MENTORSHIP PROGRAM GUIDELINES

BENEFITS OF A SUCCESSFUL MENTOR PROGRAM

 A successful mentor program provides opportunities for students and Human Resource professionals new to the Human Resources field to:

• Explore the world of work through interaction with professionals in the HR field of their choice

• Gain an experienced HR practitioner’s perspective on applying textbook concepts to real-life situations

• Become familiar with corporate protocol

• Identify long-term professional development needs

• Realize the value of networking

• Develop a meaningful relationship over a period of time

A successful mentor program benefits professionals by allowing them to:

• Contribute to the professional development of the future HR workforce

• Identify potential interns and new hires for their own organizations

• Help students begin successful careers

• Give something back to the profession

PROGRAM ORGANIZATION

Requirements for Participation

Students must:

• Be an active student chapter member and/or SHRM member in good standing

• Actively participate in and support  student and/or parent chapter events

• Be a full-time or part-time student

• Complete a Mentor Program Enrollment Form Protégé Profile

Mentors must:

• Be an active parent chapter member in good standing

• Actively participate in and support parent chapter events

• Be a current HR practitioner

• Be willing to commit to the mentor program for a specified period of time

Activities and Guidelines

• Mentors and Protégés must make initial contact within one week of assignment

• Mentors and Protégés must communicate at least every two weeks

• Mentors and Protégés must complete at least two of the suggested activities

• General commitment is for 3-6 months, but may last longer

Suggested Activities

• Attend SHRM parent chapter meeting together

• Mentor reviews protégé’s resume and offers suggestions for improvement

• Protégé spends a half-day shadowing mentor during a typical workday

•  Discuss the necessary academic and personal preparation needed for a successful HR career over lunch

• Mentor introduces protégé to several other HR professionals as they discuss the importance of networking and continued professional development

• Protégé attends a company training program, community seminar, or conference with mentor

• Protégé attends a company staff meeting with mentor

• Protégé attends a company safety committee meeting with mentor

• Protégé observes a day of recruiting

• Protégé observes pre-employment assessments

• Protégé observes the development of a special project (e.g. wellness program, policy and procedure manual, or training program)

• Mentor and protégé discuss proper business attire, business and telephone etiquette, corporate protocol, and common grievance procedures

Monitoring and Evaluation

To ensure that the mentor program is meeting its objectives, it is important to maintain open communication with all participants and to actively solicit feedback on the results. The Mentor Program Director will:

• Follow up with participants to ensure they have made initial contact by the suggested deadline

• Request program feedback from all participants

• Conduct periodic group meetings or socials to discuss ways to improve the program

-Adapted from parent chapter, Jacksonville SHRM