Career Mentoring Program

A Career Mentor is an established adult professional who provides college students with counsel, friendship, career insight and a constructive example of the transition, from college to work. Mentors are good listeners, people who care, who want to help young people bring out strengths that are already there.

As a Career Mentor, you can help a college student be prepared for a good start in their professional life which ultimately strengthens the workforce and our nation. Your mentoring experience can be personally rewarding as well as making a valuable contribution toward your alma marter's mission of developing and educating the next generation of leaders.

What is involved with a Mentor Commitment?

• Mentors serve as a resource to a college undergraduate student for one or two consecutive semesters.
• The specific structure of the mentoring relationship and amount of time devoted to it is a mutual decision between the mentor and the student.
• Typical mentoring relationships could involve a combination of face-to-face meetings, phone or e-mail contact, joint attendance at seminars or conferences, professional lunches, job shadowing, interview assistance, and constructive input related to professional development of the student.

How do sign-up to become a Career Mentor?

Once you have decided that you have something to offer and are willing to share your ideas, consider also the amount of time you have to give and what information you have to impart. Give some thought as to what your goals are for the mentoring relationship.

• Read the Guide to Mentoring. Determine what would be the best time frame for your first mentoring role. Consider what types of professional and personal insights that you might be able to provide to an undergraduate student.
• Complete the Mentor Form.
• Your application will be confirmed by the EIU Career Services office within one week. A student will be identified for you based upon a matching process between your application information and the student's goals.
• Make contact with your student and set goals and parameters.
• At the conclusion of your mentoring experience, you will be asked to complete a brief online evaluation of the experience.

As with most things in life, your investment in the welfare of others usually reaps untold dividends for yourself.