Information for mentors

Log-in | Become a mentor

Giving back to your alma mater is, in itself, rewarding. You will get an opportunity to support your University in a personal and unique way.

A mentor's role varies with each student. The mentor and the mentee design their own relationship in terms of how much time will be involved, what will be discussed, and what method they will use to communicate.

A mentor may provide advice, support and/or offer guidance by:

• Helping to set career goals and career paths
• Providing industry/functional information
• Assisting in identifying and enhancing the mentee's marketable skills
• Sharing experiences of successes and setbacks and what can be learnt from them
• Offering career alternatives within an industry
• Providing suggestions on how making the transition from school to the workplace as smooth as possible
• Act as a resource in helping the mentee forge a career path of his/her own

A mentor should strive to:

• be patient and flexible
• be supportive and encouraging
• communicate efficiently by listening, understanding and articulating responses
• be available for questions
• be non-judgmental and offer constructive feedback
• maintain a good sense of humour
• teach by example

Managing a Successful Mentorship Relationship

• To start, discuss with your mentee what he/she hopes to achieve by entering into this relationship, how it will work, what it will look like, and how often you will communicate. Set boundaries about confidentiality and time commitments.
• Try to maintain your mentorship role until the end of the mutually agreed-to period.
• Lastly, help the mentee identify their skills and those necessary to succeed in the workplace.

In addition, the Mentorship Program offers:

• a smart recruiting strategy to build your company awareness on campus - students can be your best ambassadors!
• an opportunity to acquaint yourself with an up-and-coming talent pool
• the ability to keep up-to-date with current educational topics/news
• a connection with people who share same values
• a reinforced sense of belonging to the Concordia community
• an opportunity to develop new valuable relationships
• a chance to enhance your communication and leadership skills
• the prospect of passing on your knowledge and experience to a new generation of students

Some suggested activities

• email or telephone your mentee to identify common interests
• have a casual lunch and discuss career goals
• suggest some related professional conferences or activities to your mentee
• create a mock-interview for your mentee
• have coffee and share your professional experiences and successes
• give the mentee a tour of your office