Contact Us
Marquette University
Career Services Center
Holthusen Hall, First Floor
1324 W. Wisconsin Avenue
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
Phone: (414) 288-7423
Fax: (414) 288-5302
E-mail | Staff Directory
CIRCLES eMENTOR NETWORK
| About the Circles eMentor Network |
| Tips for Interacting with a Mentor |
| Conversation Starters |
| Other Mentor Opportunities at Marquette |
| Why Networking is so Important |
ABOUT THE CIRCLES eMENTOR NETWORK
Connecting alumni to Marquette University Students and
Alumni for Career Networking
We are pleased to offer CIRCLES eMentor Network using LinkedIn!
- STUDENTS: Sign up to be admitted to the CIRCLES eMentor Network.
- ALUMNI MENTORS: If you are a Marquette alumnus/a who would like to become a mentor to a student or young alum, please register via the MU Connect alumni website.
Your eMentor relationship will bring the following benefits:
- Provide mentees with advice about careers, industries/industry trends and organizations within your areas of expertise.
- Timely, professional responses to inquiries.
- Freedom to set the frequency of your communication and the method (e-mail, telephone, in-person meetings, job site visits, etc.).
DO NOT expect your eMentor to:
- Provide job opportunities.
- Review resumes.
- Review business venture proposals.
- Interview students or participate in extended communication over time.
TIPS FOR INTERACTING WITH A MENTOR
Students: Once you have searched the CIRCLES eMentor LinkedIn group, contacted a mentor and agreed upon a communications schedule, following are a few suggestions to consider to maximize your relationship:
Guidelines for interacting with a CIRCLES mentor:
- Professionalism. Remember to keep your communication on a professional level.
- Respect their time. Alumni have careers, families, projects and other responsibilities. Keep this in mind prior to and during any interaction.
- Focus. Outlining exactly what you'd like to better understand or ask the mentor prior to the interaction can help them prepare a more thorough response. It also demonstrates that you're focused.
- Keep in touch/stay connected. Chances are you'll learn more through a variety of conversations rather than just one interaction. Reiterate your interest in staying connected and ask if they can be a resource if you have other questions..
- Show appreciation. Always say thanks (or write a thank you note) for their insights.
Tips for getting the most out of your interaction with a CIRCLES mentor:
- Select a manageable number of alumni volunteers.
- Complete your LinkedIn profile. Have a completed Linkedin profile to provide a scope of your skills and interest, including a resume, photo and references.
- Take initiative. Remember that alumni in the eMentor Network have volunteered to be a part of this group. They want to help you.
- Patience is a virtue. Be patient after you initially reach out to a mentor. It may take a couple of days to follow up with you. If you don't hear from them for a week, it's appropriate to follow-up again.
- Get to know me. Begin your correspondence with a brief background about yourself (your interests, why you're interested in connecting with them). Then move into questions that you may have. See sample conversation starters.
- Keep it simple and profesional. Remember to keep your communication on a professional level, using complete sentences sentences and proper grammar.
CONVERSTATION STARTERS
Tips for writing your initial message to your mentor:
- Be comfortable. As you stepped onto the Marquette University campus you became part of the Marquette community. Typically, MU alumni want to help MU students and alumni. Mentors have joined the CIRCLES eMentor Network to do just that.
- Be original. When you send your initial communication to the mentor, use your creativity. Share why you'd like to connect with the mentor and what interests you about their career (interesting job that you're considering, you'd like to move to that city, maybe they had a previous job you'd like to learn more about). It shows you spent some time learning about that individual and it may stand out from other communication they receive..
- Give a little, get a little. You’re asking for help of some sort, so be ready to give something, whether it’s gratitude or offering some insights about what's new on campus.
other mentor opportunities at Marquette
In addition to the CIRCLES eMentor Network, several Marquette colleges also have mentoring programs for students.
College of Business Administration Mentor Program
The Marquette University Business Mentor Program is co-sponsored by the College of Business Administration and Marquette University Business Administration Alumni Association and offers an excellent opportunity for junior-level students to learn about business from business professionals.
Diederich College of Communication Mentoring Program
A collaboration between the Diederich College of Communication and the College of Communication Alumni Association, the mentor program seeks to help students gain valuable insight into career choices, get helpful tips on their career search process and practice networking skills.
College of Nursing Project: BEYOND
The Project BEYOND team invites registered nurses to share their knowledge and expertise to help nurture College of Nursing undergraduate students. Serve as a role model, share knowledge, provide direction and promote development within the nursing profession.
WHY NETWORKING IS SO IMPORTANT
Regardless of the job market, networking can be instrumental to one's success. By definition, networking is the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business. In essence, networking is built around the premise that if one gives business to others, one will get business in return.
As we tell all Marquette University students upon entering, “You are now part of the Marquette family.” One benefit of this “family” is being connected to thousands of professionals in a variety of career fields, industries and professions. Most MU alumni are very interested in helping out a fellow Golden Eagle.
Using a common platform for connection such as Linkedin allows contacts to keep updated contact and professional information readily available.
Common reasons for networking:
- Learn about career fields, industries, or occupations - Searching for someone in your career field of interest gives you a chance to hear first-hand what a particular career is really like. Students choosing majors, defining career goals, or weighing career choices may find this helpful.
- Network with a professional in a specific organization - Prior to interviewing or even considering pursuing an opportunity within an organization, it is recommended that prospective employees learn all they can about that organization. By networking, candidates can learn who the decision makers are, what departments might be hiring, what it is really like to work within the organization, who might be available to help with preparing for the interview process, and much more.
- Research geographic locations - If you are relocating to a new city, state, or region and seeking a new position, connecting with Marquette University alumni ahead of time could help you learn about organizations within your career field to target.
- Solicit advice specific to your career - In addition to consulting with career counselors and academic advisors, connecting with professionals in your field of interest can offer added insight to your strength as a candidate. Getting the inside scoop can give you the leg-up when competing with hundreds of other candidates for the same positions.
We are pleased to offer CIRCLES eMentor Network using Linkedin!
- STUDENTS: Sign up to be admitted to the CIRCLES eMentor Network.
- ALUMNI MENTORS: If you are a Marquette alumnus/a who would like to become a mentor to a student or young alum, please register via the MU Connect alumni website.
