2. Why Care about Student Mentoring?
Youth unemployment (<25 years) is 16% in the US (2012)
Associated Press reported that 50%+ of college students do
not find jobs matching their skills level (2011)
McKinsey found that few young people know how to get the
right education for a decent job or launch themselves on a
viable career path (2012)
Areas with highest youth under-employment have greater
crime rates and other social problems
3. Mentoring Helps Young People Grow
Many people credit internships for career success, including:
Carl Bernstein - The Washington Star
Steven Bochco - Universal Studios
Bill Gates - Congressional Page
Spike Lee - Columbia Pictures
Rob Reiner - Regional Theater on the East Coast
Donald Trump - Trump Corporation (construction)
Mike Wallace - Brookline Citizen
Oprah Winfrey - WTVF-TV (Nashville, TN)
You can make a difference!
4. Agenda
What is Mentoring?
Who are the Players & how do they benefit?
How does a Mentoring Program work?
Next Step: Make a commitment
5. What is Mentoring?
A method of teaching and learning in which:
An experienced individual teaches and trains
Someone with less knowledge in a given area
Each party is accountable to the other:
Mentor – keep process on track
Mentee – commit to learn
Mentor Mentee
6. Common Mentoring Focii
Skills – How to write better, use new software, make
effective presentations
Subject-matter – Learn more about accounting, sales,
research, marketing, engineering, law, politics, etc.
Work-based habits – Time-management, interpersonal
relationships, communications, delegation
Organizational issues – Company brand value,
strategy, structure, culture, authority, accountability
Career path – Speaking-up, take initiative, breadth &
depth of professional development
8. Who’s Involved with Mentoring Programs?
Company Sponsors – CEO, HR, etc.
Mentors – executives who supervise interns
School Career Advisors – who seek qualified
placements & help match students
Students – who want experience
9. Company / Sponsor Benefits
Recruitment - Identifies new, talented employees
Gain young people’s perspectives & expertise
(e.g., social media)
Increase productivity as they work on special projects
Demonstrates growth commitment to present and
future employees
Improves staff’s skills & knowledge cost-effectively
Promote corporate branding
Good Citizenship – Give back to the community
10. What Does a Mentor Do?
Serves as expert, coach, counselor, tutor & guide
Is willing, able and available to share information
Develops a teaching/learning strategy
Executes the program
Adjusts it to optimize learning
11. Mentor Benefits
Mentors grow personally & professionally by:
Being a teacher
Improving his/her own work-related skills
Clarifying his/her own strengths/weaknesses and
executive career path
Contributing more to the company
Being recognized by the organization
12. What is the Mentee/Intern Role?
Wants more experience, knowledge and skills
Willing to be a trainee/apprentice; ask questions!
Explore his/her strengths, weaknesses and situational
issues as they affect jobs/careers
Do what it takes to accomplish
agreed-upon goals
Use experience to make better
career decisions
13. Mentee / Intern Benefits
Appreciate your company’s Brand Value
Practice using “academic” insights and skills
Acquire “work” skills (e.g., planning, time management,
delegation, accountability and teamwork)
Develop interpersonal communication skills (e.g.
presentations, reports, memos)
Understand how companies operate (e.g., strategy,
structure, politics, processes, etc.)
Identify key truths about careers
14. School Career Advisor Benefits
Increases number and range of student placements
Improves quality of student mentoring experiences
for students and sponsors
Creates a dialogue between corporate and academic
worlds, leading to improved learning opportunities
16. Design the Program
Identify a Program Coordinator to supervise the
Mentors and work with the schools (Super-Mentor)
Set program goals and how to measure success
Determine program scope:
Number Mentors & Interns Goals Should be
SMART
Qualifications of Mentors
S Specific
School level of interns M Measurable
A Achievable
Disciplines represented
R Realistic
(e.g., accounting, finance, writing,
T Time-defined
sales, marketing, nursing…)
17. Super-Mentor Responsibilities
Coaches Mentors to optimize the impact for everyone
Help Mentors develop a “teaching” style and
“curriculum” for the student internship.
Consult with Mentors over inevitable challenges
Facilitate Mentors’ coaching by offering
management and leadership tools
Provide Mentors with Executive Development tools
to advance their careers
18. Common Areas for Mentee Coaching
Time management
Project planning and organizational tools
Interpersonal communication skills
How to delegating and supervise effectively
Overcome speaking fears &
improve presentations skills
Acquiring technical skills
(e.g., software, languages)
Being an effective team member
19. Common Executive Development Issues
Leadership skills (e.g., when to use supportive,
directive, participative strategies)
Strategic business development skills
Encouraging creativity, innovation and teamwork
Adopting an executive presence (e.g., authenticity,
integrity and branding)
Presentation & networking skills
20. Coordinating Responsibilities
Identify types of interns the Mentors would like.
Work with School Career Advisors to maximize quality
and quantity of students
Write descriptions of internships
Set parameters (e.g., hours & pay)
Provide feedback to school
Evaluate to improve program
Provide HR with full review
23. Thank You !
Mentor Our Kids
is a member of the
Presentation Excellence Group
which provides strategic business development and
leadership training, coaching and consulting services
For further details,
contact 800-493-1334 or
JerryCahn@presentationexcellencegroup.com
