Film-style poster for the The Insider presentation

A guide for alumni mentors A guide for alumni mentors

How to give a student an honest insider’s view of a career, without becoming a recruiter.

What this guide covers

What this guide covers

What this guide covers

Why your view matters

Few graduates had a mentor like you

Only about one in five graduates strongly agree someone encouraged their goals and dreams.

22% Graduates who strongly agree they had a mentor who encouraged their goals and dreams Gallup-Purdue Index, 2014

The real job

Show them the real job

Describe an ordinary week, the dull parts included, so they can judge the fit.

  • A normal week where the hours really go
  • What I wish I had known the first year surprise
  • The dull parts every job has them
  • Who does well and who leaves

Unasked questions

Answer the questions they will not ask

Students rarely ask about promotions or rejected CVs, so tell them anyway.

  • The first two years what new starters really do
  • Who gets promoted the unwritten rules
  • What sinks a CV the common reasons here

Practice interview

Run a ten minute practice interview

One real question, then one strength and one fix, beats a long critique.

  • Ask one real question from your own hiring
  • Listen for ten minutes no interruptions
  • Name one strength specific
  • Give one fix for next time

Where hiring stops

Say where the line is

Make clear early that mentoring is not a hiring channel, and keep it so.

  • I am here as your mentor, not as a recruiter. Said once, early.
  • If a role suits you, I will tell you where to apply. Fair to everyone.

Doing it on Mentornity

Set it up on Mentornity

Students find you on the mentor list and book the hours you open.

Be found on the mentor list

Students pick you, up to the limit you set.

Open your time slots

Slots show in each student’s own time zone.

Meet by video

Your program picks the tools, from in-platform video to Jitsi.

Message between talks

Each message also arrives by email.

Be found on the mentor list

Students pick you, up to the limit you set.

Rachel B.Board governance 1 spot left Request
Michael C.Project leadership 3 spots left Request
Susan W.First 5 years Full Full
The mentor accepts, or the program team approves

Open your time slots

Slots show in each student’s own time zone.

One slot, three time zonesEach sees their own
LondonMentor 09:00
DubaiMentee 12:00
SingaporeMentee 16:00
One meeting, one video link

Meet by video

Your program picks the tools, from in-platform video to Jitsi.

Message between talks

Each message also arrives by email.

Write down three unasked answers

Note what you wish you had known at their age, before your first talk.

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