Finding Mentorship

Candoor is a free platform that helps professionals connect with and empower the younger generation by offering free 1-on-1 conversations that open career doors. It is open to all students.

• Candoor (Mentees) – The application link to Candoor for students.
• Candoor (Mentors) – The landing page for Candoor targeted towards professionals.

The application is open to all students and you are free to set your own meeting times on the platform.

Here are two student mentorship programs designed to support career development and first-year student success at Fresno State:

• Career Development Center – Career Development Center Student Peer Mentors
• Fresno State First-Time Freshmen – MentorU Student Mentorship Program

Here are some valuable mentorship programs across various fields that can help students connect with experienced professionals and advisors in their fields. These programs offer personalized guidance, career advice, and opportunities for personal and academic growth:

• College of Arts and Humanities – Mediator Mentors (Philosophy)
• Craig School of Business – Laval Entrepreneur Mentor Program
• College of Health and Human Services – CHHS Mentoring and Advising
• College of Science and Math – Mentorship Alliance for Student Success (MASS) Program
• College of Social Sciences – College of Social Sciences Peer Mentoring and Advising

Below is a list of mentorship programs tailored to support students from diverse backgrounds, providing guidance and resources to foster success across various stages of their academic journey:

• Men of Color/Men – Peer MENtorship CCGC
• Former Foster Youth – Renaissance Scholars Program Mentorship
• Students with Disabilities – Wayfinders Program Mentorship
• EOP Eligible 1st/2nd Year Students – EOP Peer Mentoring Service
• International Students – International Office Peer Mentor Service
• Graduate Students – Graduate Student Mentor Collective

If you’re struggling to find a program you qualify for, here are two helpful directories that provide contact information for staff and faculty at Fresno State, each serving a unique purpose:

• Fresno State Directory – Contains contact information and staff/faculty roles of everyone working at Fresno State
• Fresno State Diversity and First-Gen Directory – Contains contact information on staff/faculty specific to different affinity-groups.

Typically (in a career setting), a mentor is someone who is further along in their career and often considered to be an expert in their field. For example, faculty to college students, or college students to high school students.

Potential mentors for college students include:

• Professors, research, coaches, sponsors, alumni
• Family, friends, family friends, peers, resident assistants
• Advisors, career coaches, supervisors, department chairs

During your mentorship you will be communicating with your mentor about meeting times, follow-ups, and more. Below are a few templates to help you stay on track with your mentor:

• Initial Mentorship Request Email
• Follow-Up Post-Meeting Email

While using these templates, it’s important to keep your wording professional and note that the template may not work for every situation. Feel free to modify these templates to fit your mentorship needs!

Both staff and students have busy schedules. It can be difficult to coordinate meeting times and availabilities especially when you’re juggling multiple commitments. Here are a few websites and resources that will help you coordinate availabilities with your mentor:

• Google Calendar Scheduler – List out your availabilities and have others book meetings with you
• Doodle Meeting 1-1 Scheduler – List out your availabilities and create a 1 on 1 meeting.

As you schedule your meetings with your mentor, keep the commitment by scheduling your next meeting during your current meeting. When meeting with your mentor, keep your cameras on if you are meeting on Zoom, dress appropriately, and show up at least five minutes early in-case any problems or issues come up.

It can be challenging to keep a mentorship meeting on track and ensure productive conversation. To make the most of your time, it’s helpful to come prepared with a list of questions and a clear objective for the session.

Think about what specific advice or guidance you need, whether it’s related to career development, skill-building, or personal growth. Having a set of questions ready will help you stay focused and ensure the discussion remains meaningful. Additionally, setting goals for the meeting can help both you and your mentor stay on track and make the conversation more effective.

Here is a list of questions and activities you can use to guide your mentorship meetings.