Alumni Mentoring Program Mentor & Mentee Guide

• Get acquainted by sharing your backgrounds (see potential discussion questions)
• Discuss expectations or intentions you each have for the relationship over the course of the year
• Set goals for the mentoring relationship, informed by what the student wants to work on or discuss
• Schedule your next meeting (at least one meeting/month)

Check out this infographic on PurdueGlobal, for more information on cross-generational competency.

Mentoring college students might mean that you are mentoring a person who is from a different generation than yourself. The college students of today are apart of Gen Z. Here are a few help tips:

1. Beyond the Professional:
   1. To fully understand Gen Z's approach to their careers, one must recognize the blurred lines they perceive between work and personal identity. Unlike earlier generations, many of whom compartmentalized their jobs as a separate facet of their daily life, Gen Z views their career choices as integral to their identity. This shift in perspective stems from a world where personal branding, social media presence, and side hustles often coexist and interact with formal employment. 
   2. For Gen Z, work isn't just about earning a paycheck; it's a manifestation of their passions, beliefs, and values. Their job choices often mirror their personal philosophies and the impact they wish to make in the world.
2. Authenticity is Key:
   1. In an era saturated with digital content, where every swipe introduces a new face or idea, Generation Z has grown up discerning real voices amidst the clamor. The continuous stream of digital media, coupled with their exposure to a myriad of influencers across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, has honed their ability to sift through superficial veneers. They've witnessed influencers rise to stardom overnight, only to fall from grace when the gloss of curated online personas fades to reveal a less glamorous reality.
   2. This constant barrage of perfected images juxtaposed with real-life controversies has given Gen Z a finely tuned radar for detecting inauthenticity. They've become adept at discerning the nuances between genuine narratives and rehearsed scripts. They value rawness over rehearsed perfection and stories that resonate with real-life experiences over manicured tales.
   3. Therefore, when it comes to seeking mentors, Gen Z's expectations are clear. They aren’t looking for picture-perfect role models who showcase an unblemished track record. Instead, they gravitate towards those who are unapologetically genuine. They appreciate mentors who can candidly share the peaks and valleys of their journey, providing a balanced perspective on both the rewards of success and the lessons learned from setbacks.
3. Digital Natives Seeking Digital Mentors:
   1. Growing up in a digital age, Gen Z values mentors who can relate to their digital context. They appreciate those who are not just familiar with, but who also embrace and leverage digital platforms. These mentors understand the challenges and opportunities that come with the digital realm, such as personal branding on social media or remote working dynamics. 
   2. What Does This Mean for Potential Mentors?
      1. For those looking to mentor Gen Z, it's crucial to recognize and adapt to their expectations:
         1. Personal Connect: Rather than strictly formal interactions, establish a personal rapport. Share personal stories, be vulnerable about your own experiences, and listen to their stories with an open mind and heart.
         2. Continuous Learning: The digital world is continuously evolving, and to mentor a digital native, one must also be willing to evolve. This could mean updating oneself with the latest digital trends or learning a new tool or platform that Gen Z is using.

Flexibility: Gen Z values adaptability and understanding. Be open to unconventional ideas, be it in career trajectories or learning methods. They might not always choose the well-trodden path, and that's okay.  

Being a college student, and apart of Gen Z, means you will be working with many people outside of your generation. Here are six strategies for thriving within a multi-generational mix.

1. Establish Respect
   1. It doesn't matter how old or how experienced we are, we all crave respect. And, just as newcomers need to respect older generations' seniority and experience, so long-servers need to adjust to and respect the talent and potential of younger generations. Only when each group respects the other can both thrive.
   2. The key to respecting other generations is to understand and accept that they are different from yours. Consider what motivates people from different generations, what experiences they might have had, and what their working styles are likely to be.
2. Be Flexible and Accommodating
   1. When you understand what makes other generations "tick," being able to accommodate their needs and preferences, where practical, can help to prevent division and conflict. Each generation has its wants and needs and values different ways of working.
3. Avoid Stereotyping
   1. It's easy to stereotype different groups. For example, if you're a Baby Boomer, you may think of Millennials as tech-obsessed and lacking in people skills. To Generation Z, Boomers may seem to be stubborn and inflexible.
4. Learn From One Another
   1. The different generations have a wealth of knowledge and experience that they can share. Successful multi-generational teams identify, value, and build on one another's skills and experiences. This focus on individual strengths, rather than on generational differences, is a key part of thriving in the modern workplace.
5. Tailor Your Communication Style
   1. The generations often have their preferred methods of communication. Silents and Boomers tend to use one-on-one, telephone or written communication, whereas Generations X and Y tend to like emails and texts. Generation Z generally prefers the collaborative interaction of social media.
   2. Generations differ in the degree of formality they use, too. Older team members tend to be more formal, whereas their younger colleagues will more likely use colloquialisms, abbreviations and "emojis" – small digital images and icons that are used in messages to represent ideas or emotions. This is more suited to personal or less important messages or communications. Serious or important messages are probably not the best times to use smiley face emojis!
6. Don't Overlook the Similarities
   1. Focus on the things that unite you with colleagues of all generations, rather than dwelling on the differences. After all, most people like to feel engaged with their work, to receive fair pay, to achieve, to build a better quality of life, to be happy and respected, and so on. 

• Chat via Zoom, Skype, Google Hangout, FaceTime, etc.
• Meet for coffee or a meal
• Field trip to mentor’s company or job site
• Resume review
• Job shadow
• Attend a professional organization or networking event together
• Lecture or conference attendance
• Community service
• Informational interview(s) with colleague(s) of mentor
• Read and discuss a brook, essay, or article