Volunteer Career Mentor Program
Volunteer Career Mentor Program
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing job market, it takes a community to get students on the right track. This is especially true since many counselors are overwhelmed and under-budgeted. A Big Brother, Big Sister Career Mentor Program works well with our system. Mentors will find all the resources needed to get students to select, on their own, an enjoyable career. Here’s how it works using our program.
- COUNSELORS:
- Give academic career path advice.
- Show Dewey website videos that explain how to take the test and use materials available in their Counselor Portal.
- Assign Career Mentors. Manage the follow-up or get a volunteer to do so.
- STUDENTS:
- Build their Career Planner by adding occupations that they might enjoy in their Top 50 Most Enjoyable Occupations list assessment.
- Click on the “More Info” link and read about each occupation.
- Add the occupations they think they will enjoy. After reading, delete the occupations that don’t pay enough, have a low hire-ability score, or feel undesirable.
- CAREER MENTORS:
- Become a sounding board- a place where students can discuss and arrive at an occupation that they would love to do.
- Keep students on track, assist with complex occupational considerations, and orchestrate how to acquire the qualifications employers want.
- Get them to decide on a dream career.
Career Mentor Volunteers
Recruit a volunteer in person or online mentoring program reaching out to parents, grandparents, and their recommended friends. Look to associations for specialized mentors such as Nurses, Engineers, Programmers, etc. Our system’s “More Info” link next to every occupation listed recommends associations. A mentor’s workforce perspectives will add a serious tone to each student’s career considerations.
Once their Career Planner is built, the Career Mentor will review each skill listed. Our system’s by-occupation O*Net Code’s “More Info” connection and motivational assessment allows for career-experienced professionals to give expert advice about the job market.
The mentor’s job description is active listening, getting them to review all the information about each career, and keeping the student focused on job searching until they find a career with a hire-ability score above 7%. A volunteer can also run a follow-up program. HR or staffing backgrounds would add even more expertise to this position.
“Hearing a Mentor’s Proactive ‘Tough Love’ Advice Prepares Students to Meet Employer’s Qualifications.”
High Schools
Every 9th Grader gets a Mentor. Students need a “Cheerleader.” These young people will benefit immensely by having someone from their general area that believes in them. Our non-language system is the only program that works for this naïve job market group. It doesn’t ask questions like, “Do you want to be an auditor or a nurse?” Be aware that girls might not like the Engineering and Math occupations listed even though they are clueless about the careers. Boys can also react to nursing or any profession that they see as a woman’s role.
Colleges and Universities
Students benefit from those doing the profession. Mentors from the Staffing, HR Fields, or specialized skills all work. Lots of possibilities. Our Top 50 Most Enjoyable Occupations assessment can be customized to fit the curriculum of a school or university for an additional charge. There are 3 Tests available to the public- College, Trade and Clerical+. Clerical+ includes all occupations and displays mostly clerical careers that pay less than College and Trade categories.
Constant rejection can make even qualified students lose faith in themselves. The Volunteer Career Mentor Program makes rejection less personal, more about qualifications and the supply and demand of each occupation. Isn’t this knowledge the missing puzzle piece in a student’s efforts to obtain an enjoyable career? Consider building your own Mentor Program. Students will receive the extra support and advice needed to achieve their dream career.