Serve as a Career Mentor

Alumni Mentor Network

Students need as much information as possible to make good career decisions, and the most inspiring advice often comes from the personal experiences of others. Cornell's Alumni Mentor Network provides an opportunity for students to get career advice (usually online) from people who have experience in areas that interest them.

Network members—alumni, parents, and 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. If you are asked an inappropriate question, please take the opportunity to educate students on networking etiquette.

Whether you're an experienced professional with a wealth of information, or are relatively new to your career field, you'll find that assisting young Cornellians is a rewarding experience.

What will students ask?

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

• What do you find most rewarding/most difficult about your work?
• Please describe your careet path.
• How did you make connections in a new city?
• How does your job relate to your major at Cornell?
• What might you have done at Cornell to prepare better for a career in your field?
• What are the typical daily responsibilities in your job?

How do I join the Network?

It's easy to sign up as a mentor using the Cornell CareerNet system.

• On the Alumni Mentor page, click on the "Register" button.
• You can elect to serve as a mentor for Cornellians only (select "Cornell University" from the list of schools) or for students from up to five schools.
• 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.
• Make any changes in your mentor status—such as to designate different schools, to change your profile, or to remove yourself as a mentor—by using the "Edit Info" button at the registration site.