Guest Post by T. Murray, www.PersonalityOnaPage.com
As you progress through college ultimately you will begin to think about your future, more specifically, the type of career you want to pursue. When you have narrowed down the professional track, trade or industry where you want to get your feet wet consider finding a mentor in that field. Seeking out an adult already in the field you are interested in may seem like an impossible task. However, you have more access to career advisors than you think. Leverage the following outlets to put together your short list of possible college mentors.
Alumni Organizations
All colleges and universities have some form of outreach to former students. Many schools depend on graduates to donate funds back to support programming and traditional activities, such as homecoming. There are often opportunities for students to work with the school to reach back to alumni and connect with them through current events on campus. Your alumni organization is an excellent way to meet an established individual in your field. You have the perfect ice breaker once you are in a situation to interact with alumni. Let them know you are a current student and you are interested in knowing what they’ve been up to since they left college.
Professors/Instructors
Talk to professors and course instructors in your major area of study about resources for finding mentors. Some of them may have availability to guide you during your time in school or they may know of a colleague in the field looking to forge a mentor/mentee relationship with a student.
Campus Organizations
Campus organizations and clubs that are aligned with certain professions or majors are likely to host events that attract speakers and presenters who have attained some level of success. As you attend club sponsored events don’t be afraid to reach out to a campus visitor or speaker who may strike a chord with you professionally or personally. Find out if they are open to a correspondence in which you can ask them career oriented questions as you progress through your major. These types of contacts can be essential when it comes time to look for summer internships or jobs after graduation.
Conferences
While attending large conferences may mean incurring cost, the networking opportunities they present may help you reap the benefits in the end. Conferences that are directly tied to your profession or interests are excellent places to meet mentors. When it comes to registration, many of these events offer student discounts and sometimes you may even find scholarships are available to attend certain events that require travel and lodging. Get a conference program book while you are there, especially if you are only able to attend a portion of the event. Typically the names and biographies of all the presenters are in these books. You can later try to reach out to presenters to ask questions or inquire about mentor/mentee opportunities with them as individuals or with organizations they may be active in.
Summer Jobs
Internships are one of the easiest places to make contact with potential mentors. If you enjoy your summer experience working with a particular individual who has made a career out of the things you are interested in, chances are you might also mesh well in a mentor/mentee arrangement. Make sure to keep communication open after the summer or co-op period has ended. Working relationships between mentors and their mentees grow over time. If you work at the same company for a series of summers or semesters, chances are you will find that the mentor takes an increasing interest in your studies and future, especially if it looks like you may become a full time addition to the company.
Social Networking
This is a good way to meet people working in your chosen field thanks to internet and site searching capabilities. You can leverage sites like LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook to find a mentor. Post a status to let others know you are looking to speak to established professionals in a certain job or industry. Reach out through groups or find out about offline events posted on the web. With Social Networking you should be careful to validate sources you meet that are not via a friend connection or recommendation. Start an email correspondence and ask some of the questions on your mind and ask chosen individuals if they have mentored before. In today’s technology age it is easy to have a long distance mentor as well.
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.
