Uncertainty is a common feeling among recent graduates– Especially for those who went through their whole undergraduate career without much guidance. College courses teach you the technical skills needed to be successful, but many students forget to build professional relationships while achieving their degree.
These mentorships could quickly become imperative to their success following graduation. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, students who have a mentor mentee relationship generally do better while in school and following graduation, compared to students without one.
Benefits Of Mentorship
A mentor is a person with experience and connection within your desired industry. A good mentor is not only there to share knowledge, but to guide and teach you.
The National College Access Network found that the benefits of having a mentor include: motivating students to achieve their academic and career goals, providing students with important information about college and career, increasing academic achievements, and helping to develop skills and behaviors necessary to succeed professionally.
A great mentor will make it easy for recent graduates to find an entry level jobs. Many job opportunities come from just knowing the right people, and they can help you with that. They should also be a role model, to guide you through your personal and professional development. For recent graduates this is critical to building the success they deserve in their future.
Finding A Mentor
Now you know how helpful having a mentor can be, but how do you go about finding one? The U.S. offers pathways programs to recent graduates who apply within two years and those who have served a military service obligation. These programs will give you real world work experience and possible connect you with a future role model.
Otherwise consider talking to people you already know. This could include your friends and family members, or pretty much anyone who might know someone you can connect with. They don’t even have to officially mentor you if they don’t have the time. It can be a more informal arrangement of just a call for advice every one in a while.
The goal is to find someone that you can connect with, and who is ideally working in your desired field. There is a lot that your classes don’t teach you that someone with even a few years of experience can share. It may require you to put yourself out there a little, but in the end it’s well worth the effort.
A Lifetime Of Support
The relationship between a mentor and mentee is one that can last for years. So while you may not always lean on your mentor as heavily as you do now they can always be around for support if you need them.
This is important because these types of relationships work both ways. While you are learning from them they will also be taking their own lessons from you. Even though you may not realize it. You may find yourself looking back with your mentor at where both of you started, and realize how far each of you has come since then.
It is an incredible thing to be able to share your accomplishments with someone experience who has your best interests at heart. It is similar to having a great coach, but in a much more personal way.
Formal & Informal Mentoring
There are different types of mentoring programs, informal and formal. Informal mentoring is a naturally occurring, supportive relationships students have with older and more experienced individuals. These mentors can include parents, extended family members, neighbors, or professors.
A Formal relationship is a more structured and intentional approach to offering students those experiences and benefits. However, both methods work to allow students to create connections, and develop the experience and skills necessary to become successful. A study done by PGi found that 75% of students not only want mentors but deem it crucial for success.
The ROIinU course structure allows students to engage in both formal and informal mentorship. During the 8-week course, students will have the opportunity to meet with professionals in the digital marketing field in a group setting. However, these connections won’t end once the ROIinU course is completed. Students will be able to stay in contact with these professionals following the course, giving them the opportunity to have a more informal experience.
