National Mentoring Month: The Importance of Mentoring

January is National Mentoring Month and Kappa Alpha Theta wants to remind you that our online mentoring platform, ThetaConnect, provides important connections and professional assistance. Powered by Graduway, ThetaConnect enables all members to reach out to Theta sisters all around the world to either seek or provide help in their career and educational goals. Now that ThetaConnect boasts more than 6,200 registered Thetas, members have endless possibilities for personal and professional connections.

As we experience a pandemic, collegians and young alumnae need help now more than ever. With limited in-person events and travel opportunities, ThetaConnect provides the ability for members to make virtual connections with other Thetas anywhere. Mentors and mentees can reach out whenever and wherever - no travel required.

Note, too, that sorority women overall look at networking differently than their male fraternity counterparts. According to Caroline Castrillon of Forbes, women “need to exploit our one true advantage – a strong female support group.” That’s exactly the goal of ThetaConnect.

We are grateful to alumnae who are willing to help; actually, more than 70% of alumnae in ThetaConnect have indicated they are willing to support other Thetas in providing career advice, résumé reviews, introduction to connections, and service as part of an official mentor relationship. In 2021, ThetaConnect featured more than 60 mentoring relationships!

This month, Theta launched the January QuickStart Mentoring Program, where 20 mentors/mentees are working together to reach milestones for résumé review, professional tips, job/interview prep, and more. Later in 2022, Theta plans to roll out more mentoring programs, so stay tuned for details. There’s no need to wait for an official program launch, though! At any time, members can go to the Mentoring section directly in ThetaConnect to find their own mentor using several preselected criteria.

How can Theta help you? What type of mentoring program would benefit you the most? How has ThetaConnect helped you in your career or educational goals? Do you have mentoring experience and want to help with developing future mentoring programs, particularly in certain career fields? Let us know! Contact us at thetaconnect@kappaalphatheta.org.