Become a Mentor
Now entering its 28th year, the Manhattan Mentor Program is made possible by a loyal network of alumni professionals willing to volunteer their time on behalf of the University. Mentors introduce undergraduate students to a wide variety of career-related experiences and motivate students eager to prepare themselves for success with the help of fellow Jaspers.
The Manhattan Mentor Program is a vibrant program where student mentees are paired with alumni mentors for a curated mentorship experience over the course of the academic year. Mentors tend to be good listeners, guides, advisers, advocates, non-judgmental friends and facilitators. The ultimate goal of the mentoring relationship is to advance the educational and personal growth of the student mentee. More than 175+ alumni, from various industries, volunteer for the program every year.
The Jasper Career Network is our web-based platform which hosts the “Manhattan Mentor Program” in addition to other tools- including a LinkedIn-like directory for students and alumni. All students and alumni are encouraged to create a profile on the Jasper Career Network regardless of whether or not they are involved with the Mentor Program.
Why Mentor?
Mentoring gives you the extraordinary opportunity to facilitate a Manhattan University student's personal and professional growth by sharing knowledge you learned through years of experience. By mentoring, you will give students an "inside look" at career options and coach them on the skills that will improve their success. Exciting program activities include meet and greet networking night, professional development sessions, and our annual closing dinner and awards ceremony. Mentors can create a custom experience with their mentees based on their mutual goals and schedules. Experiences include site and office visits, introductions to professional networks and access to internship opportunities.
Commonly Scheduled Activities
The Mentor Program is for one academic year; starting in October and ending in May. During the fall semester, students are carefully matched with alumni mentors based on commonalities in their profiles. Pairs are responsible for investing and scheduling additional activities to facilitate the relationship, here are some suggestions:
- Have lunch together to discuss the profession
- Review résumé
- Participate in a mock interview
- Discuss career goals, job expectations, and employment trends
- Develop a professional networking plan
- Job shadowing
- Attend a company meeting or worksite tour together
- Participate in a professional development workshop together
- Explore concerns about the profession
