How are mentors matched with mentees?
Your Group Meeting session will be open to all registered mentees so there isn’t any matching and you’ll have the opportunity to speak with any who attend. If you choose to offer a One-on-One Chat, you will be able to select your own mentee after reviewing the application pool (the applications consist of two brief essays and a resume). However, if you don’t want to read through the applications, the Tisch staff can do the review for you and recommend possible matches.
NOTE: Since the mentees decide which mentor they want to meet with, it’s possible that some mentors may not receive any One-on-One Chat applications. If you do not receive any mentee requests for One-on-One Chats, the Tisch Office of Career Development can help identify alternative volunteer opportunities for you.
I’m confused about how the Group Meetings are structured. What do you mean by an “Ask Me Anything”-style session?
The Group Meeting is a live and informal Q&A where mentors share their experiences and insights with the mentees. Each session will feature up to three mentors who share similar career paths, and the general structure will consist of a 10-15 minute intro where each mentor shares info about their background and current professional experience, followed by an opportunity for the mentee attendees to ask any questions they may have about the mentors' professional journeys or insights into the industry in general. Note that mentees will not be permitted to use the session to ask for employment or personal referrals. Each Group Meeting session should last approximately 45 minutes, though mentors are welcome to extend the time up to 90 minutes if they wish.
How many mentees will I be speaking with in a Group Meeting?
Although we encourage the mentees to attend all of the Group Meetings, it’s not mandatory so individual attendance may vary widely. Mentees are required to rsvp no later than 48 hours prior to a Group Meeting so if you’d like to get a headcount in advance, we can furnish you with an expected number at that time. Please note that if there are no registered attendees for your Group Meeting two days before it’s scheduled to occur, we will let you know so it can be canceled or rescheduled.
I’m shy and hate speaking in front of large groups. Can I just do a One-on-One Chat instead?
The One-on-One Chats are structured to be continuations of the Group Meeting topics so we’d prefer that all One-on-One Mentors participate in both stages of the program. If you’re feeling nervous about doing the Group Meeting, a Tisch career staff member will be on hand to take some of the pressure off by serving as the moderator and facilitating the discussion. But if you’re really not keen on the Group Meeting, the Tisch career staff is open to discussing how we could potentially adapt the One-on-One Chat applications for your specific situation.
I am a member of an underrepresented community and want to provide one-on-one mentorship to someone who shares my identity.
Mentees decide which mentor they'd like to request for the One-on-One Chat so we can’t guarantee that you will be selected by someone who shares your identity. However, if you receive One-on-One requests from multiple mentees and you don’t have the bandwidth to meet with more than one, you’re welcome to use that as your selection criteria.
What if I don’t think any of the mentees are a good match for my One-on-One Chats?
While we ask that volunteers keep an open mind about the mentee requests, it’s okay to decline them if you strongly feel they’re not the right fit for you after you review their application. However, mentors who decline One-on-One Chat requests are not guaranteed alternate mentee matches.
Am I obligated to refer mentees for jobs?
Definitely not! The Class of 2024 Mentor Program is not a job placement program and mentors are not required to recommend mentees for career-related opportunities or provide them with work. That said, mentors who are comfortable connecting mentees with jobs or referrals are welcome to do so! Past mentors have also been known to collaborate with their mentees on projects.
I’ve never mentored before. What kind of info and support are mentees seeking?
As new graduates entering the professional world, the mentees are primarily seeking advice about how to start their careers. This can range from job application advice, to questions about how to balance survival jobs with a creative practice, to advice on resources for artistic projects, and everything in between! If you can recall all the mysteries and challenges you faced when you graduated from Tisch, that should give you a sense of what’s on the mind of these mentees.
We also have a Mentor Guide that we’ll share with you. Additionally, the TOCD staff is always available to field your questions or concerns.
I’m already mentoring Tisch students through another program. Can I do this one too?
First of all, we love you for wanting to be so involved in supporting the Tisch community! And yes, if you’re willing to take on more mentees, we’re happy to have you as long as you can commit to one Group Meeting between May 2024 and August 2024, and two One-on-One Chat sessions with a 2024 mentee between September 2024 and December 2024.
Is this the same thing as the Violet Network?
Nope, the Violet Network is an online platform hosted by the NYU Wasserman Center to facilitate networking, mentoring, and knowledge sharing between students and NYU alumni. The mentoring available through Violet Network has a more open timeline and structure than the Tisch New Graduates Mentor Program and is open to the NYU community beyond just Tisch. For more info, go to violetnetwork.nyu.edu.
I registered for the mentor program last year. Do I need to register again?
Yes, please! The 2024 Mentor Program cycle is completely different in structure from past years.
Have other questions? Please contact tisch.career@nyu.edu.