Alumni
DCU and Fingal Junior Chamber Mentorship Programme
A joint venture between Fingal Junior Chamber,
Dublin City University Careers Service and DCU Alumni
Mentors and Mentees at the Inspirational Speaker event - December 2004
Programme Sponsor
DCU Educational Trust
DCU Alumni in conjunction with DCU Careers Service and the Fingal Junior Chamber of Commerce is co-ordinating a mentorship programme. The programme was launched in 2003 and is proving to be very successful. By mentoring, graduates share their experience with students and it's an opportunity for professional development. It is also an opportunity to give something back to the university while having some fun as well.
Calling all Mentors
We would like to invite graduates to mentor second year students and this year we would like to raise the number to 50 mentors, one per student. We are seeking graduates from business; science; engineering and IT; and humanities and social sciences to meet with students.
- What is Mentorship
- Calendar of Events
- Benefits and Goals
- Testimonials from Mentors
- Mentor Roles and Responsibilities
- Mentee Roles and Responsibilities
- Activities
- Questions and Answers
- How do I apply?
What is Mentorship?
Mentoring is an interactive learning and educational experience, provided to students to assist them in their personal and career development. Each mentoring relationship involves two people to facilitate an exchange of business experience, knowledge, expertise and career advice. A mentorship pair consists of a mentor and a mentee (student). The mentor acts as a role model for the student. The mentor shares his/her personal and business experiences to advise, guide and inform the student.
• Mentorship is designed to help you make contacts in the business community and to provide you with an opportunity to enhance your professional skills outside the classroom.
• As a business professional, your mentor can respond to your questions, help you make connections, and give you feedback on your job search skills.
"A Mentor is a person who, through a negotiated programme of regular support, assists in the development of another person - the mentee...There is an underlying respect from and towards both parties at all times...Finally, there is a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each party within this programme." Ref: Mentoring Young People: Lessons from Youthstart, April 2000
Calendar of Events
28 October 2004
Opening event - introductory event to meet your `mentee'
18 November 2004
Social event - Bowling night, which is great fun and it, helps bond mentors with students and vice versa
2 December 2004
Inspirational speaker - the speaker will challenge your thinking and motivate you to positive action
17 February 2004
Business game
24 March 2004
Feedback from work shadowing day in the form of presentations
14 April 2004
Closing event
Benefits and Goals
Benefits to Mentees:
- Work with an experienced role model from the business community.
- Gain an insight into the workplace and link your academic programme to the world of work.
- Increase your understanding of the entrepreneurial spirit and the range of business opportunities available.
- Broaden your awareness of the variety and scope of economic activities comprising the area's business community.
- Strengthen your confidence and self-awareness.
- Add the programme to your CV.
Benefits to Mentors:
- Participate in a unique programme connected to both DCU and the Junior Chamber organisation.
- Share your experiences with young people interested in your line of business.
- Establish / Re-establish a link with the university community.
- Network with other mentors / colleagues from various industry sectors.
- Keep you up to date with academic developments in your line of business.
Testimonials from Mentors
"As a Business Studies graduate I was delighted to be given a second year BBS undergraduate to mentor. It enabled me to give something back to DCU and am delighted to have re-established a link with the university." James Corcoran, BBS 1990, Mentor 2003/2004
"Participation in the mentoring programme gave me the opportunity to provide support to a student, which I would have availed of if the programme had existed during my time at DCU." Tony Costigan, BBS 1990, Mentor 2003/2004
"Initially I thought that this was going to be hard work but in hindsight to be a mentor was mainly great fun. I hugely enjoyed the various events and the interaction with the students. I learnt as much from my mentee as she gained from me." Tommy Nielson, Fingal Junior Chamber of Commerce, Mentor 2003/2004
Mentor Roles and Responsibilities
To successfully achieve the goals of the programme, all participants must work together. Thank you for volunteering your time - without the dedication of the mentors, we could not provide this programme. In addition, Dublin City University Careers Service, DCU Alumni, Fingal Junior Chamber and the DCU Educational Trust are committed to providing an excellent programme of events to support the mentoring relationship. Please contact the programme with any questions or concerns.
Mentees:
The mentees participating in the programme are taking the first step to proactively managing their career. They will be responsible for communicating their goals and expectations and initiating regular contact with you throughout the programme. The mentees are second year DCU students.
Mentor Roles and Responsibilities:
- Commit to regular contact - at least once per month at the programme events to allow your student to get the full benefit of the programme.
- Establish from outset the needs and expectations of your student - including the amount of time and guidance they expect and the amount you can provide.
- Work with the student to help him/her develop and establish realistic and obtainable career goals.
- Where appropriate, promote your mentee's accomplishments to others in your department and institution, as well as at conferences and other meetings.
- Give constructive criticism as well as praise when warranted. Present it with specific suggestions for improvement.
- Include your mentee in professional activities whenever possible.
- Teach mentees how to seek other career help whenever possible.
- Be willing to provide support for people different from yourself. Avoid the temptation to assist only those who are most similar to yourself.
- Encourage your student to explore new areas.
- Attend scheduled events and notify the programme if you are unable to attend.
- Follow up on commitments made to the student.
- Contact your student if you are unable to attend scheduled meetings and return phone calls/emails in a timely fashion.
- Contact programme staff if you have a concern about the mentor relationship.
DCU Careers Service;
Muireann Ni Dhuigneain;
Head, Careers Service: Ph. 7005163: Email: careers@DCU.ie
DCU Alumni;
Yvonne McLoughlin;
Alumni Officer: Ph. 7005530: Email. Alumni@DCU.ie
Mentee Roles and Responsibilities
Dublin City University Careers Service, DCU Alumni, Fingal Junior Chamber, the DCU Educational Trust and business professionals from the Fingal community have collaborated to provide you with an excellent programme of events to support the mentoring relationship. However, the only person that can ensure personal reward from the programme is you. You've taken the first step to proactively managing your career by applying for and participating in the DCU mentorship programme. We now encourage you to use the guidelines below to make your experience a success.
General:
- Be proactive and willing to meet your mentor at least once a month.
- Discuss your goals, expectations, and what you hope to gain from the relationship with your mentor.
- Contact your mentor. This may require persistence on your part. Leave messages that inform him/her when and how to reach you.
Meeting your mentor:
- Initiate regular contact with your mentor via phone, email and/or meetings.
- Get the most out of meetings with your mentor by arriving prepared with questions.
Professional Approach:
- Act professional at all times, and return phone calls/emails in a timely fashion.
- Ensure you are on time for all meetings and contact your mentor if you are unable to attend a scheduled meeting.
- The relationship is not designed to provide you with employment, therefore, mentors should not be solicited for job leads within their company.
Contact Details:
- Watch your email throughout the programme for important mentorship programme instructions and updates.
- If your contact information changes during the programme, please contact DCU Careers Service to update your information so you will receive all the necessary programme information and so we have a way of connecting with you.
- Contact DCU Careers Service if you have any concerns about the mentor relationship. Muireann Ni Dhuigneain: Ph. 7005163: Email. careers@DCU.ie
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Activities
Together, we will provide a diverse programme of monthly events to support the mentoring relationship. The events have been selected to provide students with a variety of experiences outside the classroom including networking, a company job shadow day, business games, etc. Both mentors and mentees should plan to attend all of these events to gain full benefit from the programme. Please see the timeline insert for dates and details of these events.
In addition to the monthly events, each mentor/mentee pair should work together to set goals for additional contact during the programme. You will not have time to fulfil every type of activity and you do not need to, to be effective. Mentors should let their mentee know where they are willing to help and what kind of information or support they can give that they believe will be particularly helpful.
Activities:
The table of activities below is not intended to be exhaustive or required.
This is a short list to start you thinking about what your goals and activities might be during the programme.
One-to-one Activities |
Company Activities |
• Review curriculum vitae / letters of application |
• Attend professional company events |
• Practice interview techniques |
• Attend community involvement events or in a volunteer activity or organisation |
• Conduct interview role plays |
• Attend company social events as appropriate |
• Share business experiences and insights |
• Take a tour of the company or customer facilities |
• Act as sounding board by providing constructive criticism and honest advice to projects, career goals, etc |
• Shadow your mentor for a day |
• Provide professional advice |
• Attend company or staff board meetings |
• Act as a reference for student |
• Organise student interviews within the mentor's company for the student to interview various colleagues |
• Introduce student to other professional colleagues |
• Work on a project at the mentor's company - for experience, no payment should be expected and no job. |
• Read and discuss a book or current events |
Questions and Answers
What are the contact details for the programme?
What is the Mentorship Programme?
What makes this programme unique?
Will the programme have a cost to participants?
Will transportation to events be provided?
Will I receive a certificate for the programme?
Whom should I contact if I cannot attend an event?
Who are mentorship programme partners?
A: DCU Careers Service
Muireann Ni Dhuigneain
Ph: 700 5163
Email: careers@DCU.ie
DCU Alumni
Email: Alumni@DCU.ie
Q: What is the Mentorship Programme?
A: The programme, now in its second year, is a joint venture between DCU Careers Service, JCI Chamber of Commerce and DCU Alumni. The programme has been created to provide students and mentors with an opportunity to meet, to discuss career goals, to network, to have fun in a social environment and to assist students in enhancing their professional skills outside the classroom.
Q: What makes this programme unique?
A: The DCU and Junior Chamber Mentorship Programme is the first of it's kind anywhere in Ireland. It is unique for two reasons:(1) The strong relationship with Junior Chamber and the Fingal community is a first attempt at leveraging young, business professionals in the local area. (2) The monthly events also add a unique aspect as they take some of the responsibility of mentoring and ideas for activities off the mentor. The events also provide mentees with a diverse set of business activities where they can develop professional skills.
Q: Will the programme have a cost to participants?
A: The cost of all programme events will be covered by our sponsor, the DCU Educational Trust. Additional costs incurred outside the organised events are at your expense.
Q: Will transportation to events be provided?
A: Most events will take place on the DCU campus. Students and mentors should coordinate transportation for the Job Shadow event and to the Social event.
Q: Will I receive a certificate for the programme?
A: On completion of the programme, students will receive a certificate of participation.
Q: Whom should I contact if I cannot attend an event?
A: Students should contact Muireann Ni Dhuigneain at DCU Careers Service.
Q: Who are mentorship programme partners?
A: Fingal Junior Chamber of Commerce, DCU Careers Service, DCU Alumni and the DCU Educational Trust have collaborated to make possible the mentorship programme.
Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCI) is an International organisation dedicated to serving the community, developing networking opportunities and supporting the self-development of its members. The Fingal chapter is one of over 9,000 chapters worldwide representing over 123 different nations and territories. In total, JCI has grown to more than 400,000 active members since it was founded in 1944.
DCU Careers Service aims to help students make informed career decisions, set realistic goals, and develop the skills necessary to accomplish their goals. The Careers Service provides a wide range of services to help meet the career planning and job search needs of DCU students.
DCU Alumni is the graduate association that helps graduates keep in touch with DCU and with each other both socially and professionally. The Alumni Office is committed to giving graduates an opportunity to learn, share and collaborate as well as providing you with information on learning and job updates, social events, networking and volunteering opportunities. There are over 23,500 graduates of DCU.
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