Students Make Career Connections through Alumni Mentoring

As new and returning students refine class schedules and secure jobs for fall semester, one important element of college life may not yet be on the schedule: meetings with a mentor.

For Niki Lewis, tapping into the knowledge and wisdom of someone who’d “been there, done that” was integral to her first-year experience. She participated in Mentor Jackets, a Student Alumni Association (SAA) program that matches students with Tech alumni for mentoring.

“My mentor had recently graduated, so he was still very connected to campus,” she said. “He helped me figure out what organization and extracurricular activities to get involved with. He also helped me create my resume and gave valuable advice on attending my first career fair and preparing for interviews.”

Though Lewis’ mentor lives in Orlando, they communicated via Skype a couple of times a month and met in person midway through the year at the Georgia Tech vs. University of Georgia football game.

Lewis, an industrial engineering major who is now co-chair of the Mentor Jackets program, encourages all students, whether undergraduates or graduates, to get involved.

“Everyone has something to gain from interaction with alumni who have been through the same things you’re experiencing,” she said.

Harrison Obiorah, a third-year computer science major, has had two mentors in his two years at Tech, both of whom have left a lasting impression. After Obiorah started second-guessing his major choice and future career options last year, his mentor introduced him to the idea of IT consulting, which bridged his varied interests. He has since secured an internship in the field for next summer.

“If you have your dream job figured out, [Mentor Jackets] is the perfect platform to map out the quickest way to end up in that dream job,” he said.

Whether a student has a similar dilemma or not, Obiorah’s believes Mentor Jackets will support their goals. Students are able to specify areas of interest when applying to the program, in order to be matched with an appropriate mentor. For those who are unsure, Obiorah suggests that students put down anything they find interesting during registration and “join with an open mind.”

“We can’t promise it will happen in one year, but we can promise that the more time and effort you put into Mentor Jackets, the more you’ll reap,” he said.

Mentors and mentees are expected to meet on a regular basis, whether it’s in person, by phone or through another medium. Mentor Jackets also hosts group events throughout the year, including speed networking and guest speakers.

To participate, students must be members of SAA, which they can join by making a $10 donation. The donation is split between the Student Foundation and SAA’s Gift to Tech, which means all funds are channeled toward student endeavors.

Students can join SAA at gtsaa.com or during its annual campus kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 4. Mentor Jackets signups are at gtmentorjackets.com and are open throughout the fall semester.