Executive Mentorship Program

• Mentee is responsible for initial contact with their mentor and setting up the first meeting.
• Be mindful and respect your mentor’s time and honor any commitments you set up.
• Keep confidences and realize the mentorship is a professional relationship.

Topics for First Meeting

• After you have contacted your mentor and a time has been set for your first meeting, begin to think about what goals you have and how your mentor can help you accomplish them.
• Get to know one another.  Ask your mentor to share their story with you.  What was college like for them?  Did they know what professional career field they wanted to major in upon arriving to college?  The meeting will allow you both to form a professional relationship and will help you build communication for future meetings.  Try to keep your questions about the professional life. 
• Talk about your expectations for the mentoring experience.
• Discuss goals you wish to accomplish, put these in writing (use the Action Plan).
• Talk about your Strengths and how you use them (your mentor may not know about the Clifton StrengthsFinder; explain).
• Review the mentor/mentee agreement.  Discuss expectations of how you will meet and how often.  Agree to be respectful of each other’s time and respond promptly to emails or other correspondence.  Remember to establish accountability, for each to do what you say you are going to do.
• Discuss and set goals for the experience/professional relationship.  Remember that your mentor will have their own goals for the experience/ professional relationship.  Put these in writing so you both can review them frequently and assess progress.
• Plan the next meeting time and day.  Communicate to your mentor what you would like to discuss during your next meeting.  Create an agenda and send it to your mentor prior to your next meeting.  

Possible Topics and Activities

• Have your mentor review your resumes, cover letter and interview skills and overall job strategies.
• Discuss with your mentor suggestions regarding professional development organizations, internships or other involvement that would help you enter into your professional career field.
• Discuss academics; questions about class topic that relate to the mentorship.
• Ask what they might have done differently as far as academics and career, knowing what they know now.
• Go over your “elevator pitch”.

• Mentor and mentee should contact each other at least one hour once a month via phone, video conferencing, text, email or in person.
• Plan and meet with your assigned student/mentee once per month at a minimum for the duration of the seven-month program.
• Provide informal updates on mentee progress.
• Attend the Mentor Program Orientation & Mixer in October.
• Should be engaged and accessible
• Mentors are encouraged to have their mentee “shadow” you at your place of employment.  This gives your mentee a since of what it is like in a professional setting.  Please note:  There are no expectations to offer an internship or job to your mentee.
• Help clarify your mentee’s goals and aspirations
• Serve as a professional resource to students
• Share your own experiences, resources and networks with your mentee
• Should be a positive role model

Topics for First Meeting

Mentor programs are generally structured to be driven by the mentee. However, your mentee may need some guidance during the first meeting.  Therefore, below please find some suggestions for your first meeting.

• Share you “story” with your mentee, and learn their story.  Explain to them why you decided to go into your current professional field.  Tell them what your college experience was like.  What clubs or student organizations were you a part of?  What type of internships were you offered during college?  How do you feel those experiences benefitted your career?  Discuss you work history.
• Talk about your experiences you may have had with mentoring.  What do you feel worked well and what did not?  What do you each hope to get out of the experience?  Do you have a mentor who played a large part of your professional growth?  Are you still in contact with this mentor?
• Take time to review the mentor/mentee agreement.  Discuss expectations of how you will meet and how often.  Agree to be respectful of each other’s time and respond promptly to emails or other correspondence.  Remember to establish accountability, for each to do what you say you are going to do.
• Discuss and set your goals.  Ask your mentee what you can help them with throughout the mentorship.  How do you plan to accomplish these goals?  Set a goal for your relationship. Ensure to write these down on your agreement so you may both review them frequently and assess progress.
• Plan the next meeting.  It is a good idea to set the time and day for the next meeting.  Have your mentee decide on a topic for you both to discuss during the next meeting and suggest they create an agenda which can be sent to you prior to your next meeting.  This will help keep your mentee engaged and active in the relationship.

Possible Topics and Activities

• Discuss what activities your mentee is currently involved with to help be more marketable for employment upon graduation.  Offer suggestions.
• Review your mentee’s resume, cover letter and interview skills providing honest feedback and suggestions.
  Discuss academics and balancing the high demands placed on today’s college student.
• Share your experiences and views.
• Discuss a five year plan and career options.  At times it can be difficult for students to see beyond their first job.
• Discuss a typical work-day, projects and developments in your company
• Recommend some professional development organizations or activities in their career field that they can become involved in.