Young Professional Mentorship Program
The AAF NEPA Mentorship Program connects Professional Members with Student Members for a guided three-month virtual mentorship relationship. The program will provide structure and guidance to establish the relationship and to evaluate both mentor and mentee’s strengths and goals. We will also host a virtual launch party, check in with each pair monthly, and collect formal feedback following the three months.
All AAF members are eligible to apply as a mentor. Annual AAF Student membership will be included in the program and paid for by the mentor. Mentor and mentee applications are being accepted right now until all spots are filled.
Requirements:
*Ask us about our student scholarship program.
Become a Mentor
The AAF NEPA defines the role of a mentor as a professional working in an advertising related field and has 5 plus years of experience. The mentor has a desire to serve as an educator, motivator, and role model for current AAF Student members and young professionals.
A mentor should be willing to:
Educate: The mentor should share with the mentee their specific skills and knowledge related to the advertising industry.
Guide: A mentor should evaluate, modify, and endorse the mentee’s goals and aspirations. A mentor should provide encouragement for the mentee to strive towards their goals and aspirations.
Motivate: A mentor should challenge their mentee to think deeply about their own actions, desire, and needs. Motivate your mentee to seek new, educations, endeavors to gain more knowledge.
Act as a role model: A mentor serves as an individual whom the mentee may wish to emulate.
Interested in giving back? Fill out the form below to become a mentor today!
Become a Mentee
Both mentor and mentee agree to engage in three-month partnership and agree to the following:
Maintain Regular Contact
Contact refers to communications via the following media: for example, in-person, phone call, virtual conferencing, email, and social media (i.e., LinkedIn or Facebook).
Contact Limitations
In contact with your partner, (1) offensive language and (2) transmission of offensive images is strictly prohibited. Offensive language includes, but is not limited to, (a) profanity or verbal abuse directed towards your partner, (b) sexually aggressive comments directed towards your partner, and (c) derogatory remarks directed towards any individual or group of individuals based on religion, race, color, ethnicity, country of origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, or sexual identity. Offensive images include, but are not limited to, (a) images that are sexually suggestive, lewd, or pornographic and (b) images that include offensive language, as described above.
Be Responsive
Both participants are expected to return contact in a timely manner, unless agreed upon otherwise (i.e., within two-three business days).
Primary and Secondary Relationships
Mentees’ primary relationship and responsibilities with their mentor are outlined under the expectations section of this handbook. Secondary relationships are any relationships that form outside of the primary responsibilities. A secondary relationship is defined as a romantic or sexual relationship. It is prohibited to pursue a romantic or sexual relationship with a mentor, or similarly a mentor with the mentee.
Financial Assistance
The mentor should avoid giving money to the mentee or vice versa. Under no circumstances is it appropriate for the mentee to ask the mentor for money.
Honor Commitments
If mentoring contacts must be cancelled, it is expected that participants will do their best to communicate in advance of the meeting and reschedule. If you decide to remove yourself from the program, it is expected that you will honor partnerships in progress. If circumstances prohibit you and your partner from participating in the program prior to the end of a term, each party must agree to notify their mentoring partner and the American Advertising Federation NEPA.
Conflicts
If a conflict arises between a mentor and mentee, the pair may be split up and reassigned to another mentor or mentee. If a conflict or situation arises between a mentor and mentee, the mentor or mentee should contact the American Advertising Federation. All communications about conflicts will be kept confidential. Please contact us via email at info@aafnepa.org
Evaluate
Throughout and at the end of each partnership, both participants will be required to complete evaluation forms.
Note: Mentors are not expected to offer internships or jobs.
Are you looking for professional guidance, but aren’t sure where to turn? Fill out the form below to sign up for a mentorship today!
