Are you a Rutgers alumnus looking to make a significant impact on the next generation of professionals? The Rutgers Career Exploration and Success department invites you to participate in the 4ward Career Pathways Program, a rewarding mentorship opportunity for the 2023-2024 academic year. This program, formerly known as the Road to Industry Program (RTIP), is designed to guide undergraduate students in clarifying their career aspirations and equipping them with the tools for post-graduation success.
The 4WARD Career Pathways Program is a comprehensive initiative aimed at supporting Rutgers undergraduate students as they navigate their career journeys. Through personalized career advising, direct mentorship from experienced Rutgers alumni like yourself, valuable networking opportunities, and access to crucial recruiting resources, the program sets students on a path to achieve their career goals after graduation.
What Does Mentoring Entail?
As a mentor in the 4WARD Career Pathways Program, you will play a pivotal role in shaping a student’s future. The time commitment is approximately 2 hours per month from October 2023 through July/August 2024. The structure of these interactions is flexible and determined collaboratively between you and your mentee, allowing for a personalized and impactful mentorship experience. To ensure program effectiveness and gather valuable feedback, we ask mentors to complete brief monthly check-in forms via Qualtrics, providing updates on your meetings and the mentee’s progress.
Typical Discussion Areas with Mentees:
Mentorship within the 4WARD Career Pathways Program covers a broad spectrum of career development topics, including:
- Goal Setting: Helping students define and refine their career objectives.
- Industry Trends: Sharing insights into current industry landscapes and future outlooks.
- Resume and Cover Letter Reviews: Providing constructive feedback to enhance application materials.
- LinkedIn Profile Coaching: Guiding students in building a professional online presence.
- Navigating Internships and Job Searches: Offering strategies for effective job seeking.
- Interview Strategies and Mock Interviewing: Preparing students for successful interviews.
- And potentially much more, based on the mentee’s individual needs and your expertise.
Meet Your Mentees:
The students participating in the 4WARD Career Pathways Program are highly motivated individuals who were selected during their first year in the Spring 2023 semester. They are now entering their sophomore year at Rutgers, eager to explore career options and gain valuable insights from experienced professionals in their fields of interest.
We Are Seeking Rutgers Alumni Mentors in Diverse Fields:
The 4WARD Career Pathways Program is actively seeking Rutgers alumni mentors in a wide array of career fields to provide diverse perspectives and guidance. We encourage alumni from the following areas to apply:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Business Analytics
- Cybersecurity
- Data Analysis
- Finance (including Risk Management, Compliance, Investment Banking, Quantitative Finance, Asset Management, Corporate Finance)
- Genetic Counseling
- Health Administration
- Law
- Life and Health Sciences
- Marketing
- Medical Professions (Physicians, Pediatrics, Surgery, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Internal Medicine)
- Music with Technology Connection
- Nutrition
- Product Management
- Public Health
- Software Engineering
- Supply Chain Management
- Veterinarian
- Video Game Industry
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you are passionate about mentoring and eager to support Rutgers undergraduates through the 4WARD Career Pathways Program, we encourage you to get involved. This is a fantastic opportunity to give back to your alma mater, share your professional journey, and help shape the future careers of promising Rutgers students.
To begin the application process or to learn more about becoming a mentor, please contact the 4WARD Career Pathways Program team at [email protected]. Please include your name, career field, areas of interest for mentoring, and any questions you may have.
Thank you for considering this rewarding opportunity to empower Rutgers students through the 4WARD Career Pathways Program!
