HOW TO USE THIS PLAYBOOK?
Are you considering mentoring with the DECA AT&T Project and are unsure what to expect? The information on the following pages provides a glimpse into the expectations and rewards of mentoring. You’ll find suggestions, tips for success, and best practices. Each mentoring experience is different; often, changes in original plans lead to unanticipated benefits for mentors and mentees.
Remember, one size does not fit all. Experiences are as unique as the participants. Whether a one-time episodic event or a recurring mentoring program, it is as much about the journey as the destination. Enjoy the journey!
WHY VOLUNTEER?
As a mentor, you will partner with students on their academic journey as they explore career pathways and prepare for life after high school. You will become a positive role model in their lives as you influence their personal and professional growth, as well as social and economic opportunities. As a caring adult in their lives, students will realize the importance of many of the following attributes:
•Goal setting
• Presentation and interpersonal skills
• Time management
• Creativity and problem-solving
• Leadership
The rewards for both students and mentors can be priceless!
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MENTORING?
Mentors and students consistently attest to the benefits of mentoring. Not only are students provided a unique experience of working with a diverse group of AT&T employees, but mentors are motivated to deepen the connection with the communities in which they live and work.
• “My AT&T mentors helped me in so many different ways! They taught me everything from networking to time management. No matter the topic of our meetings, the mentors always encouraged me to challenge myself and pursue my goals with passion. I’ll take the lessons I learned with me through college and into my future career.”
-DECA Member
• “The DECA AT&T Project represents a great opportunity to give back some time and talents to our community. These kids need support and this is our chance to engage and help them develop the skills and capabilities that are important for their future”
-AT&T Executive
• "I appreciate all the time and effort that went into providing an opportunity for my students to be mentored by individuals in the industry who are making an impact. The DECA AT&T Project has been a great experience for my students!”
-DECA Teacher
• "Thanks to this mentorship opportunity, my leadership skills and confidence have grown significantly. My mentors motivated me to explore starting my own business. I know now that I have the drive to succeed no matter what I do!"
-DECA Member
• “Serving as mentors allows us to cultivate connections with the students to openly discuss and provide guidance on current topics, college prep, lifestyle hacks, as well as career building blocks. The students are engaged, candid and receptive to feedback.”
-AT&T Project Lead
HOW TO SET UP A MENTORING EVENT:
POINT OF CONTACT (POC): Mentors will be introduced to the point of contact through discussions with the DECA Grants Office. The point of contact will be a teacher or DECA advisor. While connecting with the POC, be sure to discuss student needs, interests, and accomplishments. Mentors will work directly with the POC to execute the mentoring event.
TOPIC: One of the first steps in planning each mentoring event is determining the topic. This can be done during a planning session with a teacher, employee resource group or business unit, and the DECA Inc. Grants Office. Mentor topics can range from college and career readiness to an AT&T career workshop. Regardless of your subject, students are thrilled to work with you and learn through your experiences.
When planning a mentoring event with students, consider the interests, age group, and needs of the students served. Please see the links to the materials drafted by DECA staff. The curriculum below includes college and career readiness topics. Each unit includes a PowerPoint, mentor guide, and at least one activity. Mentors are encouraged to make each session their own by using or editing the resources as needed to fit the needs of their students.
Contact the DECA grants office if you have issues accessing the links below or want to share new topic ideas.
▶ Artificial Intelligence
▶ Business Ethics
▶ Business Etiquette
▶ College & Career Paths
▶ Creative Thinkings
▶ Dress for Success
▶ Financial Literacy
▶ Goal Setting
▶ Leadership
▶ Networking
▶ Personal Branding & Digital Footprint
▶ Public Speaking
▶ Resume & Interviewing
▶ Small Talk
▶ Team Building
▶ Time management
LOCATION: Event location plays a role in establishing the tone of your events. Depending on the topic you will cover in your mentoring session, you may choose to host the event at the school, AT&T facility, college campus, or other community venue. Since the pandemic, the DECA AT&T Project has expanded its program to support completely virtual mentorship opportunities. For virtual events, communicate with DECA Grants Office and the teacher a plan for who will organize and run the meeting behind the scenes
CADENCE: How often should the mentors connect with the students? How long should each mentor session last? These are often questions that will pop up when preparing for a mentoring session. Typically, the teacher or point of contact can answer these questions in the planning process. The point of contact can help determine the best time frame to ensure students return in a timely manner for their next class, extracurricular activities, or dismissal. Time frames often range anywhere from 45 minutes to 4 hours sessions.
AGE OF MENTEES: The age group of the high school mentees should be factored into your mentoring discussions, as this will affect the tone and overall success of the event. Be prepared to change the delivery of a message so that it fits the appropriate age group, underclassmen or upperclassmen.
Before you begin your activity, take the time to get to know the students and their interests. Ask students about extracurricular activities, academics, and hobbies; this will lead to students forming deeper connections and being more willing to open up during the session. Think of your own interests as a teenager to help guide the session.
YOUR EVENTISAFEWDAYSAWAY-WHAT'S NEXT?
BEFORE THE EVENT
BACKGROUND CHECKS: Ask the POC if background checks are required for in-person events. If so, distribute the information to all potential volunteers to ensure they meet the requirements prior to the first session.
FOOD: Depending on your event's time frame, consider breakfast or lunch plans for the students and volunteers. Many students adjust well to a working lunch to maximize the time available with a mentor. Work with your POC and DECA Grants Office to determine the best meal option based on session location, number of people, and budget.
ATTENDANCE: Record the names of volunteers and number of students at each session for reporting purposes. This will also allow organizers to see patterns of mentors and mentees that attend multiple sessions.
TRANSPORTATION: If necessary, the POC should plan for transportation for students, considering school division regulations and timelines.
MEDIA RELEASE FORMS: Before executing mentor events with minors, ensure that students (and guardians) have completed the media release forms. These forms allow for all pictures of students to be used in AT&T publications. The POC must collect the forms and can share them with the event lead upon request. Pictures of students without forms cannot be used for sale or publication purposes.
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT: Mentors of different ages, backgrounds, and professional levels are a huge benefit to the program and students gain a new perspective from talking to the employees. Be sure your event is posted on Benevity so mentors can track their hours.
DURING THE EVENT
INTRODUCTIONS/ICEBREAKERS: At the beginning of the session, we recommend that mentors share their names and roles at AT&T, briefly summarize their education and career path, and describe their dream job at 16. After introductions, consider using an icebreaker like Would You Rather, This or That, or Two Truths and a Lie to get to know the students better.
AFTER THE EVENT
SCHEDULE THE NEXT EVENT: If you plan to have a regular mentoring calendar, try leaving your session with the next event already scheduled. It is great to close out a successful mentoring session by reminding the students of the date for the next event.
SOCIAL MEDIA: To promote the mentoring program's success, be sure to take pictures during the event and a group photo. Encourage students and POCs to highlight the event on their social media platforms.
DEBRIEF: Connect with the POC to discuss ways to enhance or improve future sessions.
BEST PRACTICES
DO
DON’T
Respect your mentee’s time as much as your own. Expect that all advice will be followed.
Use appropriate personal experiences to strengthen a point with your mentee.
Communicate with your POC or event coordinator if your bandwidth conflicts with mentoring time.
Ask the students to share their personal story and goals for the year.
Be open minded and kind to all mentees.
Ask open-ended questions that encourage the student to think about their own experiences.
Be patient with students.
Connect student with internship/career program if you believe they are a good fit for the company.
Be afraid to speak to the appropriate contact if student shares information that is concerning to their health or wellbeing.
Share too much personal information with mentee. (Depending on the school policy, mentors may not be able to share information with students.)
Judge mentees based on their personal sharing.
Expect teens or younger children to have adult thoughts and behaviors.
Allow one mentee to dominate the discussion. Specifically ask others to share, if necessary.
Become distracted by small talk (remember the goal)
Make any promises for employment that may be misleading to mentees.