- 7. What a career mentor IS Coach Role Model Interested in helping you succeed Provides guidance/feedback Trustworthy
- 8. What a career mentor ISN’T Parent
- 9. What a career mentor ISN’T Parent Spouse
- 10. What a career mentor ISN’T Parent Spouse Best Friend
- 11. What a career mentor ISN’T Parent Spouse BestFriend Personal Assistant
- 12. What a career mentor ISN’T Parent Spouse BestFriend Personal Assistant Cheerleader
- 13. What a career mentor ISN’T Parent Spouse BestFriend Personal Assistant Cheerleader Job Bank
- 14. Do I need a mentor? YES: if you want to know more about a specific job, sector, or profession.
- 15. Do I need a mentor? YES: if you want to know more about a specific job, sector, or profession. YES: if you are considering graduate school and have questions about preparing.
- 16. Do I need a mentor? YES: if you want to know more about a specific job, sector, or profession. YES: if you are considering graduate school and have questions about preparing. NO: if you don’t know what you want from a mentor.
- 17. How to work with a mentor Do your homework
- 18. How to work with a mentor Do your homework Define expectations
- 19. A sample message Mr. Alumnus, My name is Jane Smith and I am a junior biology major at Wofford. I read your mentor profile and think your background and experience could be very helpful to me. I am interested in becoming a veterinarian, and I have some questions about graduate school that I hope you could help me with. Specifically, I’d like to know ______, ________, and _________. I’m going to be visiting _____ University in two weeks and wonder if we could set up a time to talk about my questions before I go? Or, if it’s easier for you to answer via email, that’s great, too. If you’re able to offer me some advice, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you so much for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Jane Smith
- 20. How to work with a mentor Do your homework Define expectations Communicate
- 21. How to work with a mentor Do your homework Define expectations Communicate Be honest
- 22. How to work with a mentor Do your homework Define expectations Communicate Be honest Be reliable
- 23. The importance of gratitude Thank, thank, and thank some more
- 24. The importance of gratitude Thank, thank, and thank some more Email, note, phone, in person.
- 25. The importance of gratitude Thank, thank, and thank some more Email, note, phone, in person. Share your successes
- 26. The importance of gratitude Thank, thank, and thank some more Email, note, phone, in person. Share your successes Give credit where it’s due
- 27. Using the Mentoring Network database TerrierLink (myWofford) Create account or login Mentoring Network Enter password Search LinkedIn Contact
Editor's Notes
- ThankExplain programCareer Services resource for career development/prof skills. Faculty resource for theory, principles of liberal arts disciplines.Staff/faculty don’t always have practical knowledge for informed decisions.Best source is a professional in field.Alumni resource because of Wofford connection.100 immediately stepped forward. Number will grow.Organized into a searchable online database.
- Will cover in next 25 minutes.Career Services doesn’t have experience with every profession; we also don’t have experience with all of these mentors. Assume intelligent, accomplished, well-meaning until we hear otherwise. I’ll be checking in to see how it’s going. Need feedback from you.You’ll be doing the interacting and choosing your own mentorTo help, here’s what you should look for.
- Coach – Experience in the field or school. Retired is fine. Find out their experience in TerrierLink/LinkedIn.Role Model – Positive/enthsiastic about field. Honest. Willing to give you truth about job outlook, your skills, etc.Interested – returns contact w/in 3-5 days. Takes time. Listens. Wants to know you.
- Parent: has a duty to child. Mentor doesn’t. Help you succeed, but don’t wake up every day thinking about you.Spouse: Not married to mentor. Okay to have multiple mentors. Mentor for different career options, different stages in career process.Friend: Best friends cut you slack. Mentors don’t. Make it clear you value their advice and time by putting it to use or they’ll cut you loose.Assistant: Mentor doesn’t work for you. Do your homework about a profession, graduate degree or school. Know what you want their help with and know why you want it. Make it easy for them to help you.Cheerleader: Cheerleaders focus on positive. Coaches help you get better. Learn how to accept constructive criticism. Do not going into this program expecting to get a job/internship. Not a mentors job. Take this seriously. Expressly forbidden. Sign statement.
- YES: advice re: job like? Skills? What’s enjoyable? What’s challenging? How to get into the job? Regardless of you major or your class year.YES: advice re: schools, programs of study, courses, application letters, interviews.NO: Mentor not there to counsel you about what you “should” do or to help you find a direction. That’s what we do in Career Services. Come see us.
- Prepare: You need to have knowledge of industry/graduate programs/schools first. Don’t say “What do I need to know about banking?” A GREAT PLACE TO GET THAT INFO IS VAULT.Define: What do you want to know? What are your goals? Work with mentor to set reasonable goals. Both know what to expect. HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF A MESSAGE THAT IS CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YO U NEED AND THE TIME FRAME IN WHICH YOU NEED IT.Communicate: Be courteous. Follow up. Clear about next steps. Questions? We’re here to help.Honest: if you don’t understand, ask. If the mentor can’t help, end relationship. Find tactful way. We can help.Reliable: Do what you say you’re going to do (email, homework, follow-up.) Builds credibility. Right thing to do. Positive: Will get feedback. Learn to take constructive criticism. Put it to use.
- Mentors busy. Taking their time to help. Not getting paid. Thank them for everything they do. Every time they do it.No excuses for not doing it via one of these methods, but a handwritten note will make you stand out.When good things happen for you as a result of the relationship, share those successes with your mentor. Their reward is knowing they’ve made a difference.Lot of people will help you in your life. Don’t be the kind of person who takes that for granted. Thank the people who help along the way. Scott’s blog: blogs.wofford.edu/cpe
- Show them the databaseQuestions?Sign paperContact me if any problems, questions. Please respond to feedback. Only way we have of knowing if this is working.