A few months ago I started to write a series of blog posts designed to help impart the knowledge I’ve amassed through years of interview preparation, real world work experiences, and career moves. It’s been sometime since my last post and I thought this was the perfect time to share an update and share more about an upcoming opportunity to join me as a mentor.
In December 2020 I joined the Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) and started mentoring Brad M. Hamilton, an undergrad student at The University of the West Indies, Mona in Kingston, Jamaica. We’ve completed 9 out of 14 structured sessions over the past 3 months and I have been so fortunate to have been matched with such an ambitious, empathetic, and motivated individual. We’ve had opportunities to not just cover the basics of resume & cover letter prep, but also establishing a presence on LinkedIn, building a career plan, and even giving me a chance to talk about my experiences in job hunting, interviewing, and beyond.
The following is an appeal from GMI to attend informational sessions and learn more about the program. If you’re interested please register using the links below!
GMI has 200 new students coming into the program and need to match each one with a mentor by April 30th. Register for a 30-minute discussion using the links below to determine if being a mentor is right for you.
Wednesday, March 31st 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET – register here
Friday, April 2nd 9 AM PT / Noon ET – register here
What is this mentorship program about? Global Mentorship Initiative is a nonprofit organization that provides guidance and business skills to underserved college students through online mentorship. GMI was created from the Rockefeller Foundation’s Digital Jobs Initiative to help prepare students specifically for their first career job using a 1:1 mentorship model that makes it easy to be a great mentor without a significant time commitment.
Who are GMI students? Colleges nominate students for the program based on underserved status and their commitment to the program. We also have a program to mentor graduating students living in refugee camps in Africa. Our students are in the following countries and you can work with a student in a specific country if you prefer.
United States (9 colleges)
South Africa
Jamaica
Senegal
Lebanon
Sri Lanka
Rwanda
Malawi
Kenya
How long is the GMI program? You will meet with a student usually once a week for one hour for 14 sessions. After this, your mentorship will conclude.
Who are GMI Mentors? People just like you! Mentors come from all industries and all levels. This is a very structured program, and you don’t need to be an expert. Just follow the GMI Mentor Guide and add your own personal experience to the mentorship. This is easier than you might think, and you won’t regret giving back in this way. 75% of our mentors volunteer to work with another student.