York U students will have an opportunity to connect with alumni professionals who’ve followed similar paths when the TASTE (Take a Student to Eat) Mentoring Lunches return this fall.
The annual program, which is a partnership between the York University Career Centre and Alumni Relations, is designed to give students a “bite-sized” mentoring opportunity with a York U graduate.
Two students are paired with a York grad, and meet over an informal lunch during which students are offered valuable inside information and career advice. Alumni typically share information about their job, industry and organization, as well as the path they followed after graduation.
TASTE lunches take place year-round, and lunches for the fall semester are now being scheduled.
York Alumni interested in participating in TASTE provide a bio, company information and the date, time and location for when they are available to take two students for a lunch that runs about an hour.
Lunches take place on and off campus, and some alumni are able provide company tours as part of the lunch session.
Students interested in participating in TASTE complete an online form and choose which alumni they would like to have lunch with and provide reasons why. The Career Centre will complete the matching process.
Prior to the lunch, students are required to attend a Career Centre workshop where they will receive training on making a great first impression or dining etiquette.
TASTE began as a pilot project in the fall of 2009, and has helped make many meaningful connections.
“Having this opportunity has helped me better understand the career direction I would like to take when I finish university. TASTE is exactly what every student is looking for and now that I have participated in the program, I will definitely become involved when I become an alumnus,” said Volodymyr Viguiliouk, who participated as a student when he was in his fourth year of administrative studies.
Students interested in the TASTE experience should visit http://careers.yorku.ca/students-and-new-grads/services-events/taste/upcoming-lunches/ to view upcoming lunches and alumni profiles.