Aztec Mentor Program

1. Visit Mentor Collective and create a new account.
2. Both mentors and mentees complete a survey detailing their backgrounds, experiences, and hopes for a counterpart.
3. Mentor Collective creates matches based on what mentees say is most important to them.

Create An Account

Mentees are undergraduate (first-year to senior) or graduate students at SDSU. They are typically between the ages of 18 and 22, and have diverse lived experiences.

Mentees generally look for the following in mentorship:

• Guidance on navigating the transition from campus to career
• Resume and cover letter review
• Early career navigation and job search strategies
• Industry insights and informational interviews
• Opportunities to shadow or observe professionals in action

Supporting Mentees

• Offer a structured background and framework to help them set direction (suggest goals, skill development ideas, and activities).
• Share your career journey openly, including challenges, lessons learned, and turning points.
• Be a guide, not a director—advise without dictating.
• Give candid but constructive feedback.
• Encourage networking by introducing them to others in your field when appropriate.

Communicating With Mentees

• Respond to mentee messages within 3–5 business days when possible.
• Be proactive in communication—if a mentee is slow to respond, check in with them periodically.
• Let mentees know your preferred communication method (email, phone, video, in-person) early on.

Meeting With Mentees

• Mentorships can last a few weeks, a semester, or longer, depending on the connection and mutual availability.
• Provide clarity around your availability so expectations are set from the start.
• Interactions can be virtual, in-person, or hybrid.
• Some mentees may seek regular meetings, while others benefit from occasional check-ins.

For questions and concerns, please contact Aksum Turner ([email protected]).