Business Connections Mentoring Handbook

“Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.” - Tony Robbins

Keys to Effective Mentoring Relationships  Set Goals  Define Expectations  Find Common Interests  Establish Trust

 Come With Questions  Create Learning Moments  Evaluate the Mentorship Together  Have Fun!

BUSINESS CONNECTIONS Mentoring Handbook

Business Connections is made possible through the generous support of the Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation.

Contact Us If you have a physical location, provide brief directional information, such as highways or landmarks: Dept 2400 PO Box 6050 Fargo ND 58108 Phone: (701) 231-8651 Email: ndsu.businessmentor@ndsu.edu Web: https://ndsubusiness.xinspire.com/

NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY College of Business

Program Overview

Organizational Overview

Business Connections…

Discuss the purpose and function of the mentor’s current position and how it fits into the overall structure of their organization.

Is a mentoring program that aims to provide undergraduate students in the NDSU College of Business with invaluable opportunities to explore various career fields and options, to test their personal experiences and classroom learning against real-world situations, and to be benefit from the free exchange of ideas with established business professionals who have been down the road before them.

What Is Mentoring?

Mentoring is a relationship in which an experienced professional gives of his or her time and expertise, typically to an individual less experiences in a particular field. More than simply providing information though, mentors offer a listening ear, careful advice, discernment, and encouragement regarding career choices and opportunities.

Company Materials Whether online or otherwise in print, share some of the organization’s promotional, recruitment, or new-employee orientation materials and review them together.

Seize Your Opportunities Possibilities abound. Consider a book study, volunteering together, attending (virtually) a Wold Conversation in Business Ethics lecture through the College of Business, or sharing your favorite Ted Talk.

The Business Connections program was the perfect way for me to get “real-world” experience. The connections that I’ve and the skills that I’ve learned from this program have proved to be invaluable.

Brandon Schulze BS Business Administration Major 2019 & 2020 mentee

Through this program…

Mentees can expect to:  Expand perspectives on a range of career opportunities  Experience meaningful interactions with business professionals  Establish a network of professional contacts  Gain real-world insight of business perspectives  Develop confidence via leadership and person initiative  Obtain an insider view of leading industries and careers

Concluding the Mentorship The mentorship concludes when both the mentee and the mentor agree that the goals and expectations have been met. At that time, both parties will be asked to complete a program evaluation.

Mentoring relationships may continue after the “formal” sessions end, but the expectation is that the formal mentoring program sponsored by the College of Business will conclude by the end of spring semester.

5

Mentorship Activities Use this list for ideas of activities you might choose in order to tailor the mentorship experience to best meet your needs.

Who Leads?

Resume Reviews and Mock Interview

Students are expected to take a leadership role in the mentoring process and to direct their own education experience.

Resumes are living documents continuously updated. Use the mentoring relationship to try out different formats and share ideas for an effective resume. Similarly, set up a practice interview. What are suggestions to projecting calm and confidence under pressure?

Students may not be used to setting goals, guiding the conversation, or preparing an agenda when meeting with a more experienced career professional. We encourage you to work through this together, as it can be a valuable learning experience for a mentee.

I was able to create a professional relationship with an encouraging and supportive role model. My mentor acted as a professional guide to identify, create, and achieve my career goals.

Karen Soutthivong BS Management Major 2020 mentee

Company Tours Tours can be virtual or in-person. What should a new employee know or ask about a company before accepting a job? What does the typical work space look like? How have remote working arrangements affect businesses?

Informational Interview Schedule 30-45 minutes for mentees to ask questions about your mentor’s career history, get advice on how to prepare for your future career field or organization, and to discuss industry trends and opportunities.

Connect with Colleagues Seek and create opportunities to connect with others in the organization, observe organizational culture, or network with additional professionals.

4

Following the mentor and mentee orientation sessions, both mentors and mentees will be provided with contact information. At this point, the student should take the lead with the following areas of responsibility:  Initiate meeting arrangements  Plan and present each meeting’s agenda, including specific educational goals or learning objectives  Draw the mentorship to a close at an appropriate time  Evaluate the impact of the experience on their personal and professional development

Maximizing the Mentorship Experience Most students meet with their mentor six to ten times during the course of the academic year. Meetings may be held in person, online through video conferencing, or by phone. The method will depend on each person’s physical location, as well as personal preference.

In order to maximize your time:  Develop a tentative schedule of activities and clearly note the date and meeting method  After each meeting, the student should log into the Business Connections website to log the interaction.  Clearly define expectations for how and when to communicate a change in plans.

1

Expectations

Mentoring 101 Tips & Techniques

We believe that mentors show leadership to those they mentor by modeling lifelong applied learning. Similarly, mentees develop healthy practices of professionalism.

Be Available to meet at reasonable intervals… e.g. 1-2 times per month.

Value each other’s time and fulfill your established time commitment.

Reply to emails and phone calls within 2 business days or other agreed upon schedule.

Establish clear expectations regarding meetings, job shadowing, or any other interaction.

Prepare yourself by setting goals for the mentoring experience.

Communicate respectfully and responsibly.

Evaluate your experience at the conclusion of the mentoring program.

Contact Nancy Emerson in the College of Business if you have any questions or concerns regarding your mentoring relationship or the program overall: (701) 231-5562 nancy.emerson@ndsu.edu

2

Mentors learn from their mentees as much as they teach. Here are tips to create an atmosphere of learning as you develop a deeper rapport within your mentoring relationship.

Availability

Affirmation

Be present when you meet. It’s important to devote your time and attention to the relationship. Eliminate distractions. Twenty minutes of uninterrupted time is better than an hour that includes checking text messages and email.

People learn best in contexts of support and encouragement. Celebrate progress and practice gratitude.

Vulnerability Current events have unveiled insecurities and uncertainty in the world. What are your hopes and dreams? What are your fears or anxieties? Be willing to share both failures and successes with each other.

Information Exchange Come with questions for each other.

Intentional inquiry leads to discovery.

Advice Mentors often serve as guides to their mentee. Be willing to share knowledge, skills, and character traits that are perceived as critical in leadership.

Mentees are encouraged to ask, “How specifically can I improve?”

Discussion Stories, dialogue, and role playing client interaction can be effective learning tools. In business and in life, we don’t always have time to plan the perfect response. Being challenged to think on our feet develops critical thinking skills.

3

Expectations

Mentoring 101 Tips & Techniques

We believe that mentors show leadership to those they mentor by modeling lifelong applied learning. Similarly, mentees develop healthy practices of professionalism.

Be Available to meet at reasonable intervals… e.g. 1-2 times per month.

Value each other’s time and fulfill your established time commitment.

Reply to emails and phone calls within 2 business days or other agreed upon schedule.

Establish clear expectations regarding meetings, job shadowing, or any other interaction.

Prepare yourself by setting goals for the mentoring experience.

Communicate respectfully and responsibly.

Evaluate your experience at the conclusion of the mentoring program.

Contact Nancy Emerson in the College of Business if you have any questions or concerns regarding your mentoring relationship or the program overall: (701) 231-5562 nancy.emerson@ndsu.edu

2

Mentors learn from their mentees as much as they teach. Here are tips to create an atmosphere of learning as you develop a deeper rapport within your mentoring relationship.

Availability

Affirmation

Be present when you meet. It’s important to devote your time and attention to the relationship. Eliminate distractions. Twenty minutes of uninterrupted time is better than an hour that includes checking text messages and email.

People learn best in contexts of support and encouragement. Celebrate progress and practice gratitude.

Vulnerability Current events have unveiled insecurities and uncertainty in the world. What are your hopes and dreams? What are your fears or anxieties? Be willing to share both failures and successes with each other.

Information Exchange Come with questions for each other.

Intentional inquiry leads to discovery.

Advice Mentors often serve as guides to their mentee. Be willing to share knowledge, skills, and character traits that are perceived as critical in leadership.

Mentees are encouraged to ask, “How specifically can I improve?”

Discussion Stories, dialogue, and role playing client interaction can be effective learning tools. In business and in life, we don’t always have time to plan the perfect response. Being challenged to think on our feet develops critical thinking skills.

3

Mentorship Activities Use this list for ideas of activities you might choose in order to tailor the mentorship experience to best meet your needs.

Who Leads?

Resume Reviews and Mock Interview

Students are expected to take a leadership role in the mentoring process and to direct their own education experience.

Resumes are living documents continuously updated. Use the mentoring relationship to try out different formats and share ideas for an effective resume. Similarly, set up a practice interview. What are suggestions to projecting calm and confidence under pressure?

Students may not be used to setting goals, guiding the conversation, or preparing an agenda when meeting with a more experienced career professional. We encourage you to work through this together, as it can be a valuable learning experience for a mentee.

I was able to create a professional relationship with an encouraging and supportive role model. My mentor acted as a professional guide to identify, create, and achieve my career goals.

Karen Soutthivong BS Management Major 2020 mentee

Company Tours Tours can be virtual or in-person. What should a new employee know or ask about a company before accepting a job? What does the typical work space look like? How have remote working arrangements affect businesses?

Informational Interview Schedule 30-45 minutes for mentees to ask questions about your mentor’s career history, get advice on how to prepare for your future career field or organization, and to discuss industry trends and opportunities.

Connect with Colleagues Seek and create opportunities to connect with others in the organization, observe organizational culture, or network with additional professionals.

4

Following the mentor and mentee orientation sessions, both mentors and mentees will be provided with contact information. At this point, the student should take the lead with the following areas of responsibility:  Initiate meeting arrangements  Plan and present each meeting’s agenda, including specific educational goals or learning objectives  Draw the mentorship to a close at an appropriate time  Evaluate the impact of the experience on their personal and professional development

Maximizing the Mentorship Experience Most students meet with their mentor six to ten times during the course of the academic year. Meetings may be held in person, online through video conferencing, or by phone. The method will depend on each person’s physical location, as well as personal preference.

In order to maximize your time:  Develop a tentative schedule of activities and clearly note the date and meeting method  After each meeting, the student should log into the Business Connections website to log the interaction.  Clearly define expectations for how and when to communicate a change in plans.

1

Program Overview

Organizational Overview

Business Connections…

Discuss the purpose and function of the mentor’s current position and how it fits into the overall structure of their organization.

Is a mentoring program that aims to provide undergraduate students in the NDSU College of Business with invaluable opportunities to explore various career fields and options, to test their personal experiences and classroom learning against real-world situations, and to be benefit from the free exchange of ideas with established business professionals who have been down the road before them.

What Is Mentoring?

Mentoring is a relationship in which an experienced professional gives of his or her time and expertise, typically to an individual less experiences in a particular field. More than simply providing information though, mentors offer a listening ear, careful advice, discernment, and encouragement regarding career choices and opportunities.

Company Materials Whether online or otherwise in print, share some of the organization’s promotional, recruitment, or new-employee orientation materials and review them together.

Seize Your Opportunities Possibilities abound. Consider a book study, volunteering together, attending (virtually) a Wold Conversation in Business Ethics lecture through the College of Business, or sharing your favorite Ted Talk.

The Business Connections program was the perfect way for me to get “real-world” experience. The connections that I’ve and the skills that I’ve learned from this program have proved to be invaluable.

Brandon Schulze BS Business Administration Major 2019 & 2020 mentee

Through this program…

Mentees can expect to:  Expand perspectives on a range of career opportunities  Experience meaningful interactions with business professionals  Establish a network of professional contacts  Gain real-world insight of business perspectives  Develop confidence via leadership and person initiative  Obtain an insider view of leading industries and careers

Concluding the Mentorship The mentorship concludes when both the mentee and the mentor agree that the goals and expectations have been met. At that time, both parties will be asked to complete a program evaluation.

Mentoring relationships may continue after the “formal” sessions end, but the expectation is that the formal mentoring program sponsored by the College of Business will conclude by the end of spring semester.

5

“Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.” - Tony Robbins

Keys to Effective Mentoring Relationships  Set Goals  Define Expectations  Find Common Interests  Establish Trust

 Come With Questions  Create Learning Moments  Evaluate the Mentorship Together  Have Fun!

BUSINESS CONNECTIONS Mentoring Handbook

Business Connections is made possible through the generous support of the Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation.

Contact Us If you have a physical location, provide brief directional information, such as highways or landmarks: Dept 2400 PO Box 6050 Fargo ND 58108 Phone: (701) 231-8651 Email: ndsu.businessmentor@ndsu.edu Web: https://ndsubusiness.xinspire.com/

NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY College of Business