The following answers a few frequently asked questions:
Philo4Thought matches emerging young professionals and entrepreneurs with mentors, coaches, recruiters and resources as needed.
Mentoring provides advisory guidance for personal and professional development, Academic & Professional Mentors offer wisdom and support. A mentor is not specifically a potential employer, employment recruiter, coach or instructor. Visit our list of Peer Mentors and S.N.A.P. Mentors for a list of available mentors. (This is a free service.)
Coaching and instruction focuses on building, improving, or eliminating specific habits. Work & Life Concierge Coaches are professionals who redirect inefficient behaviors that detract from one’s performance and strengthen productive habits. (This is a paid service.)
Employment recruiters and additional resources are available in our Resource Center but are not currently included in our direct services.
Bilingual Mentors can be requested for translation or language support. Contact info@philo4thought.org for accommodations.
Peer Mentors are young professionals who offer guidance to students and transitioning professionals. They provide advice but are not instructors or recruiters. This is a free service.
S.N.A.P. Mentors are experienced professionals who offer specialized advisement. Our legal and administrative specialists are experts in professional advocacy as well. This is a free service.
Concierge Coaches provide 1-on-1 professional instruction. They are trained instructors with advanced degrees and offer their services at a modest rate. These are trained instructors with advanced degrees in education, executive management, life coaching, human resource development, etc. This is a paid service.
Professional networking plays a crucial role in career development and success in today’s interconnected professional landscape.
Benefits include increased industry knowledge and awareness, enhanced visibility, extended contacts and connections, access to explore new opportunities and receiving support for career advancement. More specifically:
To connect with young professionals in your field, join professional organizations, attend events, or seek introductions through platforms like Philo4Thought. These avenues help build strong professional and social networks.
To network through Philo4Thought:
To connect with a Philo4Thought Coach, Network or Opportunity:
Our events, publications and services are accessible to all those in need.
Philo4Thought embodies the Hellenic spirit rooted in classical the Greek culture and teachings of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, emphasizing values like self-awareness, excellence of character and compassionate community outreach (Philotimo).
While we historically began as an initiative to assist immigrant youth from Greek communities in New York, particularly college-bound high school seniors through matriculating college-level seniors and graduate students, we have expanded to serve emerging young professionals in a variety of underrepresented minority communities around the world, providing a combination of academic, professional and lifestyle guidance.
We remain inclusive and open to helping anyone in need.
Being a Student or HYP (Hellenic Young Professional) Passport Member offers several benefits.
In short, Student and HYP Passport Membership offers a range of benefits that support your personal growth, professional development, networking, and access to resources tailored to your needs as a student or young professional.
Being a Philo4Thought VIP Passport Member comes with several exclusive benefits that enhance your experience and provide additional support for your personal and professional growth.
In short, a Philo4Thought VIP Passport Member grants you enhanced access, personalized support, exclusive events, mentorship from industry leaders, networking opportunities, and special discounts. It provides a comprehensive package of benefits to support your professional journey and help you achieve your goals.
The pricing for coaching services can vary widely depending on several factors, including:
In 2023, the market for coaching services has evolved significantly, so fixed or standard pricing has been replaced with variable pricing across the industry of professional lifestyle and career coaching. Current rates can range between $100 and $500 (or more) per hour for individual coaching sessions. Some coaches still offer discounted rates for continuing clients, package deals for multiple sessions and longer-term coaching commitments, and special (lower) rates for group or online coaching.
In the interest of providing proper career support to those in need, Philo4Thought strives to provide quality services at rates that are significantly lower than the current market value followed by most service providers. We are able to do this because of small-scale community funding (2014-2023).
Philo4Thought offers the perfectly confidential “safe space” for mentors, coaches and clients. Please see our Terms of Service.
We empower young professionals by providing guidance, support, and resources to enhance their career prospects.
Tailored sessions with instructors specializing in the specific area of interest provide best results on topics and areas of interest when:
No.
Yes
In keeping with our safe space policy, we are unable to disclose particular details of topics covered.
General topics include:
Yes! All participants are asked visit our Events Page to register online. Online registration also serves as a confirmation that you understand and agree to our Terms of Service and will respect the privacy of all participants. All questions and materials shared in this forum are strictly confidential and not to be shared outside the safe space of the discussion group.
Yes! All members are asked to register online, which serves as confirmation that you understand and agree to our Terms of Service and will respect the professional code of conduct supported by Philo4Thought as a safe space. All questions and materials shared are strictly confidential and not to be shared outside the safe space of the training sessions.
Yes! There is a vetting process. Those interested should click the box below to submit an application. If you’re having trouble accessing the application link, please email their resume, 3 references and a cover letter to info@philo4thought.org.
Yes, there are different levels of service — some mentoring and some coaching.
Overall Duty: While representing Philo4Thought, mentors are asked only questions that you know for certain. If a question comes up that you feel you aren’t qualified to answer, a Mentor many choose to redirect the student to the P4T Admin to be connected with a senior mentor.
Peer Mentoring is when an undergraduate/graduate student, new graduate or newly-established young professional connects with their peers to discuss one another’s questions and experience in reaching a common goal (e.g., their experience of a particular program, who they liked working with as an advisor, etc.). While every concern might not be 100% resolved in these discussions, the act of sharing common stories, questions and interest helps build the young person’s confidence and choose a career path with more deliberation. Students are connected with Peer Mentors by introduction through one of our Board Members. Qualifications: Mentors at this level are students, new graduates or burgeoning young professionals who do not necessarily have previous formal mentoring experience but do embody the spirit of Philo4Thought’s Mission of serve and assist others. Responsibilities: Typically Peer Mentoring doesn’t take up a lot of time, and often the young people paired for this initiative strike up an organic conversational friendship, so it’s does not conflict or interfere with your existing schedule. Stipend: This is a pro bono (free) service requiring 30-45 minutes of volunteer time. Peer mentoring helps to build a young professional’s resume and experience in offering public service; it is also a great way for seasoned young professionals to give back to the community.
S.N.A.P. is our Student Networking & Advocacy Program. Advisors at this level provide targeted assistance to students and new graduates with specific inquiries. Qualifications: Mentors at this level have earned their terminal/graduate degrees, a more specific commitment and training and prior experience teaching and mentoring students/young professionals and embrace the spirit of the Philo4Thought Mission of serve and assist others. Responsibilities: Typically S.N.A.P. Mentoring doesn’t take up a lot of time; it is more of a professional lifeline help a young person address specific problems or questions. In some cases focused follow-up is required to provide a valuable resource for student advocacy, support or a professional introduction to an opportunity. Stipend: There is no fixed stipend entailed for preliminary consultations, however should a student require extended professional consultations that are only directly available through the mentor’s professional office (e.g., advocates or mental health specialists) the S.N.A.P. Mentor may require the coverage of basic professional fees in return for their services, assistance with document filing, etc., which is the responsibility of the individual being mentored. (Mentors must clarify the list of administrative and counseling services that require payment; they typically allow short free consultations and a courteous discount to Philo4Thought Passport Members in good standing.)
Concierge Coaching requires a time commitment and involves a particular technical skill set. Prior experience tutoring, mentoring, coaching or counseling is required. Qualifications: In addition to the requirements for S.N.A.P. Mentors, those serving the community at this level have a more specific level of technical or public service training. Responsibilities: Typically those entrusted with this level of mentoring have highly-specialized training to provide professional counseling, coaching, career training, etc. Stipend: Since sessions at this level require over an hour of time and repeated consultations, a small hourly stipend is entailed.
Applying: To start the application process, click below. If you experience problems with the application, please email your resume, 3 references and a cover letter to info@philo4thought.org.
