Finding a Mentor

Concordia offers numerous opportunities to help bridge academic and career life.

February 15, 2011

By Russ Cooper

Making the leap from academic life to the workforce may seem daunting. Finding a mentor who is experienced, wise, and happy to pass on advice is a great way to gain perspective.

Concordia offers a number of options for students looking for a mentoring program to ease them along the way to a successful career.

Concordia Mentor Program
This program offers a number of ways for students to connect with Concordia alumni who are already established in the workforce. All mentors are volunteers and are happy to provide guidance to those looking to take the next step in their careers.

An invaluable resource for career coaching, the Concordia Mentor Program gives current students the opportunity to connect (either directly or virtually) with alumni as far away as Hong Kong, London and Dubai.

Started in 1993, the program is a joint initiative of the Concordia University Alumni Association (CUAA) and Advancement and Alumni Relations.

One-on-one mentoring

This portion of the program pairs a student with an alumni mentor for short-term mentoring (one-time advice) or long-term mentoring (a year or more).

The relationship could include providing information about a specific occupation, field of employment or industry, or offering tips on entering the job market. Mentors share their own experience and knowledge and may offer connections in the working world.

“This program is a fantastic opportunity for students to get real-world perspective about their desired career path,” says Rose Wangechi, Alumni Officer in charge of Student Programs.

“Right now, we have 220 alumni who have made themselves available for mentoring,” she says, adding that in any given year, the program facilitates 60 to 80 mentor-mentee relationships.

For those looking to become a mentee, the first step is to register at the Concordia Mentor website. An online database allows students to view a list of potential mentor profiles. Then, Wangechi helps match students with the best mentor. Students are then responsible for making initial contact.

She recommends the program for students nearing the completion of their degrees with a precise idea of their career direction. For students still contemplating their paths, Wangechi recommends visiting Concordia Career and Placement Services, or CAPS (2070 Mackay, Room EN-109). Or, John Molson School of Business students can visit JMSB Career Management Services (1459 Guy, Room MB-4.301).

To learn more, students can attend one of the workshops that Wangechi facilitates on how best to access the program; the next session is scheduled for February 18. Students are encouraged to contact her with any questions at rose.wangechi@concordia.ca.

Dinner for Eight

Twice a year, Concordia alumni treat small groups of current students to dinner in a restaurant or in their home. At each Dinner for Eight, one alumnus or alumna hosts four to six students. The casual atmosphere fosters interaction between students and experienced professionals. Students are able to peruse a list of possibilities to pick their dinner host.

The program was created in 2009. By fall 2010, 174 students and 33 alumni hosts had participated in the program. The same year, Dinner for Eight won a silver medal for Best Alumni Program from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education’s 2010 Prix d’Excellence.

Backpacks to briefcases

The Backpacks to Briefcases workshop series is a way to aid students transition from academia to business world.

“The goal is to provide the soft skills to complement the academic knowledge students are getting in their courses,” says Wangechi. “It’s one of our more successful programs.”

Launched four years ago, two series of workshops are offered annually: one in fall and one in winter, and attract an average of about 70 participants to each.

The winter 2011 series, kicking off March 9, features four workshops. First up is a workshop called How to Succeed in Business, tailored for business students or those who want to work in a large company. It’s a new workshop, as is the one on debt management scheduled for March 22.

For more information.

Job Shadowing

Open to all Concordia third- and fourth-year undergraduate students, as well as recent graduates, the Job Shadowing program allows students to follow professionals around their workplace.

The mentors are alumni who may dedicate an afternoon, day, week or longer to showing students their daily responsibilities.

For more information about or to sign up for any of the alumni-student programs organized by Advancement and Alumni Relations and sponsored, in part, by the Concordia University Alumni Association visit alumni.concordia.ca.

Co-op Mentorship program

Students who sign up with the Institute for Co-operative Education can access the Co-op’s mentorship program — a fantastic resource for students looking for extra support as they transition into industry while still studying.

“When it comes to bridging the gap between university life and the work world, that’s what the Institute does every day,” says Leslie Hughes, assistant to the director of the institute.

The institute partners students with companies and organizations for hands-on work terms. Co-op students gain experience in their fields of study while working toward their degree.

The mentorship program, an optional part of participating with the Institute, matches newer Co-op students with senior Co-op students in the same. Through the relationship, mentees receive peer support from those who have experience in the workforce, as mentors have already completed one to three Co-op work terms themselves.

“It provides students preparing for a work term easy access to information and peer perspective of the industry. It’s an advantage that makes the transition into finding a work term a lot easier,” says Hughes.

The mentors often provide valuable insight into how to balance academics and work, how to expand professional networks, and how to get a feel for a particular company.
“These student mentors have first-hand information about how a given company conducts its business – for example, what types of questions they ask in an interview,” says Hughes.

The mentorship commitment for students is only four hours a month. “Some students feel they can’t do it because they have studies, exams and part-time jobs, but it doesn’t take much time and the benefits are significant.” Hughes encourages all senior students to become mentors. “For those students, I would urge them to give back for their own personal gain. It’s a great opportunity to improve their leadership skills and their communications skills.”

To learn more about the Institute for Co-operative Education, its mentorship program, and how to access their opportunities, visit their website, co-op.concordia.ca.

Student Success Centre

The Student Success Centres (there’s one on each campus) are places where students can stop by to chat with mentors, experienced students studying at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. All mentors are very familiar with university resources and regulations, and can also share their own strategies for academic success.

“Although our program is not specifically geared to preparing students for careers, our mentors provide a foundation, show students what a mentoring relationship can provide, and point them to other mentor programs as well as other career development services,” says Student Success Program Manager Marlene Gross.

The Student Success Centres are located in Room H-481 of the Henry F. Hall Building (1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.), or at Loyola in Room AD-101 in the Administration Building (7141 Sherbrooke St. W.). Drop by Monday to Thursday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Evening hours for the downtown location are Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 to 7 p.m.

News

News

Finding a Mentor