FAQs

This is a mentee-driven program, meaning mentees take an active role in selecting a mentor. After a mentee enters preferences into the platform (industry, career interests, location, etc.), the system generates a list of alumni whose backgrounds closely align with those criteria. Mentees may then submit a request, and mentors can choose to accept or decline based on interest and availability.

There are countless studies that validate the significance and value of mentorship. Think back to moments such as graduating from college, starting your first role, or navigating a major career shift. What guidance would have made a difference at that time? More than likely you have a number of ideas that come to mind. Imagine how valuable it would have been to be given helpful advice at that time of your life. That value speaks to the power of mentorship. Mentoring creates an opportunity to share your knowledge and advice with someone facing similar decisions, helping them move forward with greater clarity and confidence along the way.

For in-person meetings, choose a public, professional setting—such as the mentor’s office, a coffee shop, or a restaurant—where both participants feel comfortable. Meetings may also be held by phone or video chat, offering flexibility for these meaningful, productive conversations.

A casual, open conversation is the most common interaction that mentees and mentors will have. Other activities may include mock interviews (in person or by phone), scheduling a day of job shadowing, conducting a resume/cover letter review, or attending a conference or industry presentation together. A full list of suggested activities and discussion topics can be found in the resources section.

A mentor may choose to host a Mentorship Circle, bringing together a small group of mentees for a discussion led by the mentor. This can be a one-time arrangement or a repeating circle that meets a number of times over a few weeks or months. We recommended hosting no more than four to eight mentees in one group. An added benefit of this format is that mentees can learn from one another and share peer-to-peer insight. If you are a mentor and are interested in hosting a Mentorship Circle, please email mentor@northwestern.edu for assistance and be sure to select the appropriate option in your profile indicating your interest.

If you experience any challenges with your mentor/mentee or have questions, please reach out to the program manager at mentor@northwestern.edu. The program manager can offer guidance, recommend next steps, or help determine whether it’s best to bring the relationship to a close.

When your mentorship reaches its agreed-upon end point—or comes to a natural conclusion—you can formally close the relationship in your profile. To do so, visit the “Connections” tab in your account, navigate to your mentor or mentee icon, and select the “Interact” button. You will see a gray button labeled “Move to Past Connections.” Selecting this button will move that relationship from a current to past status. We encourage discussing this step together beforehand to make sure both parties are comfortable concluding the mentorship. A Closure Conversation Discussion Guide  can support a thoughtful closing conversation and help reflect on what you’ve gained from the experience.

All good things must come to an end! You will know when the relationship has come to its natural conclusion either when all of the mentee’s goals have been achieved or you have hit the time limit you set in your agreement at the beginning of your relationship. It is important to celebrate the end of a successful mentorship relationship. We encourage mentors and mentees to take time to acknowledge what was accomplished—whether by doing something memorable, such as attending an industry event together, or by using the Closure Conversation Discussion Guide.

No. When the program first launched, we required student mentees to attend an in-person orientation session, but we no longer require that. Student mentees are only required to complete a brief, 10-minute online orientation as part of the registration process.

No. Alumni mentors and mentees are not required to attend or complete an orientation. We’ve created an optional online orientation for alumni, which can be viewed anytime by visiting this page. Program registration is not required to access the video and viewing it as a participant is optional.

One common misconception is that mentees have little to contribute—but mentorship is a two-way experience. You can make the relationship valuable for your mentor as well by offering fresh perspectives on your industry, sharing insights into emerging technologies or applications, or filling your mentor in on current trends in your field. You can also share interesting articles, podcasts, or books that you think your mentor would enjoy. Remember that you have your own powerful network too. If you encounter someone whose background or expertise could be helpful to your mentor, offer to introduce them.

Set a new goal and keep the momentum going. If you and your mentor agree that continuing the mentorship would be valuable, you absolutely can. Be sure to also check with your mentor to confirm their interest and availability before defining the next set of goals and expectations.

Casual, ongoing conversations are the most common interactions that mentees and mentors will have. You might also work with your mentor to practice mock interviews (in person or by phone), plan a job-shadowing experience, review résumés or cover letters, or attend an industry presentation or professional event together. A full list of suggested activities and discussion topics is available in the Resources section.

If you would like to delete your account permanently, please email mentor@northwestern.edu for assistance.

There is a built-in limit in the mentorship process. You may have up to two mentors at a time, and pending requests count toward this total. If you currently have two outstanding requests awaiting responses, those requests fill both available slots. If you'd like to reach out to a different mentor, you can cancel one or both pending requests to free up openings for a new request. Once you’ve been matched, one spot is considered filled.

You may also conclude an active mentorship at any time in the platform and make room to search for a new mentor. Before taking this step, we encourage you to discuss this action with your mentor to make sure that you both are comfortable closing the mentorship relationship. A Closure Conversation Discussion Guide can be found in the resources section. This resource can help guide a thoughtful conversation that reflects on what you’ve learned and celebrates the experience.

To close a mentorship, visit your account homepage or open the “Connections” tab. Navigate to your mentor’s profile icon and select the “Interact” button. You’ll then see an option labeled “Move to Past Connections.” Selecting this option moves the mentorship from active to inactive status, creating space for a new mentor request.

Thank you for volunteering your time and experience to support students and alumni through mentoring. After registering for this Mentorship Program, it may take some time before you are matched with a mentee, as this is a mentee-driven program. Mentees search for mentors in our database using specific search criteria, such as industry, interests, and experience. For this reason, a complete and well-maintained profile is essential. This resource offers tips for creating a strong, compelling profile. There is a possibility that you may not be selected. In addition, response times can vary—some mentors receive requests quickly, while others may wait several weeks or longer. This is a normal part of the process.

Note that you are able to search for and contact other mentors through this Mentorship Program. This is a great way to grow your Northwestern network. Connections can be made through shared personal or professional interests.

Mentors may work with up to three mentees at once, provided you have the time and capacity to support each relationship thoughtfully. Mentors also have the option to host a Mentorship Circle, a group-based format where one mentor guides several mentees together. Circles may be one-time gatherings or recurring sessions held over several weeks or months. We recommend hosting no more than four to eight mentees in a single circle. An added benefit of this format is that mentees can learn from one another and offer peer-to-peer insight, enriching the shared experience. If you’re interested in hosting a Mentorship Circle, please email mentor@northwestern.edu for guidance and indicate your interest by selecting the Mentorship Circle option in your mentor profile.

No. The platform has parameters built in to manage and limit incoming requests. Once you have accepted a mentee through the platform (i.e. “matched”), you will no longer be available to other mentees in the database. You may choose to mentor up to three individuals simultaneously, depending on your availability and preferences. To update your preferences, log in and select the “My Account” tab (located in the top-right corner or the left navigation menu), navigate to “Participation,” and use the dropdown menu to set your desired number of mentees (one, two, or three).

To adjust the availability, log in and select the “My Account” tab (located in the top-right corner or the left navigation menu). From there, open the “Participation” tab, and use the dropdown menu to choose the maximum number of mentees you’d like to support at one time.

Yes. If your schedule becomes especially full or you’d like to step away temporarily, you can pause your account for a set period or indefinitely. While logged in, visit the “My Account” section and open the “Participation” tab. Uncheck the box labeled “I want to be searchable in the Northwestern Alumni Mentorship Program.” Below, enter the date you’d like to pause visibility and—if applicable—the date you’d like to resume participation. If you prefer an open-ended pause, simply leave the box unchecked. When you’re ready to return, log back in and re-select the box to become visible in the program again.

If you learn that a student is in danger or if you have serious concerns about your mentee, please immediately inform the program administrator by calling (847) 467-4518 or emailing mentor@northwestern.edu. Any information you share will remain confidential, and the University administration will step in if the situation warrants attention. Our priority is always our students’ well-being, so when in doubt, air on the side of caution and reach out to us.

• DON’T expect to have instant rapport with your mentee. Be patient because strong mentorships grow over time.
• DON’T break confidentiality. Discussions should stay between you and your mentee. Preserving an environment of confidentiality and trust should be your top priority.
• DON’T tell your mentee what to do. Instead, make suggestions, ask questions, share ideas, and give encouragement so your mentee can determine their own path forward.
• DON’T hesitate to be honest about what you don’t know. Find the correct answer and learn together. Admitting uncertainty or past mistakes demonstrates humility and growth. It helps your mentee to see that you are learning too.
• DON’T forget your early career experiences. What advice would have made a difference when you started out? Keeping those moments in mind helps you offer empathy, relevance, and perspective grounded in experience.

If you receive a request and aren’t able to move forward, you may decline it directly within the platform. Log in to your account and find the request on your home page. Select the “Interact” button below the mentee’s profile photo, then click the red “Decline” option. You may send a brief message if you wish or simply press decline without adding a note. The mentee will be receive an email notification and is encouraged to continue their search for and select a different mentor.

Remember that if it is an especially busy time for you or you just need a break, you can pause your account indefinitely or for a set amount of time by visiting the “My Account” section while logged in. Click the “Participation” tab and uncheck the box labeled “I want to be searchable in the Northwestern Alumni Mentorship Program.” You may also enter a start and end date to indicate when you’d like your profile hidden and when you plan to return. For an open-ended pause, simply leave the box unchecked. When you’re ready to be searchable again, log in and re-select the checkbox to restore visibility. If you prefer to permanently delete your account, please email mentor@northwestern.edu for assistance.

If you’re being asked to update your profile, a new required question may have been added to the system. Once the question is answered, full access to the platform will be restored.

This program is intentionally designed to be flexible for mentors and mentees. You and your mentor/mentee have control over your mentorship and can decide how often to meet at the start of the relationship. Once matched, we ask the mentor and mentee to discuss availability, expectations, and the overall duration of the partnership. As a general guideline, we recommend one to two hours per month over a minimum of three months (or one academic quarter). The most important objective is to achieve the goals set for the mentee; for some matches, objectives may be achieved more quickly; for others, additional time may be required. Ultimately, mentors and mentees determine what works best for them.

Degree-seeking Northwestern students and alumni from all programs, classes, and schools are welcome to participate. Faculty, staff, parents, certificate students, and friends of the institution are not currently eligible to participate.

Absolutely. This is a global program, and students and alumni from around the world are invited to participate. You and your mentee or mentor may meet in person when possible or communicate by phone, email, or video chat.

Not at all. Alumni participation as mentees is not limited to early-career professionals. This program allows alumni to participate as mentors, mentees, or both simultaneously, regardless of career stage. Alumni may seek mentorship at any point—early, mid-career, or executive level. If you could benefit from guidance (and most professional can), we encourage you to take part as both a mentor and a mentee. Participate as a mentor to share your experience and perspective, and as a mentee to gain insight, advice, and support as you continue to grow professionally.

Yes. All users are required to update their profiles at least once a year, regardless of their current mentorship status. If your profile is not updated within a 12-month period, it will be automatically deactivated, even if you are actively participating in a mentorship. You can easily reactivate your account at any time by logging in and completing the required updates.

After submitting your profile, a brief verification step is required to confirm that you’re a current Northwestern student or alumnus. This process typically takes one to two business days. Once approved, you will receive an email notification letting you know you’re all set. Thank you for your patience!

If you’ve forgotten your username, email mentor@northwestern.edu and we will send it to the email you used when creating your account.

If you need to reset your password, select the “Forgot your password?” Link on the login page and enter your email address. You will receive an email with instructions to create a new password.

Mentees may use this information as they search for a possible mentor whose background or experiences feel like a good fit. Feedback has consistently shown that mentees value connecting with mentors who may share similar educational challenges or lived experiences, like being a first-generation college student or veteran. This information will also help us better understand overall participation trends. Providing this information to your profile is completely optional.

All profiles must be reviewed and updated at least once a year to remain active. If your profile hasn’t been updated within the past 12 months, it is automatically deactivated.

Profiles are automatically deactivated if they haven’t been updated within the past 12 months. To restore access, visit the login page, sign in,and complete any outstanding updates. Once your information is current, platform access will be restored automatically.

No, you will not receive a notification if your mentorship partner’s account is deactivated. You may still send messages through the platform; however, your partner won’t be able to view or reply until they log in and complete their profile update. They will continue to receive email alerts indicating that messages are waiting. If possible, consider reaching out through email or another method to encourage them to update their profile and restore full access so the mentorship can continue smoothly.

No. Your existing mentorships relationships and message history will remain intact. While deactivated, you won’t be able to access the platform or send messages. After logging in and completing the required updates, access will be restored automatically, and all prior relationships and messages will be available again.