The Boston College MentorMatch Program allows current students to connect with an alumni mentor in their career field of interest. MentorMatch provides every junior the opportunity to be matched with a mentor, and is open to seniors and graduate students if space permits.
At a Glance
Overview
Brought to you by the Boston College Career Center and Alumni Association, the MentorMatch program provides an opportunity for juniors, seniors, and graduate students to connect with an alumni mentor who will help them prepare to enter their career field of interest (juniors are given priority, but the program may open to seniors and grad students if space permits). Suggested topics of discussion include:
- The skills necessary in your industries of interest
- How to effectively present experiences, skills, interests, and values in written materials (e.g., resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles) and verbally (e.g. interviewing skills)
- Exploring identity in the workplace
After registering, we strongly encourage students to review the list of mentors and favorite at least 3 with whom they are interested in being paired. Mentor favorites will be accommodated on a rolling basis.
This program provides an opportunity for students to:
- Develop confidence in communicating with alumni and professionals
- Verbally articulate how your experiences, skills, interests, and values relate to opportunities through networking conversations and/or interviews
- Connect the skills, interests, and values you are gaining at Boston College to specific career opportunities of interest
- Gain an understanding of current trends and hiring practices in your field of interest
- Develop a plan to acquire the skills and competencies necessary for a specific field of interest
- Create application materials, such as resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and personal statements, that effectively articulate your experiences, skills, interests, and values.
Program Timelines
August 4– August 21: Alumni mentor registration
- Review the Alumni Expectations before signing up
August 31–September 21: Junior student mentee registration
- Review the Student Expectations before signing up
September 10-21: Senior and graduate student mentee registration
- Pending program space and alumni availability, MentorMatch may open to seniors and graduate students (excluding CGSOM and BC Law) during a second wave of registration
- Review the Student Expectations before signing up
Mid-September: Mentors and mentees will be notified of their match*
October through April: Mentors and mentees meet in-person or virtually at least once per month
*Please note that we cannot guarantee that everyone will receive a match. Matching will be based on a combination of factors, including preferences selected by students and overlap in availability and interests identified in registration responses. Seniors and graduate students may be notified at a later date due to delayed timelines, pending program space, and mentor availability.
FAQ
We ask you to meet at least once per/month but encourage you to meet as often as is appropriate.
Communication may be in person, via phone, e-mail, video chat, text or instant message, or other form of communication medium. This will be determined by the parties involved. Examples can include Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Skype, GoToMeeting, text message, and WhatsApp.
That largely depends on the relationship but most meetings typically last about an hour.
If either party is having trouble scheduling a first appointment or if the match isn’t working out, please reach out to the Career Center at career.center@bc.edu for guidance and tips.
Please use your discretion but we encourage you to have a conversation together about how and if your match should share any and all confidential information.
We are asking students and alumni mentors to commit for the duration of the program. If a situation arises where you may have to remove yourself from the program, please contact the Career Center at career.center@bc.edu.
- Matches are made in early September based on career interests and/or identity.
- Every match is reviewed by our staff to ensure they would be a good fit according to the information available. Email confirmation is then sent to email to both parties, introducing them and providing additional information and instructions for the program.
Absolutely and we encourage it! But please make sure it works for both parties.
Program participants will find important and helpful documents as well as a discussion forum on Eagle Exchange and instructions on accessing these resources will be given via email when you are matched.
- Develop confidence in communicating with alumni and professionals.
- Verbally articulate how my experiences, skills, interests, and values relate to opportunities through networking conversations and/or interviews.
- Connect the skills, interests, and values I am gaining at Boston College to specific career opportunities of interest.
- Create a plan to develop skills and competencies required for a particular field of interest.
- Tips for getting the most out of mentoring
Click here for five ways to make the most out of your mentorship.
Yes but please let us know.
While we make every effort to match you to a great mentor, sometimes it may not work out. If things are not going well, please discuss the issues with your alumni mentor and try to find a resolution. However, if this is not possible, please contact the Career Center at career.center@bc.edu.
Examples include…
- What’s the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job?
- How do you encourage innovative ideas?
- How would you describe your personal style?
- Do you have a mentor? How have they influenced you?
- What do you do to constantly challenge your underlying beliefs and assumptions?
- Would you do anything differently if given the opportunity?How and where do you find inspiration?
- How do you keep your feelings separate from your decision-making
- What values are you committed to?
- How do you balance your work and home life?
- Do you have any books that you would suggest I read?
- How much money do they make?
- Can you hire me and/or get me a job?
Alumni mentors can enhance their own people development and leadership skills while also being a positive influence for a student just starting their career journey. Alumni mentors may also gain knowledge and skills from the students, who may have new information or technology that they can share.
Yes! While the main purpose of a mentoring program is to assist with the student’s specific career goal(s), successful mentoring programs are a two-way developmental experience. Alumni mentors can and should experience it as an enriching relationship and can use the program to work on their own professional development and competencies.
MentorMatch is intentionally designed to operate on a 1-to-1 match ratio but group mentoring is allowed.
During your first meeting it is important to establish mutually agreed upon boundaries for the program. But in the (hopefully) rare circumstance a mentee issue or problem arises outside your comfort level and/or expertise, please let your mentee know. If the matter goes well beyond that and needs additional assistance, please contact the Career Center at career.center@bc.edu.
While we make every effort to match you to a great mentee, sometimes it may not work out. If things are not going well, please discuss the issues with them and try to find a resolution. However, if this is not possible, please contact the Career Center at career.center@bc.edu.