ASWA - American Socitey of Women Accountants

The ASWA Philadelphia Chapter Mentoring Program provides students with insight into a career in accounting. It achieves this by providing students with the opportunity to interact with established accounting professionals and past student mentees who are also ASWA members. The purpose of the program is:

	•	to provide students with more knowledge about the accounting profession
	•	to grow as an aspiring professional
	•	to learn about the various pathways that are available to accounting majors
	•	to perfect the finishing touches needed to become the ultimate professional
	•	to gain insight on what employers look for with a graduating student
	•	to begin to form their network with other accounting students
	•	to establish new friendships

The ASWA Philadelphia Chapter Mentoring Program is open to college seniors and current student members of ASWA who wish to become mentees.
The mentor should have three years of practical accounting or accounting-related business experience and be a Regular member of ASWA for at least one year. The mentor should be familiar with the Philadelphia Chapter ASWA members and some of its activities.

     College seniors and student members enroll in the mentoring program by completing the enrollment form. Students are then matched with an ASWA professional member according to the student’s primary area of interest. Whenever possible, arrangements are made for the student and mentor to be as close geographically as possible, for easier communication and personal meetings and activities.
     Students and mentors may join during the enrollment period, which begins on Student Night and ends December 31st each year. The program ends in June of each year at the ASWA June Installation of Officers and Directors and Past President’s Meeting. At this meeting, students and mentors will have an opportunity to discuss their events and activities, and complete a post-program evaluation form to assess the program and suggest how it can be improved.
     Mentors with their mentees are required to attend at least one ASWA Regular meeting or event together by May 31st each year.

	•	Talk with your mentor specifically about what you would like to learn.
	•	Respect your mentor’s time and schedule. Arrive for meetings on time and ready to work.
	•	Prepare a resume and other relevant materials for your mentor to review.
	•	Make a list of questions you’d like to ask your mentor.
	•	Try to meet as often as possible.
	•	Engage your mentor in discussions about your career goals and the best way for you to reach them.
	•	Be direct. If you have a question, ask it.
	•	Be receptive to your mentor’s advice.

	•	Be available to answer questions.
	•	Share with the student what you wish you had known when you were starting out.
	•	Communicate at least once each month, more often if possible.
	•	Let your student know about times that will be particularly busy, such as when you are meeting deadlines or closing an issue.
	•	Try to arrange for the student to spend part of a day with you at your office to see the operations and to see you in action.
	•	Take the student to lunch and maybe have some others from your organization join you to toss around ideas.
	•	Offer honest critiques of your student's materials. Be truthful.
	•	Take the time to get to know the student. Arrange informal sessions outside the office.
	•	Spend time reviewing resume and other pertinent materials.
	•	Set up a mock job interview.
	•	Share stories about how you got to be where you are.
	•	Discuss how to effectively network.
	•	Be honest and realistic about working life.
	•	Encourage your student to publish pieces before graduation.
	•	Discuss current industry happenings and stress the importance of being knowledgeable in their area of expertise.
	•	Review resources for career building and job seeking.
	•	Discuss classes or programs you found helpful.
	•	Take the student to another networking or volunteer event that you may be involved.

Mentor Application in MS-Word format (37 kb)

Download Instructions
Follow these simple instructions to download the Mentor Application.

Windows User: Right click on the link above, click "Save Target As"
Mac User: Hold down Control button, click on the link above, click "Save Link To Disc"

Mentee Application in MS-Word format (38 kb)

Download Instructions
Follow these simple instructions to download the Mentee (Student) Application.

Windows User: Right click on the link above, click "Save Target As"
Mac User: Hold down Control button, click on the link above, click "Save Link To Disc"

This year, we will begin accepting both Mentor and Mentee applications beginning Student Night. The Mentor committee will review each application and select the mentor-mentee team based on common areas of interest. A letter of notification will be issued to all program participants.

ASWA Mentor Team 2009-2010

Front Row: Pam Carcione (Co-mentor), Lori McKeage (Mentor), Theresa Copeland (Mentor Chair), Kim Buziak (Mentee), Thanh Huynh (Mentee), Stephanie Calcaterra (Mentee)
Back Row: Angela Wilsey (Mentor), Kelly Brennan (Mentee), Judy Maira (Mentor), Samantha Wolf (Mentee), Brianna Castrataro (Mentee), Katrina Smith (Co-mentor), Tracey Bond-Wright (Mentor), Mary-Claire Corcoran (Mentor), Pam Wenner (Mentor), Lynette Colon (Mentee), Gwen Ruff (Mentor), Allyse Regan (Mentee)