Benefits

• Must be a current Metropolitan College participant with clearly defined career and academic goals
• Must have completed the 30 Credit Hour CAPP Resume Requirement and upload an updated copy of resume and relevant career documents to MC Portfolio on the MyMC page
• Must have previous or current related experience developed through full-time or part-time employment, volunteering, co-curricular activities, co-ops or internships, etc.

Do’s

• Monitor email for Career Guide communications
• Conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times
  
• Follow proper business email etiquette and always proofread and spell check
• Be open to feedback and strive to perceive it as a learning opportunity
• Remember that mentors are not required to maintain contact beyond the "one-time" mentorship enagement feedback communication

Don’ts

• DO NOT ask for a job or internship

This unique and online mentorship program is meant to be a one-time exchange between the students and mentors so there is no lengthy time commitment involved.

Students may request feedback on one or more of the following mentorship career development areas:

• Resume Review - CareerGuides will provide resume critiques to help students effectively market their skills and experience for employment opportunities.

• Online Career Portfolio Review - A career portfolio goes beyond a resume and offers a visual representation skills and accomplishments with real-life examples. CareerGuides will review student portfolios and offer advice on how to improve job candidacy for employment opportunities.
• LinkedIn Profile Review - LinkedIn is one of the leading social networks online that focuses on professional networking and career development. CareerGuides will recommend helpful ways students can manage their personal brand and showcase relevant skills and experience for employment opportunities.

Step 1: Student gets career document approved by MC Student Success Counselor and completes the CareerGuide Student Request form

Student will need to get career document approved by a MC Student Success Counselor. Once career document has been approved, student will complete CareerGuide Student Request form.

MC Coordinator will create the best possible mentorship match based on the availability of CareerGuides. Our goal is to match Career Guides with students who share similar career interests; however, all networking relationships are deemed valuable and can contribute to professional growth, knowledge sharing, and innovative ideas. Please allow 5-7 business days to receive a match notification.

Step 2: Student and CareerGuide receive a match confirmation email

Student will receive basic information about the CareerGuides: name, job title, company/organization. CareerGuide’s email address will be shared later in feedback notification email. Student should allow up to 14 business days to receive feedback from CareerGuides who volunteering their time to provide this valuable service.

CareerGuides will receive basic and relevant career information about the student: name, desired position, short and long-term career goals, anticipated graduation, career document, etc. All match communications will include an online guided “one-time” mentorship engagement feedback form and desired due date for feedback.

Step 3: CareerGuides complete the online guided “one-time” mentorship engagement feedback form

CareerGuide will review the student’s career document and complete the online guided mentorship engagement feedback form and offer professional career advice that will contribute to growth and development.

Upon submitting the online feedback form, CareerGuides will be asked complete a short satisfaction survey to share their experience to help us improve.

MC Coordinator will send the CareerGuide’s “one-time” mentorship engagement feedback form to the student for review.

Step 4: Student receives mentorship feedback notification email, and the “one-time” mentorship engagement automatically ends

Student will review the CareerGuide’s “one-time” mentorship engagement feedback on career document.

Student will complete a short satisfaction survey to share their experience to help us improve.

Student will be encouraged to send a "Thank You" email to the CareerGuide to show appreciation the CareerGuide's time. The CareerGuide’s email address will be included in the feedback notification email.

Step 5: Optional - Student and CareerGuide can maintain contact beyond the one-time mentorship engagement, if mutually agreed

Students and CareerGuides can maintain contact beyond the one-time mentorship engagement, if mutually agreed, but this is not requirement or expectation of the program.

CareerGuides will have an opportunity to indicate on the email-based feedback form if they are interested in maintaining contact with the student beyond the “one-time” mentorship engagement. If the CareerGuide's indicates "yes" to this question, student will need to take the initiative to communicate interest with the CareerGuide.

Any ongoing mentorship engagements beyond the initial “one-time” commitment will be the responsibility of the Student and CareerGuide and will not be facilitated by MC staff.

Students can contact a MC Student Success Counselor to indicate interests in connecting with other CareerGuides for “one-time” feedback mentorship engagements.

CareerGuides should continue to monitor their email for any new match notifications and notify the MC Coordinator with any changes to mentor availability or contact information.

NOTE: We do not not help facilitate in-person communications. Communication among Students and CareerGuides are through the “one-time” mentorship engagement feedback forms. Students and CareerGuides can maintain contact beyond the one-time mentorship engagement, if mutually agreed, and select a preferred communication method.

You should always send a thank-you email to your Career Guide immediately after you receive your feedback. A thank-you email is an effective way to show appreciation to the Career Guide for their time.

Helpful Tips

1. It's best to send a thank-you email within 24 hours of your CareerGuide feedback notification email.
2. Personalize each thank-you email.
3. Be genuine and appreciative - reinforce your enthusiasm for the feedback. Even if you may disagree with the feedback given, remember that this indiviudal is volunteering their time to offer you feedback because they are invested in your growth and development and want to see you be successful with your career endeavors, that deserves gratitude. Take the time to thank them for the time they invested in the process.
4. Make sure to highlight your short and long-term goal statements and key strengths as it relates to your professional goals.
5. If there are questions that you have about your career field or questions about the Career Guide's feedback that you want to touch on, do it in the thank-you email. See sample informational interview questions.
6. Reminder -- DO NOT ask for a job or internship. Allow the Career Guide to initiate this topic.
7. End the note with much thanks and gratitude for the feedback.
8. Spell check, spell check, spell check! Make sure there are absolutely no typos, misspellings, grammatical errors, etc.
9. Optional: If the mentor agreed to maintain contact with you beyond the "one-time" mentorship engagement, let them know

Sample Thank-You Email Example

Subject Line: Thank You for the [Career Document] Feedback

Dear CareerGuide’s Name>,

Thank you for taking the time to review my [career document] submission through the MC CareerGuide Online Mentorship Program. I really appreciate the opportunity to receive career advice from a professional in my field.

<Briefly describe your short and long-term goal statements and what steps you are taking to reach these goals.>

Your advice about <mention something specific about the feedback> was very helpful.

<Optional: If the CareerGuide selected "Yes" to the question on the feeback form about their willingness to maintain contact beyond the "one-time" commitment, confirm with the CareerGuide if you mutually agree to maintain contact. For example: Thank you for your willingness to maintain contact with me regarding my on my career development. I will continue to keep you updated on my academic and career goals.>

Again, thanks so much for your help.

Sincerely,

<Your Name>

There are numerous tips and strategies and best practices for resume writing, interviewing, career development, etc. This means being receptive to new ideas and different opinions. Often, there is more than one way of doing something and others may have a completely different viewpoint on a given topic. As a result, you may receive different and sometimes conflicting advice regarding your growth and development. It is important to know that it is ultimately YOUR decision on how you market your skills. To learn how to best navigate career advice from others so that you can be proud of how you are promoting your candidacy, visit the MC/CREW Career Center or contact a MC Student Success Counselor.

NOTE: As a reminder, even if you may disagree with the feedback given, remember that this indiviudal is volunteering their time to offer you feedback because they are invested in your growth and development and want to see you be successful with your career endeavors, that deserves gratitude. Take the time to write a thank-you email for the time they invested in the process.

• Flexible "one-time" mentorship engagement opportunities that work with your schedule
• Build and expand your professional networks
• Opportunities to learn from the experiences of other professionals in your intended career
• Valuable career advice and support for professional growth
    

Students should contact a MC Student Success Counselor to request a mentor or visit MC Portfolio to learn more.

Contact Sarah Schladand at sarah.schladand@kctcs.edu or 502-852-2121.