The ProStart mentor

Supportive industry mentors are nothing short of essential to the success of the ProStart program. The worksite is a critical component of any effective school-to-career initiative and, particularly in this industry, enables students to gain the practical skills necessary to pursue a career in the field.

As a mentor you can:

  • Make a significant impact on the lives of future industry leaders.
  • Positively impact local youth as a team coach, counselor and role model. A mentor leads by example, helping students develop professional habits.
  • Receive personal satisfaction by helping a student realize his or her potential.
  • Apply key learnings obtained through the mentor/mentee relationship to enhance your own supervisory and management skills.

Benefits of being a ProStart mentor:

  • Reduce costs of recruiting, selecting and training new employees.
  • Create a supply of qualified, younger workers.
  • Receive advance opportunities to recruit students for future employment.
  • Create a low-risk means of screening new employees.
  • Reduce turnover and create a long-term commitment from students.
  • Enhance your company’s image within the community.
  • Improve the quality of local school systems.
  • Personal satisfaction.

ProStart Mentor Operator Commitments:

  • Time commitment.
  • Identification of one or more experienced employee mentors.
  • Education of employees to ensure they support and understand the mentor program.
  • Oversee mentors to ensure they are carrying out the program goals.
  • Provision of letters of recommendation to deserving students
  • Familiarization with training materials.
  • Payment of at least minimum wage to mentored student.
  • Provision of any necessary insurance to mentored student.

ProStart mentor operator responsibilities:

  • Observance of all state and local labor regulations.
  • Adherence to state and local sanitation and OSHA safety standards.
  • Designation of an experienced employee to mentor no more than three interns.
  • Agreement that the mentored student will be provided with 10 to 20 hours per week at starting wage.
  • Mentor a limit of no more than three interns.
  • Dedication of a short amount of time per week to providing students with feedback and monitoring their progress against the competencies checklist.
  • Ensuring the mentored student rotates through competencies.
  • Working with a school coordinator to monitor the progress of mentored students.

To download the ProStart Mentor's Guide, please click here.

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