SHRM Foundation Launches Virtual Career Sessions for Young Adults
Registration now open for the first session on Oct. 20
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the SHRM Foundation and local SHRM chapters are partnering to create free mentorship experiences for HR professionals.
Free national and local events are planned, starting Oct. 20 from 12-1:30 p.m. ET with the first of three engagement webinars to connect emerging professionals with experienced professionals.
The second session takes place Oct. 28 from 7-8:30 p.m. ET, and the third is scheduled for Nov. 10 from 7-8:30 p.m. ET.
SHRM members and nonmembers can register here for the webinars. The deadline for registration is 24 hours prior to each event.
These national mentorship webinars will be followed by mentoring sessions at the grassroots level in collaboration with local SHRM chapters.
The goal of the initiative is to engage participants in a mentorship experience filled with customized trainings, discussions and activities that encourage and assist members in developing mutually beneficial mentoring relationships.
"We are extremely excited to pilot this initiative with a select group of chapters and members," said Wendi Safstrom, the Foundation's executive director. "We hope that both emerging professionals and more-experienced professionals are able to enhance their career journey from engaging in the mentorship experience."
Mentoring benefits the mentor and mentee. Mentors can hone leadership skills and experience more job satisfaction; mentees can expand their professional network, hear a different perspective for approaching a problem and serve as a source for career strategies.
The national webinars feature panels of HR professionals from different industries, functions and career levels. Members of the SHRM Foundation Board and YPAC (Young Professionals Advisory Council) will participate.
During the virtual mentoring sessions, panelists will:
- Showcase different HR career paths.
- Share insights and the lessons they have learned during their careers.
- Equip students and emerging professionals with information on how to launch and navigate their careers.
At the local events, sessions will focus on tips for personal branding and networking, with participants breaking into small groups of two students and two HR professionals. Participants will also receive a mentorship discussion guide and a pre-event tip sheet listing mentoring resources.
SHRM and the Foundation will evaluate the pilot mentoring program in December to develop recommendations for 2021 and launch the mentorship programming for the larger SHRM enterprise. There is no cost to participants; the Foundation is sponsoring the initiative.
CoLabL, a professional training and coaching company headquartered in New York City, is working with the SHRM Foundation to provide the virtual mentoring series. CoLabL CEO Daniel Horgan will help facilitate national events and the mentoring sessions.
Other SHRM Resources:
Career Compass, SHRM and SHRM Foundation podcast
Employers Engage Interns with Zoom Lunch-and-Learns, Speed Mentoring, SHRM Online, October 2020
Creating a Mentoring Program, SHRM Student Resources
The Power of HR Mentorship: A Two-Way Street, SHRM Online, February 2020
Knowledge Is Best Shared, All Things Work, April 2019
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