Mentoring “makes” the salesforce at CDW: Scheme transforms college leavers into productive members of the workforce

Describes how CDW Corporation, Illinois, USA – a fast‐growing company with a young workforce, many recruited straight from college – relies heavily on mentoring to provide the rapid learning and flexible skills it needs to succeed in the fast‐changing technology sector.

Details the evolution of mentoring at the company from a small‐scale, heavily bureaucratic initiative for a limited number of high‐flyers to a more democratic, flexible and employee‐driven scheme.

Explains the key role of information technology in helping the company to realize these changes, particularly by cutting down on administration and reducing costs.

Highlights the importance of linking mentoring to key organizational initiatives, making it available to all, providing resources to participants and communicating often.

Describes a fast and efficient way of transforming college leavers into productive members of the workforce.

Shows how a web‐based mentoring program can be implemented and supported and why this could be important to an organization.