ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MENTORSHIP PROGRAM HTSAA Mentorship Program Overview

As the Holy Trinity School Alumni Association (HTSAA) continues to grow, we, the Executive Committee, are committed to fostering mutually beneficial connections among alumni by building lifelong relationships. In partnership with the HTS Office of Alumni Relations, the HTSAA has established an alumni mentorship program. This program is one of the ways the HTSAA is committed to the association’s goals of:

• providing alumni with opportunities to connect with each other for the sharing of information and ideas;

• offering a means to provide theoretical and practical knowledge that will benefit alumni’s professional and personal lives;

• involving alumni as volunteers of their time and talent; and

• recognizing and effectively representing a strong alumni presence for the school community.

The mentorship program will be used as a tool to engage, connect and network, primarily for professional development opportunities and mentorship purposes, for all HTS alumni. Mentees will be paired with established mentors who may be able to share insights about certain industries or skill sets and provide opportunities for expanding their professional networks. The Application and Pairing Process

All HTS alumni are welcome to participate as a mentee or a mentor. Those interested in the program are asked to complete the online form and provide information about themselves and their expressed interest and involvement in the program.

Once an application has been received, the Office of Alumni Relations will add the applicant to the roster of mentees or mentors. In some circumstances, a person may apply to be both a mentor and a mentee.

The Office of Alumni Relations will work to pair the mentee with a mentor who is well suited based on the information provided in the initial application. The interests, preferences and level of experience will all be considered when pairing alumni.

Mentors will be added to the roster of alumni willing to support and participate in the program, and will be contacted when a connection is made.

1 What Is a Mentor and How Is It Different Than Networking?

Mentorship is the key principle of this program, not to be confused with networking. Networking exists to solely connect individuals with others, to develop contacts and connect them to broader sources in the search to advance one’s career. Whereas mentorship builds a more meaningful connection.

As defined by Merriam-Webster, a mentor is a trusted counselor or guide. Mentorship is a relationship where a trusted individual, with knowledge and experience, guides another individual who may be at a different stage of their life. It is an opportunity to have discussions, share your learnings and also build connections. The relationship is more meaningful than simply networking, and can provide you with a broader source of information. In a mentorship program, both the mentor and mentee are constantly learning.

The possibilities of what you can achieve or how you can help are endless. Here are a few recommendations on how the program can guide you, or how you may offer support:

• resumé critiquing services • portfolio overview • interview preparation • attending conferences or professional development sessions/networking events together • discussing your industry • shadowing in your workplace (if applicable) • coffee meetings

2 Mentees Why Be a Mentee and What You Can Expect

Being a mentee can be a great opportunity to expand your professional network, to learn industry insights and to sharpen your networking skills. Engaging with other HTS alumni through the mentorship program offers the opportunity to connect on common ground, with people who know first-hand your educational experience, including character building.

Being a mentee can be an excellent time of self-discovery of new skills and can provide an opportunity to build more confidence when speaking to advanced or senior executives. By challenging yourself to seek your own answers, you may gain insights and independence in your chosen career path.

As a mentee, you can expect to connect with a fellow HTS alum and have the opportunity to shape and self-direct your mentorship experience. Are you looking for advice on university programs, career paths, or interview tips and tricks? The HTS Mentorship Program provides you with the opportunity to work independently with your mentor and we hope you will find this to be a rewarding experience overall.

Your mentor should be able to offer honest insights, guidance and information over a minimum of three to five points of contact. You and your mentor will determine the parameters of your relationship, which can be tailored to the needs of you both.

3 Mentees Mentee Requirements

For the purposes of this program, young alumni who are up to 15 years out of HTS can benefit most from being a mentee. The mentorship program will work best if mentees have a clear objective and expectations from the program. Mentees should be prepared to clearly communicate goals and objectives to their mentors, and vice versa. Please be realistic, and do not put unreasonable expectations on your mentor (for example, expecting a job offer based on your mentor’s reputation or recommendation).

Mentees are expected to keep and honour all meeting dates and times. Taking responsibility for actively planning your meetings (however you may agree to connect) is a vital skill for respecting your mentor and your own time. Mentees should be open to the conversations and ideas that stem from their meetings, and they should be attentive to their mentors’ recommendations and advice.

Sign up to become a mentee bit.ly/HTSAAMentee

4 Mentors Why Be a Mentor and What You Can Expect

Being a mentor can be a rewarding role and allows you to give back to the community in a meaningful way by offering your professional insights and experience or by being an approachable connection. You are highly regarded for your expertise, insight and time, and you have the opportunity to engage and influence HTS alumni and the next generation.

A mentor and mentee relationship is a mutually beneficial relationship, and you too can gain insights from this relationship.

Additionally, mentorship opportunities can improve and contribute to your professional development by offering more value and credibility to you and/or your organization. They are an excellent opportunity to explore and improve leadership skills, and they allow you the opportunity to promote your industry or profession.

5 Mentors Mentor Requirements

Mentors are alumni who are established in their careers and are keen to actively engage with their mentee and, in doing so, give back to the HTS community. Mentors are committed to helping their mentee realize or accomplish goals, and they take initiative in building opportunities, tentatively offering advice and being attentive listeners. Ideally, a mentor can see the value of a mentorship program and is interested in offering professional development and growth opportunities to mentees searching for guidance and support.

Mentors may fit into multiple categories based on their career and industry expertise, or other experiences and areas of interest, which can keep their interactions with mentees unique and interesting. Your mentee will clearly identify the objectives and support that he or she is looking for, and it is advised that as a mentor you do the same.

As a mentor, you avoid making judgments or issuing evaluative statements about the mentee or the mentee’s goals and aspirations. Both mentor and mentee will maintain the strictest confidence about anything that you share and discuss. All mentees and mentors will be encouraged to report back to HTS about their experience in the program.

You may share your time commitment preferences in advance through the online form (for example, if you prefer to connect with no more than one mentee at any given time). We are mindful of the time commitment, and we are flexible to find mentees who respect your preferences too.

Sign up to become a mentor bit.ly/HTSAAMentor

6 For More Information

Contact the HTS Office of Alumni Relations at [email protected] or call 905-737-1114 ext. 271

Get Involved

Become a mentee bit.ly/HTSAAMentee

Become a mentor bit.ly/HTSAAMentor

7 References

Andersen, Erika. “5 Qualities to Look for in a Mentor.” Forbes, 29 Sept. 2014, www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2014/09/29/5-qualities-to-look-for-in-a-mentor/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2017.

“Appleby Alumni Mentors Programme.” Appleby College, www.appleby.on.ca/page.cfm?p=3739. Accessed 4 Aug. 2017.

DeMers, Jayson. “7 Key Qualities of an Effective Mentor.” Inc., 1 Oct. 2014, www.inc.com/jayson-demers/7-key-qualities-of-an-effective-mentor.html. Accessed 8 Mar. 2017.

“Qualities of a Good Mentor.” Leadership Resources, lrsuccess.com/qualities-good-mentor/. Accessed 8 Mar. 2017.

Setty, Rajesh. “9 Characteristics of a Good Mentoring Relationship.” The Huffington Post, 12 Feb. 2015, www.huffingtonpost.com/rajesh-setty/9-characteristics -of-a-good-mentoring-relationship_b_6674602.html. Accessed 4 Mar. 2017.

8 Connect with HTS Alumni

facebook.com/HTSAlumni

twitter.com/HTSAlumni

linkedin.com/groups/2103567

instagram.com/htsalumni

9 11300 Bayview Avenue Richmond Hill, ON L4S 1L4 hts.on.ca Printed February 2018