Connecting with an alumni mentor can be a great way to explore interesting industries and to lay the foundation for your future career. These tips and tricks will help you to make the most out of your mini-mentorship relationship.
- Have a think about what it is you want to ask and try to be concise in your introduction email to the Development Office. If you’re not quite sure what it is you want to find out, but would like to exploratory chat with an expert in the industry then say just that!
- After you’ve been put in touch with an alumni mentor it’s time to plan an initial meeting to talk about what you’re hoping to learn and how the alumni mentor can help. We strongly recommend starting off with a video call.
- Try to be flexible – before your meeting it’s helpful to think of some questions and goals, but adapt to perspectives you may not have considered. Some mentors will be able to offer internships and some will only offer advice virtually, both can be just as valuable so try to make the most of it.
- Treat the relationship as you would with any other professional relationship. Follow up on communications and action points. Let them know respectfully and sensitively if for any reason you no longer require their help. As with any professional relationship, be sensible and take precautions for communications and meeting up with someone you don’t know.
- Time is precious for you both, so communicate clearly what you both expect from each other and what you can realistically offer each other.
- Stay in touch and keep the Alumni Office informed of your progress. Send in another request if you’d like to speak to any further alumni mentors.
- For any questions you can contact the Alumni Office on alumni.office@magd.ox.ac.uk