Mentor Program

The mentor program is a voluntary program designed to better prepare the student for the transition from academia to professional life. Thus, the mentor is a resource for the student, a person who can introduce the student to experiences that cannot be created in a classroom but are prevalent in the world of business, a person who can introduce the student to new ways of thinking and acting.

The student, in consultation with his/her academic advisor, selects an industry, functional area, company or profession that he/she would like to understand more completely. This information is provided to the Director, Industry Education Programs who then identifies a person in the local business community with the desired experience to serve as the student's mentor.

Although the degree and frequency of interaction between the student and mentor may vary due to numerous factors, our experience is that the typical time commitment on the part of the mentor is on the order of two to four hours per month. Types of activities that students and their mentors participate in include:

• Touring the mentor’s company.
• Observing the mentor at work
• Attending an internal meeting at the mentor’s company.
• Attending a social or sporting event at school.
• Attending the student’s classroom presentation.
• Reviewing and suggesting improvements in the student’s resume
• Participating in a mock employment interview with the student.
• Evaluating and suggesting improvements in the student’s electronic portfolio.
• Attending the College of Business graduation reception following commencement.
• Exploring important subjects such as:
  • Planning a career
  • Personal appearance and "dressing for success"
  • Where to look for and how to find a job
  • Networking and networking skills
  • What it takes to get ahead in business/industry
  • Employer and employee expectations
  • Today's business environment
  • Internship opportunities with the mentor's company
  • Financial considerations such as taxes, health insurance, budgeting, savings and managing credit
  • Balancing work and life
  • Personal values

Employment

College of Business graduates have been employed by companies such as Harris Corp., Northrop Grumman, United Technologies, First Union National Bank, Holmes Regional Medical Center, Johnson Controls World Services, McDonnell Douglas, Omni Corp., Dictaphone, Lockheed Martin, Rockwell International, Merrill Lynch, JC Penny and Bell South.