General
Questions
What
is "speed mentoring"?
If you've heard of
speed dating - dozens of people looking for the right match, cycling through
fixed three-minute conversations to quickly sort out prospective future
romantic interests form potential romantic "duds" -- you're on the
right track. Now think rather than meeting a potential future spouse, you are
meeting future potential mentors who share with you their wealth of experience
and become a source of information to help you make the most of your career.
How
will it work?
After
receiving a
brief overview on how speed mentoring works, you will meet one-on-one
with a group of mentors for 5 minutes each, getting to know each other
and discussing your
professional strengths and challenges. An extra hour is scheduled after
the speed mentoring session allowing
you to go back to talk more with the people you have met.
What
should I talk about?
With
mentors coming
from diverse backgrounds, you will have the opportunity to find out
what life is like
in different fields, work environments and cultures. These insights
can help you to prepare for professional challenges you may face after
graduation. We will also provide some recommended questions and
conversation starters to get things rolling.
What's
in it for me?
In
this economy, you're going to want to sharpen your interview skills and
kick start your network before graduation so you can hit the ground
running with your job search. This event is an excellent opportunity
to meet potential mentors in the field
as well as like-minded peers at Cal Poly. In addition, this is a chance
for you to:
- Gain
valuable insights into the current landscape of your chosen field
- Develop
your personal network with new contacts who can provide career direction
and support
- Potentially
identify and cultivate a more long term mentoring relationship
- Collaborate
with peers who are tackling similar career development issues
- Practice
your professional conversation skills with a variety of colleagues
- Tap
into the richness of the Cal Poly community and strengthen your future
professional opportunities
Will
this help me get a job?
This is not a
recruiting event. However, you may ask
mentors to critique and provide input to your resume, interview style, etc.
which may assist you in your job search.
Logistics
When is the event?
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Where is the event held?
Berg Gallery in the Architecture Building (bldg 5- room 105).
How do I apply?
Fill out a mentee interest form here
When
will I know whether I have been selected to participate?
You will hear back
from us by Halloween!
How
much time do I need to commit to the program?
It's a half day
event so we'll need about 5 hours of your time on Saturday, November 14,
2009. If you and a mentor decide to
pursue a longer term mentoring relationship after the event, that is entirely
up to you and outside the scope of Engineering mentoring day.
Will
training be provided?
Yes.
Materials will be posted here to help you prepare for the event. In
addition,
we HIGHLY RECOMMENDED attending one of the following training sessions prior
to the event which will provide you with tools to make the most of this
opportunity. There are four possible time slots, you will only need to attend one.
Dates and Times: (Location pending)
Tuesday, November 3 @ 11:10 or 12:10
Wednesday, November 4 @ 11:10 or 12:10
Eligibility
Who
is eligible to apply?
This
program is targeted for CENG graduating seniors with a grad date over
the next year. However, all interested students are welcome to apply.
I'm not an Engineering students, can I still participate in the event?
Absolutely! We welcome all students interested to receive mentoring.
Others
Who
do I contact if I have additional questions?