Build your network. Build your community. Build your career.
Developing meaningful relationships and community building are at the heart of crafting a career. The Mentor Network program is designed to connect students nearing the end of their time in school to industry professionals and networks who can help provide guidance and support during the transition from student to alumni.
Who are the mentors?
Network mentors are Berklee alumni volunteering their time and expertise for the enhancement of career exploration and community building. Network mentors can help to provide:
career-related information from a working professional;
a behind-the-scenes look at a specific career;
answers regarding work-life balance, salary and benefits, and the negative aspects of a particular job; and
feedback on your résumé, an expanded network, and job or internship leads.
Who are the mentees?
Mentees are motivated and focused students at Berklee College of Music (Boston campus) and Boston Conservatory at Berklee in their final semesters of their undergraduate or graduate degree programs.
What is expected of me as a participant?
Mentees and their mentors are required to participate in the entire program, which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The expectation is that there will be regular and frequent contact between mentor and mentee, with both aiming for a minimum of two connections per month. Even a quick exchange via email, phone call, or text can make a big difference in building a strong and meaningful relationship.
How do I apply?
To participate, prospective mentees need to register and submit a mentor-matching survey. Applications for summer 2023 are now closed. The deadline to submit was Sunday, May 7.
Information about the application will be sent to eligible students via their Berklee email addresses. Prospective alumni mentors will receive communication directly from Alumni Affairs.
All matches are based on mentor-matching survey responses, compatibility, and availability. To ensure the best matches and experience for our mentors and mentees, the registration form and matching survey for Berklee’s Mentor Network is hosted in partnership with Mentor Collective, an industry leader in high-impact and relationship-based mentoring programs.
Please note that this program is not intended or designed to create job offers.
Mentor Network: Information
The Mentor Network program is meant to connect current students to alumni professionals outside of their campus experiences, to expand social and professional networks, and build community among other mentees in the program.
Who can participate in the program?
The program is designed as an opportunity for motivated and focused students at Berklee College of Music (Boston Campus) and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Students can come from any major and must have a graduation date of December 2022, May 2023, or August 2023.
What topics can be discussed at meetings?
A mentor session is an opportunity to discuss things one wouldn’t necessarily ask in a job interview setting. These topics can include, but are not limited to:
work-life balance;
salary and benefits; and
an insider perspective on specific industries and fields.
Mentors can also give feedback on résumés (if they ask to see them) and make suggestions regarding professional contacts and employment opportunities.
Mentorship Expectations
Mentors can coach you about career opportunities.
Mentors may review/consider portfolios and/or résumés.
Mentors can help steer the wants/needs of mentees.
Mentees drive the wants/needs in the relationship.
Mentors are not job recruiters.
Mentors are not there to do any work for the mentee.
How are mentors matched to mentees?
The matching process is personal and done through a combination of student application review, displayed interest, and career goals. The mentors interested in participating are vetted in advance by members of the Career Center and Alumni Affairs teams, and come from a pool of alumni connections. All mentees and mentors will submit a matching survey on the Mentor Collective Platform in order to participate. To ensure that a basis of trust can develop between the mentor and mentee, it is necessary for both parties to be satisfied with the match.
How long does mentoring continue?
The mentoring program lasts the duration of the summer, beginning with a kickoff event at the beginning of the program and ending with a culminating event. Between these events, one-on-one meetings are held between the mentor and mentee, and are scheduled between the two participants. As an additional part of the program, the mentees will be invited to professional workshops, networking events, and programs throughout the summer.
The 2023 program runs from Memorial Day (May 29, 2023) to Labor Day (September 4, 2023).
Have other questions? Check out our FAQs page for more information.
Tips for a Successful Mentoring Session
Before
Researchyour mentor and find out what they are involved in. This will help you figure out how they might best advise you.
Have one agenda itemfor every 10 minutes of your meeting, but know that you may not hit every point.
Prioritize. Highlight the questions that you are most interested in.
During
Be clear and straightforward; don’t assume that your mentor knows everything about Berklee. Be sure to provide context for each issue you discuss.
Don’t be aggressive, but take theinitiative. The better you are able to guide your mentor, the faster they can provide help.
Mentors are not faculty and will not be grading you on your performance. Your success is their ultimate goal.
Ask to exchange contact information so you may thank them and, if possible, call upon them for future follow-up. However, mentors are under no obligation to provide you with their contact information.
After
Thankyour mentor for their time, in writing, within 48 hours of the session.
Follow up on any open topics.
Askyour mentor for additional names, people, or organizations that you should contact and/or research.
Schedulea follow-up meeting in person, over the phone, or via Zoom.
Research
Browse career options by community, industry, major, or city.
