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

Purpose – 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. Design/methodology/approach – 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. Findings – Explains the key role of information technology in helping the company to realize these changes, particularly by cutting down on administration and reducing costs. Practical implications – Highlights the importance of linking mentoring to key organizational initiatives, making it available to all, providing resources to participants and communicating often. Social implications – Describes a fast and efficient way of transforming college leavers into productive members of the workforce. Originality/value – Shows how a web‐based mentoring program can be implemented and supported and why this could be important to an organization.