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 STUDENT-INDUSTRY MENTOR PROGRAM
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 The CIM Mining Rocks! Industry-Student Mentor Program seeks to match professionals from all aspects of the minerals and petroleum industry with university students attending Mining Rocks! It is an exciting opportunity to bridge the experience gap between those established in the industry, and students who are at various stages in their academic studies and are interested in pursuing a career in the industry. Students and mentors will be matched, and will be notified via e-mail of each other’s contact information so that participants can make arrangements to meet during the conference.
What do Mentors do?
Mentors support people in their development and offer their own experience, advice, perspective, constructive examples, and even contacts if relevant. Mentors and students are expected to find a minimum of two hours to spend together, though of course a longer time commitment on both sides is encouraged.
Mentors will:
• Encourage career development and provide constructive advice to students seeking to enter industry
• Develop an increased appreciation and respect for what students bring to industry
• Offer their own experience, perspective, and knowledge
Good Mentors are:
• Active listeners
• Interested in the education and experience of university students
• Able to offer concrete tips and advice
• Willing to share one’s own life experience and career development
• Open, flexible and approachable
• Generous with their time
Students will:
• Have the opportunity to learn first-hand about careers in the industry
• Develop networking skills
• Build a contact list and learn how to use it
Good Student Mentorees are:
• Active listeners
• Willing to ask questions
• Eager to discover one’s potential
• Prepared with questions, concerns, and one’s own ideas about working in industry
• Curious!
• Respectful and appreciative of the opportunity to learn from a professional
How the Process Works
When registering for the conference, both students and those interested in acting as mentors will indicate their interest in participating in the Mentor Program on their registration form (either print or on-line). Shortly before the start of the conference, mentors and students will be contacted and “matched” by email, and will be asked to contact each other to set up a time and place to meet at Mining Rocks!. In order to facilitate this, there will be a “Meet and Greet Reception” where there will also be a short Networking for Success Seminar. Mentor and student should decide what form they want the mentoring to take. Here are some sample activities and guidelines that mentors and students can follow, depending on the time each individual has available:
• Students can approach the Mini-Mentorship program as an Information Interview. Prepare questions and “interview” your mentor about their experience, the industry, career paths etc.
• Arrange to spend time during breakfasts, lunches or dinners together.
• Attend several technical sessions together and take this opportunity to discuss the content and how it relates to the mentor’s experience and the student’s interests.
• Visit the tradeshow floor together. The mentor could introduce the student to various other industry professionals and vendors and encourage him / her to build a network.
• Student could “shadow” his/her mentor for the day, meeting people and engaging in discussions with other attendees.
• If the mentor is a vendor at the tradeshow, he/she could invite the student to spend the day meeting other participants, and learning about their business first hand.
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