Overview

Your role as an alumni mentor is to speak with current NLU students and provide advice on careers, networking, and other topics that the students request.  


Frequently Asked Questions

  • What am I expected to do? Alumni are expected to meet at least once for 30 minutes with a student during a "Mentoring Week." Meetings can take place virtually or on NLU’s downtown Chicago campus. 

  • What will I talk about? Students should mention the meeting topic in their reach-out; feel free to ask them if they do not. Discussions may center around finding a job, general career advice, information on graduate school, personal encouragement, and so on.

  • How will I find students to mentor? By signing up and completing your profile, students will be able to request meetings with you. You will be able to set your availability. 

  • Are there any potential risks to me or my company? No. It is not appropriate for alumni to engage in any business transactions with students; instead, the relationship should only involve the flow of general information and advice.

Give Back to NLU Students!

Apply to be a mentor via the Alumni Portal. If you've participated before, log into Chronus by entering the Portal and clicking the tile that says "Alumni Mentor." 

Alumni Mentor DO's

  1. Accept meetings in a timely manner.
  2. Honor all scheduled meetings.
  3. Keep information confidential. If something concerning the student mentee needs to be discussed with others, it should first be discussed with the student mentee.
  4. Establish open and honest communication.
  5. Foster creativity and independence. Help build self-confidence and offer encouragement.
  6. Provide honest and constructive feedback to your student mentee.
  7. Provide time for the student mentee to raise concerns and ask questions.
  8. Above all, LISTEN.

Alumni Mentor DON'Ts

  1. Don't try to give advice on everything.
  2. Don't provide your personal history, problems, animosities, successes, failures, etc. unless they are constructive contributions.
  3. Don't be distracted during your session with your student mentee. Give them your undivided attention.
  4. Don't miss your meeting. Please be sure to alert your student mentee if you cannot attend a scheduled meeting. 
  5. Don't criticize. Instead, offer helpful suggestions.