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Student FAQ's

1. What does a Professional Mentor do?
   A Professional Mentor is a Florida Atlantic University alumna or alumnus or a professional that possess 3 years work experience, who volunteers to network with currently enrolled FAU students for the purposes of career exploration and professional development. This gives students the opportunity to be mentored by someone that shares similar academic or professional interests.
   
2. What kinds of information does a Professional Mentor share?
   A Professional Mentor may provide information on specific careers, tips on interviewing or resumes, advice on where to look for jobs, or other individuals with whom to network. Mentors conduct informational interviews for students to learn more about specific careers Students will also benefit from networking with Mentors who had a similar major while attending Florida Atlantic University. Mentors conduct informational interviews for students to learn more about specific careers.
   
3. How should I contact my Professional Mentor?
   Initiating contact with a Mentor should only take one phone call or email, depending on the Mentor's preferred method of contact. This can be found in the Professional Mentor's profile. Give the Mentor a window of 2 - 4 days to respond. Do not wait until the last minute to make contact with a Mentor if you are seeking information that is a high priority or conducting an assignment for a class with a deadline.
   
4. How much contact will I have with my Professional Mentor?
   The degree of contact between you and your Professional Mentor is determined by the two of you. A mentoring relationship usually involves multiple meetings and conversations for a strong relationship to be cultivated. On the other hand, networking can occur during one meeting or conversation. The expectations of the relationship between the mentor and mentee should be defined in your initial contacts.
   
5. Does the Professional Mentor know I have selected him or her?
   Yes. When you select a Professional Mentor to contact, a record is created which shows the mentor your name and email address.
   
6. How many Professional Mentors may I contact?
   Interfase permits up to 10 Professional Mentor selections per month. In other words, if you choose 10 Professional Mentors over a one-month period, you will not be able to select additional mentors until the month is up. However, this does not limit your ability to search for a Professional Mentor. If you are searching for a Mentor and your initial search does not reveal a mentor who is a good match for you, contact the Career Development Center and your profile will be reset.
   
7. How do I start my search for a Professional Mentor?
   As a currently enrolled Florida Atlantic University student, you must register on OWL CareerLink (formerly Interfase), the online job search database managed by the Career Development Center. Simply log on to the OWL CareerLink (formerly Interfase) website and create a student profile. Log into the OWL CareerLink (formerly Interfase) database with your username and password, once your student profile is active and look for the mentor tab in the menu bar. If you would like more specific instructions, view the student tutorial link for OWL CareerLink (formerly Interfase) to help create a profile and upload a resume.
   
8. How should I prepare for contacting my Professional Mentor?
   First, you should determine your purpose for contacting the mentor and plan your questions/agenda ahead of time. Are you conducting an informational interview, exploring careers or seeking a mentor to offer career advice? Make sure you have viewed the Mentor’s profile listed on OWL CareerLink (formerly Interfase).  Second, be aware of your timing. If your mentor prefers to be contacted by their work phone number, avoid calling them at the end of the day or during the lunch hour, as they may be more difficult to get a hold of at those times. If your Professional Mentor prefers to be contacted via email, be prepared to wait a few days before you get a reply. Professional Mentors are successful working professionals who are volunteering their time and resources to help you.  To learn more about conducting informational interviews please make an appointment with an advisor in the Career Development Center, SU 220.
   
9. What kinds of questions should I prepare to ask my Professional Mentor?
   To ensure a successful initial contact with your Professional Mentor, your questions should be well thought out and prepared ahead of time. They should reflect your career-related interests and concerns, as well as the information you know about your Professional Mentor. Examples of typical questions include:
   
   

   • What degree(s) or program(s) do you recommend to someone to advance in this field?
   • How important is internship experience?
   • When should I start planning my new/first career?
   • Do you think you are working in a career field related to what you studied while in college?
   • Could you describe a typical workday?
   • What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?
   • What parts of your job do you find most challenging?
   • Would you have done anything differently to prepare for your present career?
10. Who uses OWL CareerLink (formerly Interfase)?
    Currently enrolled FAU undergraduate students are the primary users of OWL CareerLink (formerly Interfase). However, graduate students and FAU alumni utilize this program for job searching and mentoring purposes as well.
    
11. Can I change Professional Mentors?
    Yes. Whenever you have completed your time with your previous mentor, simply conduct another online search. Please remember that you are limited to choosing 10 mentors per month, however, this number is renewed at the start of each calendar month. Also, if your Professional Mentor doesn't have all the information you had hoped for, all you have to do is conduct another online search to find another mentor. Keep in mind that while you may connect instantly with your Professional Mentor, it is also a possibility that it will take some time to become comfortable with your mentor.
    
12. Is there anything else I should know about my contacts?
    The Professional Mentors who have volunteered want to share their experiences and knowledge and should not be solicited directly for employment. While resume reviews, internships and job shadowing are possible outcomes of a student mentee/mentor relationship, they cannot be guaranteed and should not be expected. The primary purpose of this program is gain information through informational interviewing. Before you contact your l Mentor, you should be sure to consider your level of commitment to the Professional Mentoring Program. Also, please note that all conversations and/or meetings with your mentor should be conducted in a professional matter. In networking, good impressions are important. The Mentors do not have access to your address or telephone number. Additionally, everyone likes to be acknowledged for her or his time and energy. Following up with your Mentor with a letter, call, or email of gratitude is highly encouraged.
    
13. When my time with the mentor is complete, what else is required?
    When you have completed your sessions, you will be required to complete a short follow up survey describing your time with the mentor. This information is kept confidential and will never be released to the mentor. The information is only used to help improve the program.
    
14. How long does it take to search for a Professional Mentor?
    Since you conduct your own search, your results are immediate. A search may be conducted any day at any time.