UTSA’s Career Mentor Network

Students need as much information as possible to make good career decisions.  UTSA’s Career Mentor Network provides an opportunity for students to get career advice (usually online) from people who have experience in areas that interest them. Our goal is to provide practical information about career options, employment conditions and job responsibilities.

Network members – alumni, parents, employers, staff and other friends of the university – help students explore career options and give insight into some of the realities of the workplace. Mentors are not expected to offer internships or jobs – just information and advice.

Whether you’re an experienced professional with a wealth of information, or a relatively recent graduate with great tips on applying to graduate school or making a transition into the workplace, you’ll find that assisting young Roadrunners is a rewarding experience.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the UTSA Career Mentor Program sponsored by the Career Services Office is to provide an additional learning opportunity to the student outside of the classroom experience.

EXPECTATIONS
Relationships are intended:

1. To be professional in nature
2. To further assist students make the transition from the academic environment to the world of work
3. To offer an opportunity for professional development, networking and an exchange of ideas between experienced professionals and the next generation of leaders.

BENEFITS of PARTICIPATING

Career Mentor:

1. Re-connect with UTSA community
2. Impart your knowledge and expertise
3. Gain a fresh perspective on your industry from the student
4. Increased professional confidence
5. Improved communication, training and/or coaching skills
6. Joy of contributing to the development of a future fellow professional

Student:

1. Learn about career fields of interest
2. Relate what they’re learning in the classroom to the world of work
3. Develop contacts in the work world
4. Exchange ideas

ROLES and RESPONSIBILITIES
Understanding what is expected of the Career Mentor/student will lay the foundation for a successful relationship.

Career Mentor:

1. Provide guidance based on past business experiences
2. Share industry knowledge
3. Assist the student in career selection and with job search techniques
4. Provide opportunities for job shadowing when possible
5. Communicate on a regular basis

Student:

• Initiate the relationship by contacting your Career Mentor
• Convey your expectations of the relationship
• Be flexible to accommodate your Career Mentor’s schedule
• Communicate on a regular basis

How do I join the Network?

It’s easy to sign up as a mentor.

1. On our website, http://www.utsa.edu/careerservices, click on the “Alumni” or “Employer” tab then click on the “Career Mentor” button OR go directly to the Mentor Login via https://www.myinterfase.com/utsa/mentor.
2. New Users will need to click on “Click here to Register” in order to create a new account.
3. You can decide how you want to interact with current Roadrunners through the selection of various items.
4. Complete a brief career profile, providing complete information to help students decide whether to contact you. You can limit the number of times per month that students may contact you.
5. After you click on the Save button to complete the registration, the record will have a Pending status until an Administrator activates the record.
6. The mentor applicant will receive an e-mail from the administrator once the record has been activated.
7. Be sure to write down your login information and password for future use.
8. Make any changes in your mentor status – such as availability or job status - by simply logging in to your account.
9. Now, sit back and wait for a student to contact you.

What will students ask?

Students will inquire about career paths, the need for graduate degrees, industry trends, company culture, etc.  Typical questions might include:

1. What do you find most rewarding/most difficult about your work?
2. How does your job relate to your major at UTSA?
3. What might you have done at UTSA to prepare better for a career in your field?
4. What are the typical daily responsibilities in your job?

Still have questions? Check out our Career Mentor FAQs.