Mentoring is a clear path to positive outcomes for young people and employees alike. Research shows that when employers support youth mentoring, 73% of employees report strong career satisfaction. In service of its commitment to workforce development and enriching young people’s out-of-school learning, JPMorgan Chase partnered with MENTOR to design and implement a project-based career readiness program. For six weeks, young people work with JPMorgan Chase employees to develop innovative solutions for community challenges, helping both communities and young people.
Marlee Henderson, Global Philanthropy Senior Associate at JPMorgan Chase, comments, “At JPMorgan Chase, we believe our most important resource is our employees. We’re pleased to be working with MENTOR to deepen our relationship with our community partners by engaging JPMorgan Chase employees in opportunities to provide young people with the coaching and feedback to prepare them for careers and for life.”
To provide young people the opportunity to participate in skills-building workshops alongside trained JPMorgan Chase volunteers, each young person and mentor participate in five virtual workshops that focus on career coaching. Sessions build upon one another and highlight the critical skills needed at work. The JPMorgan Chase volunteers help young people develop new skills, expand their networks, and increase access to future career opportunities. Overall, the program enhances the work-based learning opportunities young people experience by including mentoring and coaching, giving them invaluable preparation for future career pathways.
Mira Yu, an 11th-grade student at Boston Latin School, shares her experience
Courtesy of Mentor
Mira Yu is an 11th grade student and JPMorgan Chase Career Readiness Mentoring Program participant.
Tell us why you wanted to be a part of this program? Did you have any expectations going in?
I wanted to be part of the program to learn from people with work experience and work with others my age to practice career skills. I knew that the program was intended to help me in my future career, but I wasn’t completely sure what that would entail going in. I expected the workshops to be similar to a virtual school lecture.
Did the Career Readiness Mentoring Program meet your expectations?
It went beyond my expectations. The workshops were genuinely engaging and taught me tangible skills that I think can help me regardless of the career I end up in. For instance, I learned about a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis for the first time. Honestly, I was surprised at how dedicated the workshop leaders were to making each session interesting and informative.
Can you share a highlight from your experience?
On the day of our final workshop, it was my group’s turn to give the presentation that we had been working on during the past sessions. I was fairly nervous about the idea of speaking in front of such a large group of people, including highly qualified mentors. But with the support and encouragement of my group, I’m proud to say the presentation was a success.
What stands out to you in your mentoring and coaching experience?
In my group, my mentors were incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. They were willing to share about their lives and experiences in their careers to guide us through our presentation process. What stood out to me was when I asked them to share their personal “elevator pitch”— I was really impressed by how confident and skilled they were, and it inspired me to attempt performing a pitch of my own!
