In case you have not seen the posting yet, we are hiring! And we want you to know more about how this mentoring program operates! I think we would all agree that coming into this job, we were not sure about what a mentor really does. Well, here is a little insight to what we as mentors do for the Transfer Jacks Program!
A day for a mentor can vary from a couple mentee meetings a day to none. I love the days when the lounge is bustling with the excitement as our conversations with mentees get more engaging. Even on the more quiet, slower days, there is a relaxing energy that fills the lounge. We also have dedicated office hours each week to work on other responsibilities like outreach and emails. As mentors trying to get students involved, we ourselves must be involved as well! This means outreach through texts, emails, and calls! We also try to hold several events during the semester. These include on campus and off campus events! Mentors have the opportunity to pitch ideas as well!
The Transfer Jacks Mentoring program is not only about mentorship but advocating for our students. We have a few committees that rely on mentors to run initiatives such as the social media, hiring, Transfer Talks podcast, and blog committees. As a mentor you have the choice of what committees you would like to be a part of each semester. I appreciate how these serve as creative outlets that allow us mentors to get experience in leadership, teamwork, and collaboration.
Speaking of leadership, there was recently a new role added to our team! The role of Senior Peer Mentors is currently held by our very own Leah Minero and Jennifer Wadley! As of now, Leah is the head of our social media committee and Jen is leading our hiring committee. These two have shown us a great example of leadership within our team. But it’s always a nice feeling to know within the Transfer Jacks team, we all get the chance to excel together!
Having the opportunities to connect with mentees as our job is truly rewarding. Seeing our mentees become more comfortable, confident, and successful is always a plus. Of course, our work schedules are based around our class schedule. Part of the job is understanding that we are students first!
But wait! Here are some disclaimers that I would like to add! As an introvert, I had some fears about not being engaging enough for mentees and not fitting in with the other mentors. I am glad to say that I was wrong. There are several of us on the team that are introverts! During my time here, I have not felt any disconnect when it comes to relating to my mentees and fellow mentors. The time commitment was also a little scary at first but after the first week or so, it gets easier to balance work and school. I am also shocked at how close of a bond we mentors have with one another. It’s truly a nice feeling to come into the lounge and see my favorite people.
Hopefully, this was enough insight into how our Transfer Jacks team works! By joining our program, you get the opportunity to serve our transfer community as well as getting to build meaningful relationships with the fellow mentees and mentors. Our applications for the peer mentor role closes on Monday, February 13, 2023, so please apply before the deadline. We are hiring 12-15 new mentors and plan to have three returning mentors since many of the current mentors are graduating this semester. The first round interview will be in late February/early March and the second round interview will be in March/April. Here is the link for the application!
We cannot wait to add new mentors to our family!