Mentoring - a great way to make a difference in our future leaders lives. Click here to read more about this wonderful opportunity. If you would like additional information about the program, contact Dr. Douglas Ayers.

Purpose

To supplement the classroom experience of students interested in a marketing career through the interaction with a professional AMA member. To mentor is to advise, inform, clarify, and help equip and empower a protégé to achieve goals.

Process

AMA Professional members will complete a Professional Profile form to aid students in matching his/her interests to an appropriate AMA Professional. Students will complete an Application to provide basic information for the AMA Professional member.

This program will be open to students interested in a marketing career any of the Birmingham area universities—Birmingham Southern, Samford, and UAB. Students will need to get a faculty sponsor from their university to be a part of this program and this sponsor will guide the introductions of the student and mentor.

Role of Mentors

Mentors take the lead in establishing the relationship by negotiating the structure of interactions, helping to establish learning goals, and sharing their professional interests, experiences, and insights. Mentors may ask students questions and make suggestions about short and long-term goals, networking or professional involvement, strengths, weaknesses, and other topics that may influence students' successful professional development. Sample questions to ask students include:

• What do you hope to learn from this experience?
• What professional goals have you set for yourself?
• What types of activities do you enjoy?
• How did you decide upon your field of study?
• What do you perceive as barriers to your success?

Mentors may invite students to:

• Visit their places of work to observe typical professional activities.
• Attend local professional association meetings or events.
• Converse over coffee or lunch.
• Answer thought provoking questions that help students to examine and improve their professional preparation, particularly if there are discrepancies between stated goals and current performance or skill levels.
• Exchange ideas via e-mail and phone conversations.

Role of Students

Students assert themselves by articulating their career development questions and acting upon suggestions from their mentors. Students may ask questions pertaining to preparation and advancement in the field, lifestyle, types of duties/responsibilities involved, and the logistics of entering and being a part of the work force. Sample questions to ask mentors include:

• What do you enjoy about your current job or career field? What do you dislike?
• What is the most significant challenge facing your profession?
• If you knew in college what you know now, what would you have done differently?
• How did you find your first job? What about subsequent jobs?
• Given my background and interests, what ideas, advice, referrals, or leads do you suggest for me?

Students may invite mentors to:

• Answer questions they have prepared prior to each of their meetings or correspondence sessions regarding professional development strategies.
• Attend student organization meetings, perhaps as guest speakers.
• Review their resumes and ask for feedback about its wording and format. Identify potential gaps between their current skill level and the skill level required for entry into their desired field.

Students may show appreciation for a mentor's assistance by:

• Sending a thank you note.
• Sharing noteworthy newspaper or professional articles.
• Respecting the time constraints of the mentor.