“It’s difficult to be a leader without solid employment; that is why we are doing everything possible to ensure that our students are prepared with the connections they need before graduation,” says Corbin Thomander, BYU–Hawaii’s Alumni Relations Manager. Aware of the career challenges that graduating students face, and understanding the prophetic vision for the university, Alumni Relations and Career Services have collaborated in their efforts to help students become leaders in their communities and countries. The Professional Mentorship Program is the result of months of collaboration.
Though the program is not specifically a tool to help students get a job, it is designed to help students prepare for the process of finding a career. “[The Professional Mentorship Program] helps in that process by facilitating relationships between professional alumni and students,” says Thomander. First, students are required to update their resume, write a cover letter, and apply for the program online at YCareers. Each student is then matched with an alumnus who is best suited to mentor the student in their specific goals for the program. Before making contact with their mentor, students are required to attend an orientation where they learn about networking etiquette. During the following five weeks, students initiate phone or video calls with their mentor and gain advice about pursuing their professional goals. At the end, both student and mentor fill out an evaluation about their experience with the program.
Student Alumni Liaison John Fryhoff, a junior from Missouri, oversees the student orientation aspect of the program. “This is a great opportunity for students to prepare for their future,” says Fryhoff. “It will help them to make and achieve meaningful goals. Who better to ask than the professionals?” According to Jodi Chowen, director of BYU–Hawaii Career Services, these professionals “provide a wealth of information. …They help students make connections between their major and career options, help students understand the skills needed for their industry, and provide guidance on how to network for internship or job opportunities.”
Michael Parker, a recent graduate, participated in the pilot version of the program and was matched with an alumnus attending Parker’s ideal place for graduate school, Thunderbird University. “I took the opportunity to pick his brain about the school,” comments Parker. “It is a valuable asset to have a mentor that can help prepare you for the next phase of life.”
All students are invited to get involved in the program, and alumni are encouraged to update their contact and career information at alumni.byuh.edu, using their CESNetID and password to log in. “We appreciate the willingness of these professionals who dedicate a portion of their time to coach our students to success,” says Chowen.