The Mentor Effect: Going from Mentee to Mentor

Original article by Levo League

by Akansha Agrawal

I have entered into a full cycle of being a mentee and a mentor: my mentor, Vivian is a Cal alumni, and my mentee Andrea is a sophomore economics student. My relationship with Vivian has been so extremely gratifying that it inspired me to become a mentor — a phenomenon I like to call the ”mentor effect.’ Here’s what I’ve learned along the way.

Utilize Your School’s Alumni Network

I came across Vivian’s profile on Cal’s mentorship program through the alumni network, and I knew she would be the perfect fit for me: we grew up in the same city, we share a similar academic background and we were both passionate about the same industry. Your school’s alumni network is a perfect starting point in your search for a mentor, because chances are you will find someone who shares a similar background and interests.

Discuss Your Goals and Mission

After a brief exchange through emails, Vivian and I had our first casual meeting where I discussed my interests and goals for the future. It’s important to identify and communicate to your mentor how she or he could best help. I remember when I first heard about the Levo League, I was so eager to get involved that I emailed Vivian right away — I knew she could best advise me on how to reach out to the team.

Show Your Appreciation

A mentorship should not be one-sided, and so as a mentee, show your appreciation by writing a nice thank-you note or treating your mentor to lunch. Stay in touch regularly, even if you don’t need new advice or help.

Give Back

I have found mentoring Andrea to be even more fulfilling than I could imagine. I learn from Vivian’s mentoring tactics and apply it to my mentorship with Andrea, hoping I can provide her that support system Vivian provides me. As discussed elsewhere on this site, you are never too young to be a mentor, so don’t let age or career level hold you back!

Original article by Levo League

If you are interested in becoming a mentor to current students or recent graduates at Utah State, please contact alumni@usu.edu. 

5 Keys to Unlocking the Career Aggie Network

Let’s face the facts – you need your Alumni Association as much as we need you.  How do you need us, you ask?  The Utah State University AlumniAssociation wants to be a resource to help you throughout your entire life. 

With the creation of the Career Aggie Network, we now have the opportunity to assist you not only when you are finding your first job, but as your career progresses.  You can also stay involved by becoming a mentor to a current USU student, sharing your knowledge, experience and insight with the next generation of Aggies.  

Wondering what the Career Aggie Network is all about?  Here are the key points –

• Become an Alumni Mentor – Think about those who have become mentors to you in your career.  Now it’s time to pay it forward.  Through our LinkedIn group, current students can connect with you to hear what steps you have taken to grow your career.  Share what has made you successful and offer advice to other Aggies as they begin their career.

• Job Postings – Through our collaboration with USU Career Services, you can access job postings or submit openings within your company.  Whether you want to hire an aspiring Aggie graduate for your company or find a new job for yourself, we are here to help. 

• A Resource Library – Brush up on your interview skills, refresh your resume, or find ways to better your professional self.  The library will be growing and changing, so check on it regularly as we will be posting related articles and videos.

• Grad School Prep/Testing – Is it time for you to go back to school?  Do you need an advanced degree to move forward?  USU Testing Services can help you prepare for this step, and they offer several of the tests needed for graduate school or other certification

• Fairs/Expos – As an alumnus of Utah State, you can still participate in the many fairs and expos presented by Career Services.  The annual Career Fair and the Graduate School Expo are among the most popular, so come to campus to recruit a great student, be recruited by a great company, or explore your grad school options.

How do you take advantage of this new Career Aggie Network?  It's as easy as creating a LinkedIn account!  In fact, that is where the majority of our resources will be available to you, as alumni. 

Simply log in to LinkedIn, and search for the group named Utah State University Alumni Network. Once you've found it, click the Join Group button, and you're done.

If you don't already have a LinkedIn account, don't worry. It's free and simple to sign up - so do it today and get started developing your career with the Career Aggie Network.