WITH the end of the school year rapidly approaching us and summer-time around the corner, students will soon be one step closer to graduation. The graduation ceremony is also called Commencement: the beginning! Your mentee will benefit from thinking, talking, and learning about this moment. Whether continuing onto college or looking for a job, you can help her or him make a better-informed choice.

As a mentor you can provide your mentee with the information, insight and fortitude necessary to help them explore and articulate their career goals. A simple conversation about their goals, talents, abilities, interests, and dislikes can really help a mentee get the wheels rolling.

Furthermore, when students have an idea as to what they would like to do for a career, they will be concurrently developing positive, concrete problem-solving skills.

Although this process can be challenging for all parties involved, we have to keep in mind that us mentors know a lot more than we think we know, especially since we have already been through this process.

You can always start with the basics, general information about: job availability, salaries, years of schooling necessary, financial aid, etc. One great resource on this is the Brooklyn Public Library’s online Career databases: http://brooklynpubliclibrary.org/eresources/#Career-Career Cruising has info in English and Spanish around careers and recommended paths to them. Try it out, it’s pretty fun. If you don’t have a Brooklyn library card, you can write me and I can share one with you. www.Glassdoor.com has info on salaries, reviews, and interviews with people who actually work in a given field. If you find a website with good resources, post it on our facebook group! (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=148726435798&ref=ts)

Now is the time-no matter what grade your mentee is in- to start facilitating the development of their vision for their future.

Until next time,

Prof. Rob Smith

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