National Mentoring Month - January 2023

Mentorship is a transformative part of our personal and professional lives. During the month of January, we celebrate the mentors and womentors who have helped us, but also give you resources, events and challenges to engage new mentors in your life. Offering and receiving mentorship is a constant process and can shift as you move through your career. Mentors can become friends, champions and sponsors throughout your professional journey. The UCLA Alumni Association has tools for students and alumni of all career stages, and this calendar shares opportunities for all Bruins so you can take an active role in building and supporting lifelong mentorships.

Click on a calendar date to uncover an action you can take for National Mentoring Month.

Assess your goals for the year. Share on your UCLA ONE Feed how a mentor can help you reach your goals in 2023.

How has mentorship helped you in the past? Was the mentorship formal or informal? Is there someone in your life that you respect and want to learn from?

We often think a mentor has to serve every purpose for our career growth. Consider a Board of Directors viewpoint instead.

Mentors are essential for our professional and personal lives. Do you need mentorship in your career or would a mentor with shared life goals help you meet your goals for 2023?

We are mentored by people we never meet. Which podcasts do your listen to? Which thought leaders do you enjoy or respect?

Mentorship takes time and is an intentional process. Mentors aren’t made in one meeting. Do you have the time to give to building a mentorship? If not, consider informational interviews.

Mentors are not therapists, and treating them as such can negatively impact your connection. If you need therapeutic care, consider a therapist or coach that can help you meet your goals.

Check out programs from UCLA, your professional school or your own company to see what opportunities are available to serve as a mentor or protégé, including peer mentoring programs.

Access your Bruin network on UCLA ONE. Search the directory for alumni with similar professional experiences or update your profile with what you can offer back to the Bruin community.

Whether you are a student or alumni, professional organizations are great places to connect with formal peer-to-peer mentoring. Find what programs are available to you.

This program connects alumni and students to prepare students for success at UCLA and beyond. Explore the website to see if this program aligns with your professional goals and time availability.

Update your profile to reflect your professional journey and what you have to offer. Begin researching potential LinkedIn connections, and see what organizations and leaders they follow.

Follow publications, podcasts and social media channels that offer valuable information. Potential mentors can arise from these channels. Consider exploring the Bruin Success Podcast.

Think about those closest to you. Explore your current circle of friends or family to see if you have someone that can give you insights and a new perspective.

After your research, draft an articulate and respectful message. Introduce yourself, how you found them and articulate what you hope to learn from them. Send a test draft to a friend.

If you are nervous to ask, remember the worst thing that can happen is that they say no. Put yourself out there!

Once you’ve sent the message, give it a minute. Most people are busy and often take a week to respond. If they don’t respond in a week, send one more message before moving on.

You will send many messages and receive few responses. Keep sending more messages and requests even if you don’t hear back from the first few people. That’s normal!

Sending a cold email is an artform. Learn how to be effective using this guide.

If you are a current undergraduate or graduate student, send a request today! Introduce yourself and share what you hope to learn from them.

Be genuine about showing your appreciation to potential mentors. It’s a lot to give your time to someone you don’t know.

Once you get a yes, follow up right away and take the lead. Get on their calendar as soon as you can. Make it easy for them to meet with you.

Prepare for the Meeting – Prepare questions you want to ask. Mentors, make sure to set aside the time for the meeting so you aren’t distracted. Prepare to be present.

Noon (PST). In this webinar, career coach Siria Gutierrez ‘05, CPCC/ESQ will discuss how to make better decisions using the 3Bs: breathing techniques, brainstorming and boundaries. RSVP.

Virtual Alumni Career Panel “PAA Alumni Career Path Journeys” – Register here

Join the UCLA Latino Alumni Association at 6 p.m. PST for a virtual career panel for students exploring biomed, health care and medicine.

After you meet with a mentor, always follow up. If you want to keep the mentorship going, ask if you can connect in a week or month to keep the conversation going.

Share on your UCLA ONE Feed your best mentoring advice for students and alumni.

Send a quick message to a past mentor on how they’ve made an impact in your life. Share what you’re up to. Even if you haven’t connected in a while, reach out!

Virtual webinar at noon PST. Join Alumni Career Engagement staff in this virtual webinar to explore how alumni can find mentorship after graduation. Register here.

Use your social media channels to share your gratitude for your mentors. Share how mentorship has positively impacted our lives and the lessons you’ve learned from your mentor.