Career Mentorship Program

Stow-Munroe Falls High School

Since its inception in 1996, the Mentorship Program is designed to connect juniors and seniors with members of the business community who are willing to offer experience and expertise in a field of interest that the students wish to pursue after graduation.

The student will engage in learning, assume responsibilities and increase their knowledge about the business world that paid employment seldom provides. The semester course offers 0.5 credit hours.

Internship Program

A mentor is someone in the same career field as the mentee. Adult mentors would become partners in education, offering students firsthand career exploration experiences. Working with a mentor can help a student answer important questions concerning their future career choice.

1. The program is nonprofit, neither mentors nor students receive monetary compensation.
2. A job site is required.
3. A minimum of 4-8 hours per week for 12-13 weeks.
4. A total of 45 hours are accrued during the mentorship program.
5. A timesheet must be signed to verify the student's hours of participation.
6. Mentors should provide a variety of experiences relating to the student's career choice.
7. Mentors should allow him/her to observe the mentor in action.
8. mentors should allow him/her to engage in some appropriate responsibilities.
9. Mentors should participate in the final evaluation of the student's performance.
10. Transportation is provided by the student.

FOR THE STUDENT:

• Provides a first-hand look at a specific career field
• Develop good communication and Decision-Making skills
• Gives a better understanding of work and work-related skills
• Builds confidence and self-esteem through increased responsibility
• Links education and academic skills to the world of work.

FOR THE MENTOR:

• Informs students about careers in the selected industry or profession
• Provides an opportunity to share knowledge and expertise
• Helps students make appropriate education choices towards a chosen career goal
• Prepares future members of the workforce
• Provides personal satisfaction through one-on-one teaching.

FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY:

• Increases visibility of participating industry or profession in the community
• Develops links between business and education
• Helps students prepare for tomorrow's world of work
• Gives employees an opportunity to participate in community activity.

Phase One - Daily Class (about four weeks)

• Career Assessment, review ICP (Individual Career Plan)
• Career Clusters and career research
• Create resume
• Write profile letter
• Practice interviewing skills
• Career goals - Mentorship goals
• Interview with mentor
• Parent, student, mentor, teacher meet

Phase Two

• Spend 4-8 hours a week with mentor at mentor site
• Journal writing - experiences, questions, concerns, assigned topics
• Documented timesheet - mentor and parent signatures required
• Brief weekly update appointment with school coordinator
• Weekly seminars - EVERY WEDNESDAY - networking, stress management, communication skills, problem solving, balancing work and family, leadership, processing mentoring experiences.

Phase Three

• Analyze and interpret career experience
• Portfolio presentation...mentor, teacher, parents, friends
• Career Passport

It is a pleasure to introduce the Career Mentorship Program being offered at Stow-Munroe Falls High School this year. mentorship allows juniors and seniors to explore career possibilities by linking them with members of the business community who are willing to offer experience and expertise in fields the student may wish to pursue after graduation.

What is a mentor?

A mentor is someone working in the field of your interest. The mentor opens doors so you can gain a variety of experiences. Working with a mentor can help you answer important questions like:

Would I really enjoy this job? What is the career like on a day-to-day basis? Does the job match up with my skills and interests? What advice would someone in the field give me? How might this job change in the future? What goals do I need to set for myself if I decide to pursue this career?

What is involved in the course?

1. DAILY CLASS INVOLVEMENT: (approximately first four weeks)

You will need to complete all necessary forms, career research and goals unit as well as type your resume and cover letter.

2. MENTOR INTERVIEW:

Once in the program, you'll be "matched up" with your mentor and a meeting will be arranged between you, the mentor and the mentorship coordinator. Information will be exchanged concerning goals, expectations, and scheduling.

3. SCHEDULING TIME COMMITMENT:

You will participate in 40-45 hours of learning experiences (voluntary unpaid time) at your mentor-site, or more if desired! The hours you'll spend at the mentor-site are arranged around your schedule and that of your mentor. Hours can be spread out over a 10-12 week span or done in a shorter, more condensed time frame and can be arranged during open times in your school day, after school or on weekends. Regularly scheduled classes are not to be missed because of mentorship.

4. SEMINARS & APPOINTMENTS:

During the first four weeks and the last two weeks of school you will meet daily to do career surveys and research, write a resume and career goals, plan for the interview with your mentor, and summarize and evaluate the mentorship experience. Occasionally, you will need to make an appointment with your school coordinator to discuss concerns, problems and progress. Once per week you'll meet with other students in the Mentorship Program. These weekly meetings will enable you to discuss and process topics that relate to career planning, preparation and coordination. Attendance at the seminars are mandatory.

5. RECORD KEEPING:

You'll be keeping a time log of your Mentorship hours and a journal of you weekly experiences and activities pertaining to your mentorship. Journal topics will be assigned and discussed in seminar. Utilize your monthly calendar to keep track of your hours worked, up coming hours planned, and due dates of class assignments.

6. FINAL PRESENTATION & PORTFOLIO:

At the end of the semester, you'll give an individual, 15-20 minute presentation of what you've learned through your mentorship experience. You'll get to show off new skills, discuss your personal growth, and share other thoughts with a small group of people including your family, invited friends, and of course your mentor.

If you enjoy your experience and want to continue pursuing a career in that area, your mentor can help you move forward towards your goals. Adults build networks of friends and contacts in their field and now you can be in that network, too!

Successful completion of your mentorship means that you attend all weekly seminars, meet weekly with your school coordinator, successfully complete 45 hours at the mentor-site, turn in all time logs and journal assignments, and do a good job on your final presentation. Colleges and future employers will be extremely impressed with this credit on your transcript and resume!

Is designed to meet the needs of the individual students and to meet the request of the community to provide young people with realistic career experiences.

Juniors and Seniors will volunteer 4 to 8 hours per week for 12 to 13 weeks at a mentorship site which will enable them to obtain a clearer picture of their chosen career area.

Students will meet once a week at Stow-Munroe Falls High School for weekly seminars to discuss specific topics and to share mentorship experiences. Students will be keeping written journals and a time sheet to record their experiences and to document the hours they spend at the mentor site. Mentors will be ask to sign the weekly time sheets to verify the hours spent on site.

At the end of the mentorship, the mentor will be asked to complete an evaluation of the student's performance. The student will create and present a portfolio presentation which best describes the mentorship experience. An invitation will be extended to the mentor to attend this presentation.

A MENTOR WILL FILL MANY DIFFERENT ROLES:

ROLE MODEL - A mentee will observe the mentor as an adult, employee, citizen, and community member.

ADVISOR - The mentor will provide information and expertise in a particular area in order to aid the mentee in making informed decisions.

COACH - The mentor will help the student learn specific skills about their job and the workplace.

COUNSELOR - The mentor will have opportunities to help the student think through career, personal, and academic questions.

EVALUATOR - The mentor will monitor the mentee's performance and offer constructive feedback about his/her progress.

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