• Are professional in nature
• Share a similar background, geographic location and/or career field
• Help students transition to the work world in their field of interest
• Are focused upon opportunities for professional development, networking and an exchange of ideas between students and their mentors
• Are mutually satisfying and beneficial
• Meet program and student/mentor objectives set out in this non-contractual agreement and in other program documentation

• The mentoring relationship provides you with insight about career options. A mentor can help you understand how to succeed and advance in a certain field/industry. By passing on hard-earned knowledge, you will have firsthand knowledge from an experienced professional.
• Mentors can tell you about changes and advances in their field. They can also show you how your course work and curriculum can benefit your future career and recommend activities to help position yourself professionally.
• Your mentor can help you develop your résumé or select a project, professional organization, conference, networking event or campus or alumni club that may further your career.
• Mentors can advise you about accomplishing career goals, as well as personal goals. They can advise you on résumé-enhancing activities or recommend ways to balance career and personal life.
• Know yourself. Use feedback to identify your strengths and weaknesses, which will help both you and your mentor create action plans to address areas that need improvement.
• A mentor can help you create your own vision for the future and encourage you to develop to your fullest potential. A mentor is a guide, a listener, a coach and a friend.

What this program is NOT:

Although your mentor is a professional who can help you network in your field of interest, DO NOT expect your mentor to find you a job at his or her organization. It is inappropriate to ask your mentor for a job.

Initial/introductory conversation with your mentor

Typically, the initial conversation with the mentor would last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. The conversation can take place in person, on the phone, or possibly through an e-mail discussion. The purpose of the introductory conversation is to get to know each other on a personal and social basis to begin building the relationship so that the mentor is comfortable with you and wants to help you further. Some ideas for that first conversation are:

• Find “common ground” by taking the conversation to a personal level by sharing Notre Dame experiences, current happenings on campus, etc.
• Ask about family (i. e. how many children do you have; what universities or college have you attended (educational background); where are you from originally; how did you choose Notre Dame for your degree?)
• Find out how they like where they live now in terms of quality of work and personal activities
• Ask about interests: sports, reading, professional and personal affiliations (try to find common interests)
• Share the above about yourself in an effort to find common interests, goals, etc.
• Set up an agreeable schedule to communicate for as far out into the future as you can. Try to touch bases at least once a month.

Use further conversations to clarify your career goals and answer questions on how to break into a particular field or occupation. Again, do not ask for a job but rather try to gain meaningful knowledge about your occupation of interest.

Seek out:

• Advice on career options and fields of interest
• Shared experiences of the realities of a profession
• Typical career paths for MBAs in this field
• Guidance and support through the process of researching internships/summer positions and permanent jobs – DO NOT ASK FOR A JOB OR INTERNSHIP!
• Experiences with networking and how make it work for you most effectively
• Consultation on résumés, cover letters, or certain ways to approach a potential employer
• Preparation for interviews
• Introduction to a variety of information and resources to assist him/ her in preparing for a specific career

Questions to ask the mentor:

• How did you get into this career field?
• What do you like/dislike about your job?
• How did you know you wanted to work in this job, field, or organization?
• What is most challenging about your job?
• Would you be willing to critique my résumé/cover letter?
• What are the best job lead sources for finding a position in your field?
• Do you think this is a good industry for a recent MBA graduate to get involved in? What is a typical career path and timeframe for an MBA in this field?
• What personal attributes/qualities do you think are important for career success?
• What type of training did you receive when you started your first job?
• Do you have any suggestions on how I should prepare for a job interview?
• Do you have any tips on how I should act or speak during an interview?
• Is there anyone else you think I should talk to?

After the initial conversation is concluded be certain to:

• Thank them for their time and consideration
• Write them a brief thank-you note to show your appreciation
• Schedule the next conversation

Sign up to request a mentor!