The Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) has purposefully designed this program to be flexible for busy alumni mentors and mentees. Mentors and mentees have complete control over the mentorship relationship and can decide how the relationship will work.

Definition of a Mentor

Northwestern alumni mentors are professionals who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and resources with current students or fellow alumni. Volunteering as a mentor is a great way to stay connected with the Northwestern community and an opportunity to make an impact on Northwestern alumni and students.

Definition of a Mentee

Mentees are current Northwestern students or alumni who are looking for guidance as they navigate their career, consider a career change, or explore graduate school. Mentees are passionate about growing professionally, learning new skills, navigating their career path, and expanding their professional networks to give them a competitive advantage in the workplace.

How Does it Work?

Using the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program online platform, mentors and mentees will each complete a profile, which includes their major, industry, demographic information, and career history/interests. Mentees will then select the mentor who best matches their current and future professional goals and request to work with that mentor. If the mentor accepts their request, the mentor and mentee can then get in touch via the matching platform. In their first meeting, the mentor and mentee are expected to work out a mentorship agreement, which outlines how long the relationship will last (typically 3-6 months or 2-3 quarters), how they will communicate with one another, and both parties’ objectives, so that mentors and mentees understand the other’s needs and expectations for the relationship.

Here is the program’s step-by-step guide:
1) Complete a profile to become a mentor or a mentee (this takes approximately 15-25 minutes).
2) Mentees search for a mentor and request a mentor; mentor accepts or declines the request.
3) Meet with your mentor/mentee and decide together the parameters of the relationship, such as how often and how you will meet (view the Mentorship Agreement Form) to set your goals for the relationship.
4) Review the program's resources page to facilitate relationship-building.
5) Meet as often as possible either in person or via email, phone, or video chat.
6) Share feedback with the NAA about your experiences and ways we can improve the program.

Please email your questions and feedback to mentor@northwestern.edu.