Professional Mentors provide personalized coaching and support to college students or recent graduates as they work to secure an internship or job.
Mentees have already completed Braven’s signature semester-long career course by the time they meet their Professional Mentors. They’re ready to take their next steps toward launching their careers, but they’re facing barriers. Maybe they’ve never had an internship before, they’re struggling with confidence, or they’ve been unable to make time for career exploration.
Over the course of 12 weeks, Professional Mentors meet with their Mentees in weekly, virtual, hour-long sessions. As you help your Mentee determine their immediate next steps, you’re also building strong relationships and helping tomorrow’s leaders shape the rest of their lives. You have the opportunity to be a key piece of Braven’s work to empower Fellows with the skills, experience, confidence, and network they’ll need to pursue a career worthy of their degree.
Our summer program runs June 15 – September 4.
You’ve earned your degree and are at least three years into your post-grad journey—through work, grad school, or both—and you’re excited to share what you’ve learned with the next generation of leaders. You’ve had prior experience tutoring, mentoring, or coaching students who are the first in their family to go to college or who have limited financial resources, or you share that background yourself. You have experience navigating the current job market, and have ease navigating and interacting in a virtual space.
You begin your commitment with a 2-hour virtual training session to make sure you have everything you need to feel confident going into your sessions. Braven offers tools and frameworks to guide you in your support.
Over the course of 12 weeks, you’ll meet with your Mentee one-on-one over Zoom. You’ll build a supportive relationship as you guide them through the steps involved in submitting applications to internships and/or jobs. You’ll pass along the wisdom you’ve gained from your own professional experiences.
With your guidance, your Mentee will apply for and secure their next job or internship by:
Professional Mentors are asked to commit between 25-29 hours to their Mentees and the program across the 12-week period. You’ll begin your commitment with an optional but strongly recommended two–hour training. Then, each week, you’ll have one-hour sessions with your Mentee (with about 30 minutes of “prep time” expected for each session). You’ll pick the meeting schedule that works for you and your Mentee. Professional Mentors are also encouraged, but not required, to attend three virtual workshops and an End of Program Celebration.
This commitment requires computer and internet access. Professional Mentors and Mentees meet on Zoom and all workshops take place on Zoom as well.
Braven Mentees are determined undergraduate college students or recent graduates who have finished Braven’s signature semester-long career course. They’ve left the course with a professional portfolio that includes an updated resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, and they’re ready to take their next steps.
The majority of the students who participate in the Braven program are the first in their family to go to college or who have limited financial resources. They’re also joining the program from all over the country.
Some Mentees already have a clear career path in mind, while others are eager to explore and figure out their options. Most have had little professional experience—typically one or no internships if they’re still in college, or no full-time job yet if they’ve graduated. They’re seeking extra guidance and support as they take their next steps.
To become a Professional Mentor, we ask volunteers to submit an application. You’ll have the chance to share a bit about your background, your career experiences, and your interest in the volunteer opportunity.
Braven staff review applications to understand each volunteer’s strengths and professional experience. Qualified applicants are then selected to be part of a pool from which we create Mentee-Mentor matches, based on Mentee enrollment numbers and each participant’s background.
Please note that we cannot always guarantee all Mentors in the pool will be matched. If we can’t find a match for a qualified applicant, volunteers will have the opportunity to join a waitlist, defer to the following cycle, or participate in Braven’s Mock Interview program.
Priority: April 20
Final: May 4
May 12
May 20
June 8
June 10
June 15
Braven is intentional about matching Mentees and Professional Mentors so that all participants have the best experience possible. We prioritize pairing Mentors and Mentees who align in career industries and role functions selected during the application process. When we aren’t able to match using that criteria, we consider participants’ academic background and location.
New Professional Mentors are required to attend our 2-hour virtual training—this allows them to understand the frameworks and best practices for supporting their Mentees. You’ll also have the opportunity to join support hours where you can ask questions and troubleshoot any issues you might have regarding onboarding and the start of the program.
In addition, Braven staff hold optional weekly office hours where Mentees and Mentors can get additional support, as well as workshops where participants will learn strategies for sourcing opportunities, initiating networking conversations, and practicing interview skills.
Supporting anyone in the job or internship search can be challenging, but Braven has this work down to a science. We’re here to help you be the best possible support for your Mentee.
We are so glad that you’re interested in joining our community. In order to volunteer with Braven, all Professional Mentors need to complete some legal forms (standard non-disclosure and media release forms), a background check, and fill out a brief welcome survey.
This FAQ document shares answers to common questions about the onboarding process.
