Metorig Guide All You Need to Kow about Beig a NIU Studet-Alumi Metor
Table Of Cotets NIU Studet-Alumi Metor Program: A Itroductio...1 The Metorig Experiece: Beefits ad Expectatios for the Metor...2 The Metorig Experiece: Beefits ad Expectatios for the Metee...3 How NIU Metorig Works...4 Oce a Match is Made...4 Buildig the Metorig Relatioship...6 Suggested Metorig Activities...9 Thak you, Cotact Us...10 Appedix A: Goals...11 Appedix B: Goal Settig...12 Appedix C: Goal Settig Worksheet...13
NIU Studet-Alumi Metorig: A Itroductio My metor is amazig. Not oly is he full of stories ad advice, he s icredibly ecouragig. I feel like he truly believes i me ad would like othig more tha to see me succeed. The most rewardig aspect of metorig has bee makig a meaigful coectio with my metee ad feelig that I have made a positive impact. What is a NIU metor? As a NIU metor, you are a guide, fried, ad resource who shares your educatioal ad professioal experiece to help pave the way for studets to succeed at NIU ad beyod. A NIU metor derives satisfactio from helpig NIU studets fulfill their potetial. As a metor, you play several roles, icludig: Motivator: Express belief ad cofidece i the metee s abilities ad ecourage the metee to try ew thigs. Resource: Teach ad advise the metee about makig professioal cotacts ad itroduce the metee to ew people, places, or ideas. Supporter: Ecourage ope ad hoest dialogue. Liste ad respod to the eeds of the metee. Coach: Help the metee develop, ad work to achieve, realistic ad meaigful goals. The Metorig Relatioship For metorig to be successful there must be a reciprocal, comfortable relatioship betwee the metor ad metee. Both parties must work at the relatioship to make it successful by beig ope-mided ad respectful ad by keepig to the expectatios they have set for the relatioship. Ideally, the metorig relatioship will be a mutually beeficial oe; as the metor lears from the metee ad the metee from the metor. 1
I ejoy makig ew cotacts with curret studets ad helpig them aswer some of the key questios they have about majors, career fields, ad what growig up is like. The most rewardig aspects of metorig are iformig my metees of the beefits of public service, becomig acquaited with them o a persoal level, ad maitaiig cotact after metorig eds. The Metorig Experiece: Beefits ad Expectatios for the Metor How will I beefit as a metor? We believe that metorig will be a positive ad erichig experiece for you. Specifically, we hope you will: Refie your coachig ad metorig skills Develop meaigful coectios with studets Lear about the NIU of today ad the ext geeratio Experiece a recoectio with NIU Expad your professioal etwork What is expected of me as a metor? Our metors say that oe of the best aspects of voluteerig with NIU metorig is that it is flexible. You ad the metee ca decide how the relatioship will work. We do, however, have some miimal expectatios of our metors: Sped at least two hours per moth buildig the metorig relatioship. Set expectatios with your studet regardig how ad whe you will cotact each other. Help your studet idetify ad set goals, track progress, ad make chages. Approach the metorig relatioship with a ope mid, professioalism, ad respect. Support your studet s professioal ad persoal developmet. Respod to all commuicatios i a timely maer. Maitai ad model professioal behavior. Defie professioal behavior if eeded. Commuicate problems with the metorig relatioship to program staff. What is ot expected of me as a metor? To offer jobs or iterships to your metee To have all the aswers for your metee To iitiate all cotact with your metee 2
The Metorig Experiece: Beefits ad Expectatio for the Metee The best part of havig a metor was hearig about differet career paths, beig itroduced to other professioals i my field, ad gettig feedback o iterviews ad acceptig a offer. It is great to kow that we are offered this wide ad great rage of people who are willig to metor us. How will the metee beefit? Followig are some geeral ways we hope the studets will beefit from beig i a metorig relatioship: Buildig a professioal etwork Developig ad ehacig professioal ad commuicatio skills Coectig academics ad career Receivig recommedatios about experieces ad courses that would be of the greatest beefit Explorig ew ideas ad areas of iterest Gaiig exposure to career optios, advice, ad job search tips What is expected of the metee? Before a studet ca search for a metor, he or she must atted a madatory orietatio i which the studet is asked to thik about what he or she wats out of a metorig relatioship. Studets are also iformed of our expectatios, which iclude: Spedig at least two hours per moth buildig the metorig relatioship Makig the first cotact with the selected metor ad respodig to all commuicatio Settig specific goals for the metorig relatioship with the metor Agreeig ad committig to expectatios ad goals set with the metor Beig appropriate i their requests of their metor i particular, NOT askig for a job or sposorship Approachig the metorig relatioship with a ope mid, professioalism, ad respect Beig receptive to suggestios ad feedback Commuicatig problems with the metorig relatioship to NIU Studet-Alumi Metor Program staff 3
How NIU Studet-Alumi Metorig Works The most rewardig aspect of metorig is the gratificatio I experiece whe metees share their excitemet from havig leared or grow from our iteractio. The Matchig Process Studets register with the NIU Studet-Alumi Metorig Program at the begiig of each academic year ad atted a madatory orietatio. After the orietatio, studets request a metor. NIU Studet-Alumi Metor staff members do their best to match studets with metors based o similar career paths, iterests, ad availability. Metorig Sessios Metorig sessios ru for six moths for udergraduate ad graduate studets. At the ed of the metorig sessio, we formally release you so that you are able to work with aother metee (or metees) ad your metee ca work with a ew metor. Oe of the program s goals, however, is to develop o-goig relatioships, so we ecourage you to cotiue your relatioship o a iformal basis. You are i cotrol! Choose the maximum umber of metees you wat durig ay give sessio. Chage the umber of metees you wat to work with at ay time. Take yourself i or out of the metor pool at ay time. Oce A Match Is Made Iitial Cotact with Your Metee Studets are expected to iitiate cotact with you oce the match is made. We ecourage studets to sed a itroductory e-mail to the metor, so please watch for his or her e-mail ad respod i a timely maer. Sometimes, studets are ervous or itimidated about reachig out, so if you do t hear from your metee, please feel free to take the lead. If the studet does ot respod to your messages or you have ay other problems, please cotact the program staff. 4
The most rewardig aspect of metorig was talkig with my metor about my future goals ad expectatios ad havig him speak frakly to me about what he likes ad dislikes about his career. What should I expect of the first coversatio? We strogly suggest that you have a i-perso coversatio early i the relatioship over the phoe or via Skype. This persoal iteractio will go far i creatig a coectio ad settig up a good foudatio for your relatioship. Here are some guidelies for the coversatio: Tell the metee that you are excited about beig his or her metor! Sharig your ethusiasm will help reassure him or her that you are committed to makig the relatioship succeed. Build rapport with your metee by askig questios about the metee s backgroud ad experieces. Remember, you have NIU i commo ad that is a great place to start! At the begiig of the relatioship it is importat to talk about expectatios ad goals for the metorig experiece. Make sure to either start this dialogue i this first coversatio or set up aother time to do so. Please use our NIU Studet-Alumi Metor Program Agreemet, which ca be foud at MyNIU.com. 5
Buildig the Metorig Relatioship I try to ask the metee exactly what they wat to get out of the metorig relatioship. We try to share a little about each other s backgrouds ad experieces. It was through the questios that my metor asked me that I was able to figure out where I fit ito the whole busiess scheme. It was great to have someoe i my life who I could talk opely with. Every metorig relatioship is uique. I fact, there is so much to lear that there are etire books devoted to buildig metorig relatioships. Followig are a few guidelies based o feedback we have received from our metors that we hope will help you create a satisfyig relatioship with your metee. Set Goals with Your Metee Settig goals with your metee at the begiig of the relatioship is critical because it gives directio to the relatioship ad iforms you about how you ca help the metee. See Appedices B ad C for goal-settig help. If your metee does t kow his or her goals, use the opportuity as your first metorig momet. You ca ask questios such as, What made you sig up for the metorig program? or What about my profile stood out to you? or What are your specific cocers ad questios right ow? or How ca I help you? Remember, goal settig ca be a process, so make a poit to check i ad ask the metee if his or her priorities are chagig or evolvig. Set Expectatios with Your Metee Stick to the decisios you made with your metee about how ad whe you will commuicate with each other. Reegotiate as eeded. If the metee is uresposive at ay poit i the relatioship, iitiate cotact. Some studets will be overwhelmed by how much they are doig ad forget to cotact you. If your metee does t respod to you after multiple attempts, please cotact the NIU Studet-Alumi Metor Program staff. Get to Kow Your Metee Ask thoughtful questios about the metee s iterests, experieces, ad backgroud. Follow up o ay importat steps the studet has take, such as a job iterview or a leadership experiece, ad ask what he or she leared. Be a active listeer by feedig back what the metee says. Avoid iterruptig ad show iterest with your voice ad posture. 6
The most rewardig aspect of the metorig experiece was hearig my metor s persoal story. I thik the best advice I got was just hearig about the path she took. From that persoal aecdote, I saw a lot of myself ad realized which aspects of her jourey might apply to me. I liked gettig feedback ad frak aswers from professioals who have goe through similar decisios before. Offer Optios Versus Solutios Avoid givig quick solutios. Ask the metee what he or she is thikig ad help the metee process ideas. Make suggestios of thigs the studet might try. For example, Have you looked ito or Somethig I foud helpful whe I was at NIU versus You should or You eed to Remember that we are all huma, ad we do t always take the advice we are give. Do t get discouraged if your metee does ot heed your advice. Share Your Story Tellig your metee about yourself ad your experieces builds trust ad rapport. Thik about how you have leared from your mistakes ad how your metee ca lear from them. Share your lessos leared durig college ad beyod with your metee. Be a Coach! Ecourage your metee to take risks. Studets may eed a little push, which will help them i the log ru. Remember, studets have much to lear from a professioal like you everythig from how to dress to beig o time. Do t hesitate to give your metee feedback if he or she is ot actig i a professioal maer. Your advice could make a huge differece for his or her first iterview, job, ad other life experieces. What Not to Discuss Criticisms: Do ot talk about other professioals or previous colleagues i a critical maer. Family/persoal matters: This is a professioal etwork; kow the boudaries. Gossip: Do t violate professioal cofideces or abuse iside iformatio. 7
I foud similarities with my metor, ad it made me feel more secure that he felt like I did at some poit ad that it all works out i the ed. It s okay to ot kow what you wat to do sometimes. Coordiatig Schedules It may be difficult to fid the time to talk or meet with your metee, so schedule your ext coversatio at the ed of each meetig. Keep the relatioship a priority ad ask your metee to do the same. How to Relate Ask about the metee s NIU experiece. Share what you might have doe differetly if you were a studet agai. Refer to the Suggested Metorig Activities o the followig page for some ideas of what to do together or talk about. 8
Suggested Metorig Activites The most rewardig aspects of havig a metor have bee his advice ad critique of my resume, aswerig lots of questios, talkig about itership searchig ad givig me advice about what classes to take. You ad your metee may decide what you wat to work o together from the oset. But, if you eed some ideas about what to do with your metee, the followig list is a great place to start. Career Coversatios Discuss your educatioal backgroud ad the role of educatioal preparatio i your field Share iformatio about a curret evet or issue i your field Schedule a shadow visit, if appropriate Job Search Process Critique the metee s resume ad/or cover letter Lead your metee through a mock iterview Offer guidace about where to look for jobs/iterships i your field Graduate School Cosultatios Share what you leared about avigatig your graduate studies Discuss how you worked with your advisors Tell the metee how you prepared for your trasitio from school to the professioal world Tell Your Story Share how you have balaced persoal life ad career Discuss what you would have doe differetly at NIU if you had to do it over Talk about how you have dealt with persoal or professioal challeges Networkig Pursuits Itroduce your metee to colleagues or other cotacts Atted a professioal associatio meetig or coferece together Teach your metee how to coduct a iformatioal iterview 9
Thak You, NIU Studet-Alumi Metors! It s bee great beig able to share my persoal experieces as well as hear about studet life ad how much thigs have chaged o campus. I really ejoy providig perspective ad helpig as much as possible by providig iformatio ad kowledge about my life after NIU. We wat to exted our deepest gratitude for your participatio i the NIU Studet-Alumi Metorig Program. This program would ot be possible without your commitmet to NIU ad your willigess to share your life ad experiece. This guide will evolve with the NIU Studet-Alumi Metorig Program. As we work together throughout this year, we welcome your suggestios for improvig our writte materials as well as our program. Your participatio i this process will help the NIU Studet-Alumi Metorig Program become a best practice model for NIU ad other uiversities. Cotact Us If you have ay questios, please cotact us at alumimetorig@iu.edu or 815-753-1452. I preparig this metorig guide, we have used material from sister istitutios. We particularly ackowledge usig material from the Staford Uiversity Metorig Guide ad the Uiversity of Miesota Alumi Associatio Metorig Hadbook. 10
Appedix A: Goals Agree o goals: What do you hope to gai from the relatioship? What are the metee s goals for this metorig relatioship? Is there ay clarificatio eeded? What are the metor s goals for this metorig relatioship? What actios ca you ad your metee take to achieve these goals? See Appedices B ad C for goal-settig resources. Values Clarificatio: The purpose of Values Clarificatio is to assist you i makig the choices ecessary to achieve your goals ad dreams. Whe you are clear i your values, your day-to-day choices ad life s work will become much more meaigful. You will sped less time o activities that take you further away from achievig your goals. I tur, you will sped more time o activities that brig you closer to havig the life you wat. What results i life are essetial for you to see yourself as a success? (be specific) Describe the career of your dreams. Describe the qualities ad characteristics of the relatioships you have or pla to develop (be certai to list qualities such as hoest, fu, hard-workig, etc.) Describe your best future self. Describe your ideal home/livig eviromet. What ispires you? What do you dream or daydream about? At the ed of your life, what would you like people to say about you? 11
Appedix B: Goal Settig Purpose of Goal Settig Settig goals helps people strive to achieve. Although goal settig may be challegig, it is worthwhile. The itetio is to icrease efficiecy ad effectiveess by specifyig desired outcomes. Hellriegel, Slocu, ad Woodma & Martes (1992) fid goals to be importat because they: Guide ad direct behavior Provide clarity Reflect what the goal setters cosider importat Help improve performace Icrease the motivatio to succeed Istill pride ad satisfactio i achievemets Provide challeges ad stadards Bolster self-cofidece ad decrease egative attitude SMART Goal-settig Model The SMART guidelies ca facilitate settig effective goals i travelig the road to success. SMART meas: Specific: A goal of graduatig from college is too geeral. Specify how this will be accomplished, e.g. study more i order to receive better grades. Measurable: Establish criteria for how to achieve a goal. Measurable does ot refer to a timelie; it meas determiig a way to measure your success i completig the log-rage goal. Actio-orieted: Be proactive i takig actio that will result i reachig the desired goal. Realistic: Strive for attaiable goals; cosider the resources ad costraits relative to the situatio. Timely: Allow reasoable time to complete each goal, but ot so much time that you lose focus or motivatio. 12
Appedix C: Goal Settig Worksheet First, discuss the metor s backgroud. The, discuss the studet s major coursework ad work experiece to date. Next, the metee ca idicate their level of iterest i the followig activities. Rate iterest level as low (L), medium (M), or high (H). Gai isight ito metor s academic experiece H M L Itroductio to colleagues or cotacts H M L Atted a professioal meetig or program with metor H M L Critique metee s resume/portfolio/cv H M L Develop iterviewig or iformatioal iterview skills H M L Discuss how persoal ad professioal life ca fit together H M L Review of metor s resume/cv H M L Process the decisio to atted graduate school Guidace o how to seek a job/itership i the field Discuss how the metor avigated graduate school/worked with advisors H M L H M L H M L Shadow metor at workplace H M L Discuss workig i academia vs. idustry H M L Other H M L After completig the above, discuss ways that the metor might be able to help the metee with items rated high or medium iterest. Usig the SMART model, determie two short-term goals ad oe log-term goal that the metee wats to work o. 13