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Frequently Asked Questions

Student Questions

What does an Alumni Mentor do?
What kinds of information does an Alumni Mentor share?
How should I contact my Alumni Mentor?
How much contact will I have with my Alumni Mentor?
Does the Alumni Mentor know that I have selected her/him?
How many Alumni Mentors may I contact?
What is a token and why am I being "charged"?
How long does it take to connect with my Alumni Mentor?
How do I start my search for an Alumni Mentor?
How should I prepare for contacting my Alumni Mentor?
What kinds of questions should I prepare to ask my Alumni Mentor?
Who uses the Mentor Program?
Can I change Alumni Mentors?
Is there anything else I should know about my contacts?

What does an Alumni Mentor do?

An Alumni Mentor is a Western Michigan University alumna or alumnus who volunteers to network with current WMU students or other alumni for the purposes of career exploration and professional development.

What kinds of information does an Alumni Mentor share?

An Alumni Mentor may provide information on specific careers, tips on interviewing or resumes, advice on where to look for a job, or other individuals to network with. Students will benefit most from interaction with Alumni Mentors who currently work, or have worked, in a career field the student is interested in pursuing. Students will also benefit from networking with Alumni Mentors who had a similar major while attending WMU.

How should I contact my Alumni Mentor?

Initiating contact with an Alumni Mentor should only take one phone call or email, depending on the Mentor's preferred method of contact. This can be found in the Alumni Mentor's profile. Give the Mentor a window of 2-4 days to respond. Do not wait until the last minute to make contact with the alum if you are seeking information that is a high priority.

How much contact will I have with my Alumni Mentor?

The degree of contact between you and your Alumni Mentor is determined by the two of you. A mentoring relationship usually involves multiple meetings and conversations for a strong relationship to be cultivated. On the other hand, networking can occur during one meeting or conversation.

Does the Alumni Mentor know I have selected him or her?

Yes. If you "save" your Alumni Mentor to your folder, a record is created which shows the mentor your name and email address.

How many Alumni Mentors may I contact?

The Mentor Program permits up to 10 Alumni Mentor selections per month. In other words, if you save 10 Alumni Mentors to a folder over a one-month period, you will not be able to save additional mentors until the month is up.

However, this does not limit your ability to search for an Alumni Mentor. If you are searching for an Alumni Mentor and your initial search does not reveal a mentor who is a good match for you, simply do not save that mentor to your folder. As long as you don't save that search, it will not impact the number of Alumni Mentor contacts you have that month. For each Alumni Mentor you save, you will be charged one token.

What is a token and why am I being "charged"?

Tokens are used to control the number of students the Alumni Mentor wishes to have contact her or him per month. Tokens are also used to control the number of Alumni Mentors any one student may save to a folder per month. As soon as the month deadline passes, any tokens previously used are replenished into your account. The term "charged" refers to the number of tokens you have already used within the month.

How long does it take to connect with my Alumni Mentor?

Since you conduct your own search, your results are immediate. A search may be conducted any day at any time.

How do I start my search for an Alumni Mentor?

As a current WMU student, you automatically have access to BroncoJOBS, the online job search database coordinated by Career and Student Employment Services. Simply log on to the BroncoJOBS wesbite by entering your username and password and look for the mentor link. If you would like more specific instructions, you could also take a look at the Program Entrance Instructions for Students.

How should I prepare for contacting my Alumni Mentor?

First, you should determine your purpose for contacting the mentor (e.g. professional, academic, personal). Second, plan your questions/agenda ahead of time. Third, be aware of your timing. If your mentor prefers to be contacted by their work phone number, avoid calling them at the end of the day or during the lunch hour, as they may be more difficult to get a hold of at those times. If your Alumni Mentor prefers to be contacted via email, be prepared to wait a few days before you get a reply. Alumni Mentors are successful working professionals who are volunteering their time and resources to help you.

What kinds of questions should I prepare to ask my Alumni Mentor?

To ensure a successful intial contact with your Alumni Mentor, your questions should be well thought out and prepared ahead of time. They should reflect your career-related interests and concerns, as well as the information you know about your Alumni Mentor. Examples of typical questions include:

• What degrees or programs do you recommend to someone to advance in this field?
• How important is internship experience?
• When should I start planning my new/first career?
• Do you think you are working in a career field related to what you studied while in college?
• Could you describe a typcial workday?
• What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?
• What parts of your job do you find most challenging?
• Would you have done anything differently to prepare for your present career?

Who uses the Mentor Program?

Current undergraduate students are the primary users of the Mentor Program. However, graduate students and WMU alumni utilize this program for networking purposes as well.

Can I change Alumni Mentors?

Yes. Whenever you want to network with someone else, simply conduct another online search. Please remember that you are limited to saving 10 mentors per month, however, this number is renewed at the start of each calendar month.

Also, if your Alumni Mentor doesn't have all the information you had hoped for, all you have to do is conduct another online search to find another mentor. Keep in mind that while you may click instantly with your Alumni Mentor, it is also a possibility that it will take some time to become comfortable with your mentor.

Is there anything else I should know about my contacts?

The Alumni Mentors who have volunteered for the Mentor Program want to share their experiences and knowledge and should not be solicited directly for employment. While resume critiquing, internships, job shadowing, and informational interviewing are possible outcomes of a student/mentor relationship, they cannot be guaranteed and should not be expected.

Before you contact your Alumni Mentor, you should be sure to consider your level of commitment to the program. Also, please note that all conversations and/or meetings with your mentor should be conducted in a professional matter. In networking, good impressions are key.

The Alumni Mentors do not have access to your address or telephone number, although they can view your email address once you have saved their information to your folder.

Additionally, everyone likes to be acknowledged for her or his time and energy. Following up with your Alumni Mentor with a note, call, or email of gratitude is highly encouraged.