Telementor Program

The Career Resource Center, in cooperation with the School of Management Alumni association, sponsors an alumni Telementor program.

The Telementor program provides a way for University at Buffalo School of Management students to contact School of Management alumni who have agreed to assist you in your career exploration and planning. This is not a job referral program; rather, it is designed to provide opportunities for you to speak with professionals to obtain career-related information such as:

Job duties and responsibilities
Career advancement paths
Appropriate internships
Industry developments
Strength of the job market
Professional associations
Names of potential employers
Relocation information/housing considerations

To use the Telementor Program effectively, follow these steps:

Understand the mentor’s role
Search the database of alumni
Contact the alumni
Develop your correspondence (E-mail)
Contact by telephone
Develop your list of questions to ask
Send thank you message

The Mentor's Role

It is highly unlikely that alumni will know specific job openings, so please do not ask them for a job or a referral to someone else in their firm. All you want from them is advice and information; do not expect them to do your job search for you. They will serve as guides, idea generators and information providers.

You may eventually turn an information provider into a personal " résumé distributor," but this only develops over time and after repeated positive contacts. Even if this relationship develops, remember that telementors cannot get you a job. They facilitate and provide information; nothing more should be expected.

Telementor Database

The Telementor database can be searched by career field, geographic location, employer and degree.

Contacting Telementors

The Telementor Information form includes e-mail address, telephone numbers and "best times to call/contact." It is very important that you respect telementors' time constraints. You should also be prepared to provide information about your background and career interests to aid them in their ability to help you. When you review the online database, you may find several individuals who meet your specific interests. You may contact as many telementors as desired, but stick to just two or three to start, until you get the hang of it.

E-Mails and Letters to Telementors

The most effective way to initially contact a telementor is in writing. This can be done via e-mail or U.S. mail. Your e-mail or letter should explain the reason for your contact and include a résumé if you have completed one. This will allow the telementor time to gather any pertinent information you requested and to review your background and career interests.

In order to make this program work for you, present yourself in a fashion that allows telementors to assist you to the greatest possible degree. Give them all the information they will need to help you.

Your written correspondence should be concise and free from errors. You should use a formal business style letter (even if it is an e-mail), three to four paragraphs long.

The introduction should indicate that you are a UB School of Management student and have received the individual's name from the school's Career Resource Center Telementor program. You should indicate the type of information you are seeking in subsequent paragraphs. Be very specific about the information that you are requesting. The more complete your letter is, the more worthwhile your contact with the telementor will be. Ask if you can schedule a telephone call and offer several dates and times.

Telementor Calls

If you decide that your initial contact with a telementor will be by telephone, be prepared. Introduce yourself as a UB School of Management student. Explain that you received the individual's name from the Career Resource Center's Telementor program. Explain that you are calling to arrange a convenient time when the telementor has 15-20 minutes to answer some career and industry related questions. Be prepared at this initial telephone call with specific questions; even if the telementor does not have time immediately, he/she will want to have an idea of the information you are seeking. It is very difficult to make a good impression if you are not prepared.

The Information Exchange Telephone Call

If you have previously arranged a specific time to call a telementor, be sure to keep your "appointment."

Introduce yourself again and remind the telementor of any specific career or industry interests you had stated in your previous letter or telephone call. At this point, let the conversation take its course. Do not be pushy. You should expect this to be the first of several interactions.

You should have a list of prepared questions that focus on no more than three to five topics. Ask for advice frequently and listen attentively, taking notes as you go.

A detailed list of questions is available and offers a few suggestions about questions you many have regarding the telementor's profession.

Remember that this telementor has volunteered to help you. Someone who wants to help you in your job search is a great asset, so treat him or her as a valuable resource. Be sure to thank the telementors for their time.

You should close with a thank you and ask if you may keep telementors informed about your progress. Not only will this be important for your career exploration, but the alumni involved will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Perhaps later they will have additional thoughts and ideas to share with you, or may hear of a job opening.

Telementor Evaluations

Students using the Telementor program are encouraged to evaluate it. Please take a few minutes to fill out this online evaluation form. To ensure that this program is meeting your career exploration needs, please provide the Career Resource Center with an honest critique including specific ways we can improve it.