>In <[log in to unmask]> "Henry B. Crawford"
><[log in to unmask]> writes:
>>
>>One more (hopefully the last) word on this subject.  I wish I had a
>>dollar (inflation) for every time one of my paid professional
>>colleagues told me that theu would like to attend such-and-such
>>conference, but they can't because their institution won't pay for it.
>>Don't be so hard on students who say they can't afford to go.
>
>Sure, I'd be a contributor to that one...

Me too, Mark, which is my point.  Students aren't the only ones.  We
shouldn't single them out.

>But let's be honest, it's
>much more important to someone who doesn't have resume credits, a
>portfolio of work, contacts in the field, and professional friends to
>make those contacts to get a job.
>
>
Which I exactly why I'm often seen at conferences running around with
students.  Once they get there, most of them need some guidance and
orientation from someone who knows the system and knows enough people.  It
helps to have a mentor there to conduct introductions, point out people
they need to know, and show them things about networking that they don't
learn in class, especially if they're new to conference-going.  Mentoring
is a confidence building process more than anything else.

For those who can't go, I make sure I know what some of their interests and
needs are and then shop around for them at the conference.  I talk to
professionals about potential interns or employees, as many of you know.
It's a matching exercise which pays off.  I help students, etc. find what
they need and they do the rest.  I have a pretty good record of "brokering"
internships and jobs.  That's what mentoring is really all about.

I would like to encourage anyone who's been in this biz for a few years to
sign up as a mentor at your next conference.  It really helps students and
newcomers, while strengthening the profession as well.

HBC


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Henry B. Crawford        Curator of History
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806/742-2442           Box 43191
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