Career Mentor

Looking to get involved or give back and don’t know how to get started?  Feel like it’s been a few years since you have been on campus and don’t know what you can offer?  Serving as a career mentor is probably for you.

Undergraduate brothers need career mentorship through their time in college and beyond.  When they first arrive at Michigan, they may need to hear about other people’s paths so they have an easier time charting theirs.  After a while, they may need help or advice on which internships to take, best approaches to entrance exams, or how to interview.  As they get closer to graduation, they may need advice, prep assistance, or introductions for jobs.

Description

Mentors guide, advise and support their mentees through their careers. These individuals use their experience, skills and connections to guide their mentees and help them achieve goals. Understanding what a mentor does can help determine if this career is worth pursuing. In this article, we explain what a mentor does and provide tips on being a mentor to help you become successful in your career.

A mentor guides and encourages mentees and helps them achieve their goals. They usually have greater knowledge, expertise and networks and use these to advance their mentees’ careers. Mentorship can have long-term career-altering benefits for both mentors and mentees. Mentees can gain valuable advice that leads to their career advancement, and mentors can demonstrate leadership qualities by advising their mentees.

Sharing knowledge and experiences

Mentors share their knowledge to support and guide their mentees. This knowledge may be directly related to the industry or be personal. For example, a university professor can advise students on what modules to take to gain adequate skills and expertise for a job. They can also help students handle personal situations if they wish to, depending on similar past experiences. This part of mentorship allows mentees to approach situations with confidence and knowledge and empowers them to achieve their goals.

Providing opportunities and connections

Mentorship involves giving mentees opportunities to learn new skills, meet new people and advance their careers. This involves understanding your mentee’s current abilities and goals and finding opportunities that may benefit them. For example, in a workplace setting, a mentor can help a mentee get a job promotion or find a new job that interests and suits them. Mentors also introduce their mentees to other influential individuals who can help them attain their goals. For instance, a senior manager can introduce their mentee looking for a job to a potential employer.

Identifying and sharing resources

Mentors share resources with their mentees that help them learn new information, perform their jobs more effectively and prepare for assessments. If you want to become a mentor, consider staying current on valuable resources within your field. These resources may include the following:

• company and governmental guidelines on specific procedures, especially in industrial and manufacturing companies

• software tools that increase efficiency and reduce errors, such as coding tools for programmers

• latest edition textbooks and valuable journals for university students

• online videos that train people on how to perform specific tasks

• access to seminars, lectures and workshops