The StEP Program is designed to mentor students who are interested in a career in the startup
industry. Mentors will help guide students through the process of getting an internship, being
successful in this internship, and planning for and attaining their first job upon graduation.
Our focus is on technology growth companies or venture capital backed startups and the many
different career paths offered in this industry. The model is a one to one mentor to student
model, pairing a student with a mentor whose background most closely matches the direction
and goals of the student.
We fully understand and support that students may also want to evaluate career opportunities
with large corporations. However, this is not our area of expertise. Students are encouraged to
work with career services and others to explore opportunities with large corporations.
This program is a fully independent non-profit program. The mentors are all full-time
professional employees donating their time to help students with no reimbursement. And the
technology growth companies the mentors are referring students to are all fast-moving
companies with no time to waste. To this end, students who participate in this program must:
- Be punctual: respond to emails in a timely manner to mentors and companies; be on
time for all appointments, calls, and projects; notify mentors and companies whenever a
schedule or commitment cannot be met; - Be prepared: enter meetings with a mentor with questions, topics of interest, bring
attention to one’s weak spots; keep mentors and companies updated on the status of all
projects they are assigned. Use this opportunity to utilize your time with your mentors to
grow as a professional; - Be ready to learn: you’re taking the mentorship as an opportunity to learn about
potential career paths, and these mentors are here to provide advice and clarity. Ask
those questions!
StEP Mentor Process:
1. Mentors advise students on how to search for 5 to 10 potential internships for them to apply
to. (Recommend appropriate sites and methods to search for internships). Students do the
work and come back to mentors with the internship list.
2. Mentors advise students on how to go through the internship application process.
(Recommend how to review the internship description and company and then create tailored
resumes and cover letters designed specifically for each internship). Students do the work and
come back to mentor with tailored resumes and cover letters.
3. Mentors advise students on how to go through the phone screen process. (Recommend how
to do research on the internship, company, and industry, and prepare a list of questions the
interviewer may ask and answers the student may give. Also, recommend a list of questions for
the student to ask). Students do the work and come back to mentors with the notes and
material they will use for the phone interview.
4. Mentors advise students on how to go through the on-site interview process. (Recommend
how to do more detailed research on the internship, company, and industry, and prepare a list of
questions the interviewers may ask and answers the student may give. Also recommend a more
detailed list of questions for the student to ask). Students do the work and come back to
mentors with the notes and materials they will use for the on-site interview.
5. Mentors advise students on how to follow up with all company contacts after the interview
process. (Recommend emails to send and messages to convey). Students do the work and
come back to mentors with the emails they will send to company contacts.
6. Mentors periodically review the internship experience with students and guide them towards
a successful internship completion. Students periodically update mentors on internship
experience.
7. Mentors work with students to apply and go through the interview process for their student’s
first career opportunity upon graduation. Students periodically update mentors on the targeted
positions they are focusing on for their first career opportunity.
The above process is a general overview. Please note mentor/student relationships vary on
case-by-case basis and change over time, depending on professional goals of a student and
mentor.