What does a student mentor do?
A student mentor is responsible for guiding the students on their educational and professional development by encouraging the students to reach their maximum potential, helping them with their study habits and academic concerns. Student mentors widen the social connection of the students by recommending them to join school activities and other educational organizations. They analyze the students' strengths and weaknesses and implement strategies to address those difficulties. A student mentor also advises the students of their potential careers, considering their interests and social experience.
Student mentor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real student mentor resumes:
- Manage UAFS's F-1/J-1 student visa SEVIS compliance as DSO/ARO, ensuring all documentation is in order prior to students arriving.
- Assist students with basic mathematics, general science and English (reading and writing )
- Design and implement curriculum for gift elementary students in mathematics, language arts, and science
- Facilitate workshops, group activities, annual leadership conferences, informational sessions, and presentations regarding available resources.
- Mentore in core academic classes such as executive functioning, leadership, self-advocacy, social relationship building and independent living.
- Develop engaging physics problems sets to demonstrate the use of calculus in physics.
- Teach positive social skills, weight training, assistance with homework and studying the bible to promote spiritual growth.
Student mentor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Student Mentors are proficient in Role Model, Student Life, and Mathematics. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Student Mentors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Role Model, 26%
Acted as role model and mentor for young people, ages 6-10, from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances.
- Student Life, 16%
Provide parents with information about student life and university resources.
- Mathematics, 14%
Designed and implemented curriculum for gifted elementary students in mathematics, language arts, and science
- Academic Support, 7%
Provided program participants with academic support as well as encouragement and support for overall success.
- Financial Aid, 5%
Provided financial aid and career development information to empower students in reaching post-secondary success.
- GPA, 5%
Assisted Lindenwood athletes and struggling students to improve studying habits, writing skills, and overall GPA
"role model," "student life," and "mathematics" are among the most common skills that student mentors use at work. You can find even more student mentor responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a student mentor to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "school and career counselors and advisors interpret student records, schoolwide data, and assessments to match interests and abilities with potential careers. ." Additionally, a student mentor resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "access electronic and database systems to look up and explain basic financial aid and student account. "
Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling student mentor duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "school and career counselors and advisors need to give full attention to students and clients in order to understand their problems." According to a student mentor resume, here's how student mentors can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "advised and communicated with international students about adjustment issues and culture shock leadership"
Speaking skills. student mentors are also known for speaking skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to student mentor responsibilities, because "school and career counselors and advisors must communicate effectively with clients and students." A student mentor resume example shows how speaking skills is used in the workplace: "gained familiarity with the challenges and life changes of student athletes and presented coping strategies to student athletes and their coaches. "
Compassion. For certain student mentor responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "compassion." The day-to-day duties of a student mentor rely on this skill, as "school and career counselors and advisors often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be able to empathize with their clients and students." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what student mentors do: "assist and participate in helping them make better decisions in life - show compassion, companionship, and leadership. "
Interpersonal skills. Another crucial skill for a student mentor to carry out their responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." A big part of what student mentors relies on this skill, since "school and career counselors and advisors must be able to work with people of all backgrounds and personalities." How this skill relates to student mentor duties can be seen in an example from a student mentor resume snippet: "developed adequate leadership, and interpersonal experience to facilitate the needs and motivate the inner city youth. "
The three companies that hire the most student mentors are:
- The New York Public Library2 student mentors jobs
- AHRC New York City Foundation2 student mentors jobs
- Universal Health Services1 student mentors jobs
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Compare different student mentors
Student mentor vs. Job coach
A job coach is responsible for evaluating people's skills and qualifications, advising them with career paths, helping with their aspirations, and promote employment opportunities. Job coaches help the clients build self-confidence and explore their maximum potentials to develop their professional growth. They provide counseling, understanding the clients' strengths and weaknesses, analyzing clients' personal goals, and guiding clients through job interviews and assessments. A job coach must have excellent communication, listening, and analytical skills to handle their clients' challenges and match their interests for the best career suited for them.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between student mentors and job coach. For instance, student mentor responsibilities require skills such as "role model," "student life," "mathematics," and "academic support." Whereas a job coach is skilled in "developmental disabilities," "cpr," "rehabilitation," and "customer service." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Job coaches earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $38,362. On the other hand, student mentors are paid more in the education industry with an average salary of $33,166.On average, job coaches reach similar levels of education than student mentors. Job coaches are 2.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 2.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Student mentor vs. Peer advisor
As the name entails, admissions representatives assist prospective and new students attending a university. They give these students the information they need to make a well-informed decision regarding enrollment, make admissions decisions, and review documents. It is also their job to decide which students need to be followed up, ask students their choices, and hold new and prospective students to deadlines. They may be assigned to several areas depending on the department's needs, including prospect management, graduate admissions, and undergraduate admissions.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that student mentor responsibilities requires skills like "student athletes," "academic performance," "community services," and "educational programs." But a peer advisor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "front desk," "scheduling appointments," "course selection," and "class schedules."
Peer advisors earn lower levels of education than student mentors in general. They're 5.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Student mentor vs. Admissions representative
A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, student mentors are more likely to have skills like "role model," "student life," "mathematics," and "academic support." But a admissions representative is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "patients," "phone calls," and "admissions process."
Admissions representatives earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $50,011. Comparatively, student mentors have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $33,166.When it comes to education, admissions representatives tend to earn similar degree levels compared to student mentors. In fact, they're 1.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Student mentor vs. School counselor
Types of student mentor
Updated January 8, 2025
