Users on Cross Campus can connect with other users to mentor or be mentored.
Yale-NUS alumni also have the opportunity to mentor a current Yale-NUS student through the Alumni Mentorship Programme. More information about this programme will be made available soon.
Networking Basics
How can I get the most out of Cross Campus?
- Be active!
- Ask questions, join groups, connect with new people, and check out our resources.
- Don’t be afraid to reach out.
- People want you to connect.
- Users in Cross Campus are here to support one another.
What are the general guidelines for participants?
- Do ask for advice, information, and other contacts
- Do send a brief thank you letter or email after networking with a contact
- Do follow up with contact
- Don’t ask for a job or internship
- Don’t expect networking contacts to automatically share their network contacts
- Don’t spam a contact with emails or phone calls
What if I don’t know what to say?
- Ask some genuine open-ended “what” and “how” questions. For example, “What are you passionate about, career-wise?” Let your curiosity guide you!
- Discussions shouldn’t be aimed directly at jobs.
- And don’t worry: Cross Campus will help you craft a professional message.
What do I do once I have connected with someone?
- Let them know how you want to talk (phone, Cross Campus video chat, in person, etc.) and how often.
- Set a regular meeting or check-in time to ensure you stay in touch.
- Think about what you would like to share about yourself.
I reached out to someone and did not receive a response. What should I do?
- Give them a few days and try sending a follow-up message.
- If you are still having issues, let us know at crosscampus@yale.edu
- Sometimes life intervenes and people get too busy to respond. It happens. Don’t take it personally.
Basics for Mentors
Once you have completed your profile, be sure to go to “Resources” and read or download our Cross Campus mentoring guide.
Why mentor?
You can become a mentor for many reasons. It feels great to pay it forward and help others unlock their potential. You also can learn from your mentee. Lastly, you are sure to build coaching and leadership skills along the way.
How does it work for mentors?
First, complete your profile. You can use LinkedIn to automatically fill in some of your information.
Set your availability preferences to indicate how much time you can commit and how many mentees you can support at one time.
If you get a request we hope you will accept it, but you do have the option to decline a student if you simply do not have time or think it is the wrong fit. We recommend you aim to connect with your mentee once every couple of weeks, but ultimately you decide what works best for you and your mentee.
What is expected of me as a mentor?
Share your experiences and career journey with your mentees. Help your mentees define their own goals. Support them as they work toward those goals. Be a resource to your mentees as they develop their career interests and face new challenges. Stay committed to the dialogue; make an effort to communicate regularly with your mentees.
I am not receiving messages consistently, what do I do?
Be sure to check your spam folder for any potential lost messages. If this problem persists, message us by clicking the “Help” button at the top right and we will help to resolve the issue.
It can sometimes take a while for a potential mentee to discover you, so please be patient!
Basics for Mentees
What do I do once I have connected with a mentor?
- Set up a time and place to meet
- If you are talking on the phone, using Cross Campus video chat, Zoom or Skype, make sure you have a quiet place to have the conversation.
- Prepare questions.
- After you speak, follow up with a thank-you note within 48 hours.
- Stay in touch. The nature of the relationship is up to the both of you. Maybe you hit it off and want to check in periodically. Maybe you got all of the information you need and do not need to speak again.
- Either way, it is always thoughtful to follow up if you get a new position, are moving to a new city, read a book or have heard a podcast that might interest them, etc.
I am applying to graduate school. How can Cross Campus help me?
Cross Campus gives you access to: alums who have gone to graduate schools, law schools, medical schools, business schools, etc., all over the country and the world. Members of the Yale community are eager to give you advice about your application process and answer your questions.
What if I do not know what field I want to go into? I don’t want to waste an alum’s time by asking them questions about a field I won’t end up in.
If you are still trying to figure out what field you want to go into, Cross Campus gives you the perfect opportunity to reach out to alums who may be able to help you decide which career pathways might interest you.
