Frequently Asked Questions



An Alumni Mentor is a guide, friend and resource who shares her/his KGP experience to help pave the way for students to succeed at KGP and beyond. A KGP Alumni Mentor derives satisfaction from helping KGP students fulfil their dreams.

We believe that mentoring will be a positive and enriching experience for you. Specifically,we hope you will:

  • • Refine your coaching and mentoring skills.
  • • Develop meaningful connections with students.
  • • Learn about the KGP of today and the next generation.
  • • Experience a reconnection with your Alma Mater.

  • Following are some general ways we hope the students will benefit from being in a mentoring relationship:
  • • Build a professional network
  • • Develop and enhance professional and communication skills
  • • Connect academics and career; acquire advice on experiences and courses that would be of greatest benefit
  • • Explore new ideas and areas of interest
  • • Gain exposure to career options, advice and job search tips

  • Motivator: Expresses belief and confidence in the mentee’s abilities, and encourages the mentee to try new things.
  • Resource: Teaches and advises the mentee on how to make professional contacts, and introduces the mentee to new ideas and own experiences.
  • Supporter: Encourages open and honest dialogue, and listens to and responds to the needs of the mentee.
  • Coach: Helps the mentee develop, and work to achieve, realistic and meaningful goals.

  • Before a student can search for a mentor, they must attend a mandatory orientation in which they are instructed to think about what they want out of a mentoring relationship. They are informed of our expectations, which include:
  • • Spend at least two hours per month building the mentoring relationship
  • • Make the first contact with the selected mentor and respond to all communication
  • • Set specific goals for the mentoring relationship with mentor
  • • Agree and commit to expectations and goals set with the mentor
  • • Be appropriate in their requests of their mentor, in particular, in NOT asking for a job or sponsorship
  • • Approach the mentoring relationship with an open mind, professionalism and respect
  • Be receptive to suggestions and feedback

  • • Both the mentee and the mentor register for the program through an online form .
  • • Based on the preferences filled in the form and factors like place, year and grades, Mentors are allotted to the mentees on the basis of a predefined code.
  • • There can be situations where the mentor is not allotted any mentee or vice versa due to the preferences made, in such a case the mentor would be notified through an email and the allotment shall then be done manually.

  • • We advise you to connect with your mentee through social networking platforms.
  • • Have few informal sessions with your mentee for ice breaking.
  • • If the mentee does not respond to your conversations do write to us.
  • • Your feedback is our prime critic, do respond to our feedback forms to make this program a success.

  • For mentoring to be successful there must be a reciprocal and comfortable relationship between the mentor and the mentee. Both parties must work to make the relationship successful by being open-minded, respectful and keeping to the expectations they have set for the relationship. Ideally, the mentor-mentee relationship will be a mutually beneficial one, as the mentor learns from the mentee and the mentee from the mentor.


    How to go about Mentorship Programme?


    "Like all good relationships, mentorship is also a two-way street."


    Mentee

    Don’t ask, "Will you be my mentor"

    Mentorship relationships start with a mutual connection-and mentors often select mentee based on their performance and potential. So shift your thinking from "If I get a mentor, I’ll excel" to "If I excel, I will get a mentor." You will be allotted alumni mentors whose career path aligns with your goals.

    Mentor

    Mentoring—it’s never too early

    No matter what stage you’re at in your career, you can mentor a student. If you’re farther along in your career, pay it forward by investing in a student’s just starting out. And if you’re early in your career, find a student who’s coming up behind you or a student who’s interested in your field. Don’t underestimate the value of your input-you may have just been through what they are experiencing.


    Mentee

    Your mentor’s time is valuable-treat it that way

    Show your mentor you value his/her time by using it wisely. Avoid meeting or calling just to catch up or asking questions you can find answers to yourself. Instead, come to them with thoughtful questions and be ready to discuss real challenges you’re facing. Then listen carefully to their recommendations and report back on your progress. The mentor is more likely to continue to invest in you if you’re acting on the input—and the impact on your career is visible.

    Mentor

    Invest in your mentee's success

    Commit time and energy to developing your mentee. Make yourself available and take the time to understand their questions and give them thoughtful and thorough input. Ask your mentee for regular updates. The more you understand his/her progress—and what’s working and what's not, the more effective you can be as a mentor. If the mentee is not using your time wisely, be clear about your expectations and set guidelines for your time together. You'll both benefit from getting into a good rhythm.


    Mentee

    View feedback as a gift

    Make sure you don’t fall into the trap of not providing with honest feedback with your mentor. Solicit the feedback whenever you can by asking specific questions like, “How can I improve?” and “What am I not doing that I should be?” The more you ask for and accept their feedback, the faster you’ll learn—and odds are they’ll respect your openness and willingness to grow.

    Mentor

    Give open, honest input-even when it’s hard

    Direct, actionable feedback is a gift. Look for opportunities to give your mentee specific input for improving performance and learning new skills. Whenever possible, share your input in the moment, when it’s most effective. If you hold back to protect your mentee’s feelings, you’re not helping them. Remember, your honest feedback will help them advance more quickly.



    Contact Us

    Students' Alumni Cell

    Office of Alumni Affairs & Branding

    Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

    West Bengal, India. Pin :- 721302

    In case of any suggestions or query please feel free to write to us at studentsalumnicell.iitkgp@gmail.com

    View Complete Team
    Ashish Kumar Shah
    ashishshah090@gmail.com
    +91-8630679428
    Prerit Goyal
    preritgoyal0203@gmail.com
    +91-8989020473
    Shreyansh Jha
    shreyanshjha52@gmail.com
    +91-9636777987

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