1. By
Jerry Cahn, PhD, JD
January 25, 2013
© Presentation Excellence Group, 2013

2. Why Care about Student Mentoring?
 Youth unemployment (<25 years) is 16% in the US (2012)
 Associated Press reported that 50%+ of college students do
not find jobs matching their skills level (2011)
 McKinsey found that few young people know how to get the
right education for a decent job or launch themselves on a
viable career path (2012)
 Areas with highest youth under-employment have greater
crime rates and other social problems

3. Mentoring Helps Young People Grow
Many people credit internships for career success, including:
Carl Bernstein - The Washington Star
Steven Bochco - Universal Studios
Bill Gates - Congressional Page
Spike Lee - Columbia Pictures
Rob Reiner - Regional Theater on the East Coast
Donald Trump - Trump Corporation (construction)
Mike Wallace - Brookline Citizen
Oprah Winfrey - WTVF-TV (Nashville, TN)
You can make a difference!

4. Agenda
What is Mentoring?
Who are the Players & how do they benefit?
How does a Mentoring Program work?
Next Step: Make a commitment

5. What is Mentoring?
A method of teaching and learning in which:
 An experienced individual teaches and trains
 Someone with less knowledge in a given area
Each party is accountable to the other:
 Mentor – keep process on track
 Mentee – commit to learn
Mentor Mentee

6. Common Mentoring Focii
 Skills – How to write better, use new software, make
effective presentations
 Subject-matter – Learn more about accounting, sales,
research, marketing, engineering, law, politics, etc.
 Work-based habits – Time-management, interpersonal
relationships, communications, delegation
 Organizational issues – Company brand value,
strategy, structure, culture, authority, accountability
 Career path – Speaking-up, take initiative, breadth &
depth of professional development

7. The 4 Parties to a
Mentoring Program

8. Who’s Involved with Mentoring Programs?
 Company Sponsors – CEO, HR, etc.
 Mentors – executives who supervise interns
 School Career Advisors – who seek qualified
placements & help match students
 Students – who want experience

9. Company / Sponsor Benefits
 Recruitment - Identifies new, talented employees
 Gain young people’s perspectives & expertise
(e.g., social media)
 Increase productivity as they work on special projects
 Demonstrates growth commitment to present and
future employees
 Improves staff’s skills & knowledge cost-effectively
 Promote corporate branding
 Good Citizenship – Give back to the community

10. What Does a Mentor Do?
 Serves as expert, coach, counselor, tutor & guide
 Is willing, able and available to share information
 Develops a teaching/learning strategy
 Executes the program
 Adjusts it to optimize learning

11. Mentor Benefits
Mentors grow personally & professionally by:
 Being a teacher
 Improving his/her own work-related skills
 Clarifying his/her own strengths/weaknesses and
executive career path
 Contributing more to the company
 Being recognized by the organization

12. What is the Mentee/Intern Role?
 Wants more experience, knowledge and skills
 Willing to be a trainee/apprentice; ask questions!
 Explore his/her strengths, weaknesses and situational
issues as they affect jobs/careers
 Do what it takes to accomplish
agreed-upon goals
 Use experience to make better
career decisions

13. Mentee / Intern Benefits
 Appreciate your company’s Brand Value
 Practice using “academic” insights and skills
 Acquire “work” skills (e.g., planning, time management,
delegation, accountability and teamwork)
 Develop interpersonal communication skills (e.g.
presentations, reports, memos)
 Understand how companies operate (e.g., strategy,
structure, politics, processes, etc.)
 Identify key truths about careers

14. School Career Advisor Benefits
 Increases number and range of student placements
 Improves quality of student mentoring experiences
for students and sponsors
 Creates a dialogue between corporate and academic
worlds, leading to improved learning opportunities

15. Launching your
Mentoring Program

16. Design the Program
 Identify a Program Coordinator to supervise the
Mentors and work with the schools (Super-Mentor)
 Set program goals and how to measure success
 Determine program scope:
 Number Mentors & Interns Goals Should be
SMART
 Qualifications of Mentors
S Specific
 School level of interns M Measurable
A Achievable
 Disciplines represented
R Realistic
(e.g., accounting, finance, writing,
T Time-defined
sales, marketing, nursing…)

17. Super-Mentor Responsibilities
Coaches Mentors to optimize the impact for everyone
 Help Mentors develop a “teaching” style and
“curriculum” for the student internship.
 Consult with Mentors over inevitable challenges
 Facilitate Mentors’ coaching by offering
management and leadership tools
 Provide Mentors with Executive Development tools
to advance their careers

18. Common Areas for Mentee Coaching
 Time management
 Project planning and organizational tools
 Interpersonal communication skills
 How to delegating and supervise effectively
 Overcome speaking fears &
improve presentations skills
 Acquiring technical skills
(e.g., software, languages)
 Being an effective team member

19. Common Executive Development Issues
 Leadership skills (e.g., when to use supportive,
directive, participative strategies)
 Strategic business development skills
 Encouraging creativity, innovation and teamwork
 Adopting an executive presence (e.g., authenticity,
integrity and branding)
 Presentation & networking skills

20. Coordinating Responsibilities
 Identify types of interns the Mentors would like.
 Work with School Career Advisors to maximize quality
and quantity of students
 Write descriptions of internships
 Set parameters (e.g., hours & pay)
 Provide feedback to school
 Evaluate to improve program
 Provide HR with full review

21. With Mentoring Programs
Everyone Wins!
So Let’s Get Started

22. Be a Mentoring Hero!

23. Thank You !
Mentor Our Kids
is a member of the
Presentation Excellence Group
which provides strategic business development and
leadership training, coaching and consulting services
For further details,
contact 800-493-1334 or
JerryCahn@presentationexcellencegroup.com