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Tips for a Successful Career Advisor

• Respond to potential advisees in a timely fashion, either by phone or email.
• Establish regular communication with your advisee, keeping in touch via e-mail or phone.
• Establish a positive, personal relationship with an advisee. Establish mutual trust and respect. Have fun and enjoy the experience.
• Help the advisee to develop or begin to develop skills. Work with your advisee to accomplish specific goals.
• Assist your advisee in obtaining access to additional resources. Provide awareness of community, educational, and economic resources. Act as a guide, advocate, "coach" and role model.
• Keep in mind that each mentor-mentee match is unique and will result in unique experiences.
• Explore the advisee's motivation for his/her field, encouraging advisee to gain exposure to professional settings through volunteer work, internships, and shadowing.
• Assess your advisee's qualifications and fit for a career in your profession (or the one you're discussing).
• Discuss realities of profession with advisee and generally gain a sense of the advisee's job search.
• Write a letter of recommendation or make a supportive phone call for your advisee, after reviewing letters of recommendation and other support material the advisee shares.