Last fall semester, FGCU introduced its first mentoring program that aims to provide students with the best chances of securing employment post-graduation. Students are paired with university alumni to help them prepare for the real world through Q&A sessions and networking opportunities.
“It’s a program that started within the FGCU Alumni Association, and it’s open to all students of all majors and class years,” mentorship coordinator Ron Richards said. “We pair them with alumni or a member of the community for career support. It can be resume building, networking and the things that you don’t learn in the classroom.”
There are no entry requirements. Students can request a mentor on the university’s website. Prior to their meeting, students undergo about an hour of training and preparation. Once assigned, the student reaches out to set up their first meeting with their mentor. Students are assigned a mentor who best suits their major, career goals and interests.
“It’s a very mentee-driven program. We have more mentors than mentees, which is a good thing,” Richards said. “There’s a lot of options for matching with students. The mentors want to give back and help future generations.”
One of the topics mentor James Cascone focuses on in his meetings is the impact of artificial intelligence in the workforce. He wants to give his mentees an edge on this changing environment.
“The rapid adoption of AI in the workplace is impacting the future of work and a student’s ability to succeed post-graduation,” Cascone said. “I open my business network to them through my LinkedIn connections and by making direct introductions to companies and executives. This helps them expand their networks and provides job opportunities.”
The program aims to provide a more casual networking experience, making it fun rather than scary.
“It’s been a unique experience so far. It feels very real and practical, not just something formal,” Salvador Martinez Romo, one of Cascone’s mentees, said. “It’s more like a conversation than an interview, which makes it easy to learn. It makes things feel more real and it gives you direction, especially when you are still figuring things out.”
Students that choose to be a part of the experience, can grow through setting goals.
“I had a general idea of what I wanted, but now I’m starting to understand what roles to target, what skills I need to improve, and how to position myself better in the future,” Martinez Romo said. “As an international student, I felt like I needed something else to be able to stand out from the rest and having a mentor like James has helped me understand the job market better.”
While the mentorship group is primarily built on student success, Richards also set out to give alumni an opportunity to become leaders in their communities.
“It really gives the mentors the opportunity to not only lead, but also teach. They’ll tell students about themselves and their companies, and also bring them into their own companies,” Richards said.
Students are encouraged to apply for fall semester sessions from now until Sept. 11. As the program’s second year approaches, Richards emphasized that its success ultimately depends on student engagement.
“At the end of the day, what the mentees put into it, they’re going to get out of it,” Richards said. “Just challenging the mentees to really take that time to take advantage of that time with their mentor. That relationship carries on after the formal mentor program.”
