RBS Mentor Program
What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is a partnership that enables an individual to share professional and personal skills and experiences that contributes to career growth and development.
What is the Rutgers Business School Mentoring Program?
The mentoring program is an initiative to provide support for undergraduate students in the Rutgers Business School. The goals of the program are:
- Contribute to the professional development and leadership skills of our students.
- Provide support and guidance to students who may not receive it outside of the university setting.
Mentoring will enrich the educational experience of our undergraduates as well as provide them with guidance that they would not normally receive in the classroom. Each student participating in this program will benefit from the experience of receiving a mentor to share their unique experiences.
What is the Role of a Mentor?
The Mentor selected will have between 2-5 years business experience, since mentees tend to relate more easily with mentors not too far removed from the undergraduate recruitment process. The mentors do not have to be a Rutgers alumni.
Mentors can provide guidance on a variety of issues such as personal development (e.g. practice your writing skills, how to dress appropriately, phone skills, etc.) and career planning (e.g. advising whether to apply for a particular internship/job). The mentor could also serve as a resource directing their mentees to new people, places, and opportunities.
What is the Role of the Mentee?
A Mentee has many different roles during the course of the mentoring relationship. A few examples follow:
Driver of Relationship
- Identify the skills, knowledge, and/or goals that you want to achieve and communicate them to your mentor
- Bring up new topics that are important to you at any point and give feedback to your mentor
Development Planner
Maintain a mentoring plan and work with your mentor to set up goals, developmental activities, and time frames
Resource Partner
Work with your mentor to seek resources for learning; identify people and information that might be helpful
Teacher
Look for opportunities to give back to your mentor; share any information that you think might be valuable
Continuous Learner
Take full advantage of this opportunity to learn
What are the Mentor Program Requirements?
Mentors will be matched with an RBS undergraduate student in their Sophomore or Junior year. To be considered for the program the mentee must submit the completed application and resume by the summer of the begining of the academic year. Mentees will be selected from the applicant pool based on their aptitude, sense of commitment, and demonstrated interest in acquiring new skills. The mentoring relationship will begin during the Kick-Off Event in October 21 (Tentative) and continue two semesters until the end of the Spring 2012 academic semester.
Since both mentors and mentees have many different schedules and commitments, it is not feasible to design a firmly structured program. The mentoring program is designed to be flexible but the following guidelines provide a framework for the mentoring relationship.
Mentors and their mentees will meet at least twice a semester. This can be over lunch, dinner, at the mentor’s office, or at any location convenient for the mentor and mentee.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Alexander at 848-445-3583 or Alexander@business.rutgers.edu . Lastly, the Business Mentor Program is designed to have three events where all participants can network together as a large group. The initial event will be an introduction, followed by a networking event, and closing with a luncheon to assess the program.
Since the “Kick Off” event is a great way for both the mentor(s) and mentee(s) to become acquainted, we strongly suggest that if you can’t attend the gathering you arrange a lunch meeting between you (Mentor) and the mentee to “Kick Off” the program.
