Tisch Career Guide Volunteer Sign Up

The TOCD staff reviews ongoing requests year-round from eligible students and recent graduates who are seeking informational meetings. Once we’ve identified someone who could benefit from your insights, we’ll do an email intro to connect you!

Here’s how it works:

1. Eligible Career Learners fill out a request form to indicate the career insights they’re seeking.
2. Using that info, the TOCD staff then goes through the Knowledge Network to see if there are any Career Guides who may be a good match for them. 
3. If you’re a match, TOCD will email you to share the Career Learner’s request, which consists of brief essays describing their career interests and what sort of advice they’re seeking. 
   1. NOTE: You are welcome to decline the request if your availability has changed or you don’t feel you’re able to sufficiently address the Career Learner’s questions.
4. Once you confirm your availability and accept the request, TOCD will introduce you to the Career Learner via email.
5. You and the Career Learner then schedule a mutually convenient time to meet. Please plan for your meeting to last at least 45 minutes.
6. That’s it! Career Guides are only expected to meet with their assigned Career Learner once. However, if you are willing to continue communication with them, you are welcome to do so. Any subsequent interactions do not need to be approved or facilitated by TOCD.

Typical Questions to Expect from a Career Learner:

• How did you get started in the industry? How did you get your first job after graduation?
• When did you feel like your career really took off?
• What did you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
• How do you balance a day job with your own creative work?
• How do you stay productive and motivated, especially when you don’t have school holding you accountable? How do you find focus?
• If you’re a freelancer, how did you get started finding steady clients/gigs?
• How do you find a work/life balance?
• How do you create community when you’re no longer in classes or dorms?

PLEASE NOTE: 

The Tisch Knowledge Network is an ongoing resource and NOT a formally structured program that occurs during a specific timeframe. Career Learners can submit requests year-round so there isn’t a set time when a match might occur. 

Be aware that the needs and interests of Career Learners can vary. As a result, meetings are subject to demand and are therefore not guaranteed.

Are these meetings in person or virtual?
The default meeting mode is virtual (phone/video) but if you and the Career Learner are in the same geographic location, you’re welcome to meet in person. However, please be aware that any expenses from your meeting, such as the cost of a coffee, is your responsibility.

Can I meet with a Career Learner more than once?
Sure! If your meeting goes well and you would like to extend your support to that Career Learner, you’re welcome to continue communicating with them. You do not need TOCD’s approval to do this (though we always appreciate hearing that things are going well!). Any subsequent meetings will be your responsibility to arrange.

Why haven’t I been contacted by a Career Learner yet?
If you haven’t received a meeting request yet, it’s because there haven’t yet been any Career Learners who have submitted requests that are fit for your expertise. Please also bear in mind that TOCD fields these requests on a rolling basis so there’s no set schedule for when meetings might occur. As a supplement, Career Guides are also frequently considered for Tisch alumni panels and other career-related events so there are lots of other opportunities for you to support students and recent graduates!

Can I meet with more than one Career Learner?
Sure! Meeting requests are subject to demand so it’s possible there may be more than one Career Learner who could benefit from your insights.

How are Career Guides matched with Career Learners?
When the Career Learners submit a meeting request, they are asked to provide details about their career interests and geographic location, as well as specific industry questions they’re looking to get answered. The TOCD staff then compares needs with all the Career Guide profiles to determine who would be a good fit for the Career Learner’s needs.

I am a member of an underrepresented community and want to provide one-on-one mentorship to someone who shares my identity.
While we can’t guarantee that there will be requests from someone who shares your identity, we can certainly make a note of your preference and give you priority when assessing possible matches.

What if I don’t think the Career Learner is a good match for me?
While we ask that volunteers keep an open mind about the meeting requests, it’s okay to decline them if you strongly feel the student/alumni is not the right fit for you after you review their request. However, Career Guides who decline requests are not guaranteed additional opportunities for meetings with other Career Learners, since requests are subject to Career Learner demand.

Am I obligated to refer Career Learners for jobs?
Definitely not! The Tisch Knowledge Network Is not a job placement program so you are not required to recommend anyone for career-related opportunities or provide them with work. However, if you feel comfortable connecting anyone with jobs or referrals, you are welcome to do so! 

I’ve never been involved in anything like this before. What kind of info and support are Career Learners seeking?
As students and new graduates entering the professional world, they 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 their mind.

We also have a Career Guide Handbook that we’ll share with you. Additionally, the TOCD staff is always available to field your questions or concerns.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that the Tisch Career Guides are not meant to have all the answers. If you do, that’s great but ultimately, you can only speak from your own experience. We encourage the Career Learners to supplement their Career Guide conversations with Tisch Career Counseling. Our staff is well-versed in the arts and creative industries, so we can provide advice on a wide range of topics including job searches, freelancer/entrepreneur strategies, creative branding, grant writing and fundraising, industry submissions, networking, and industry affinity groups. For international students, we also maintain a list of lawyers who specialize in artist visas and a list of alums who’ve successfully obtained O-1s and are willing to chat about that experience.

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 share your insights with more students and recent alumni, we’re very happy to have you!

I heard there’s a Tisch New Graduates Mentor Program, where mentees are matched with an alum who serves as their buddy and meets with them multiple times over a long period of time. Is this the same thing?
Nope! For logistical reasons, that Mentor Program has been put on pause. However, during your meeting with the Career Learner, you are welcome to offer subsequent sessions and increased access if you feel that form of mentorship would be beneficial to them.

Is this the same thing as the Violet Network?
Nope! Although the Tisch Knowledge Network and the Violet Network have a similar structure, the Violet Network is an online platform hosted by the NYU Wasserman Center. It’s open to the NYU community beyond just Tisch and facilitates networking, mentoring, and knowledge sharing between students and NYU alumni. If you’re looking to expand your support to majors from places like Steinhardt, Gallatin, and the College of Arts & Sciences, we encourage you to join it. 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 Tisch Knowledge Network is completely different in structure from Tisch’s past mentor programs. This also helps ensure we have the most current details for your profile.

Have other questions? Please contact tisch.career@nyu.edu.