Career Mentoring

Welcome to the Career Mentoring section of the STEAM Mentoring Toolkit. This section is designed to provide mentors with resources and strategies to guide their mentees in exploring and preparing for future careers.

The journey to a fulfilling career begins early, and it's never too early to start exploring possibilities. The It's Never Too Early activity is designed to expose mentees to resources they can use to develop a plan for college, other post-high school education, or job preparation.

As a mentor, your role is crucial in guiding your mentee. The Key Career Mentor Behaviors page outlines the behaviors that can help you become an effective career mentor, from being supportive and providing guidance to respecting differences.

Effective communication is key in any mentoring relationship. The SMART Responses page provides tips on how to respond to your mentee in a way that fosters open discussions and encourages a problem-solving partnership.

Before diving into career conversations, it's important to establish a positive relationship with your mentee. The Preparing for Conversations About Careers with Your Mentee page provides strategies to establish rapport and build a strong relationship.

Transitioning to career conversations can be a delicate process. The Transition to Career Conversations page provides approaches to smoothly transition from casual conversations to discussions about school performance and career aspirations.

Once the door to career conversations is open, it's important to keep it open. The Continue the Career Conversation page provides conversation prompts and strategies to maintain the momentum of career discussions.

The Career Preparation Activities page provides a variety of activities that you can use with your mentee to explore and prepare for future careers. These activities range from job shadowing to exploring college majors and careers.

Finally, the Additional Resources and Sources page provides links to external resources where you and your mentee can research a variety of majors and careers, and learn about real-world data related to these fields.

Remember, as a mentor, your role is to open up possibilities and guide your mentee to make realistic decisions. Your support and guidance can make a significant difference in your mentee's journey towards a fulfilling career.