The role of the mentee

Formal mentoring relationships offer many benefits to both the mentor and the mentee. The role of the mentee is to learn from the mentor and to grow in their career. The mentee should be proactive in their relationship with the mentor and should take advantage of the opportunities that are offered.

They should also be willing to provide feedback to the mentor on how the relationship is working and what they are learning.

The role of the mentee is to formally learn about best practices. They should take proactive actions in their mentorship relationships and they should explore opportunities that are offered. Mentees should also be formally educated in understanding expectations and mentors should be putting in a lot of effort to find the right mentees.

Evidence: What this is not.

The role of a mentor a mentee has a lot a lot of different challenges. One of the major challenges is having the same toolkit as a mentor. There is very little research done on what it is to be a mentee.

Mentees should be formally educated in understanding what they can expect from mentors and mentors should be doing a lot of research to find an appropriate mentee.

This is not, considering personalised one on one relationships with the mentor. Mentees should explore what is expected of them while benefiting from the knowledge and skill set a mentor can bring to a project. This is not looking at the relationship between mentors and mentors.

Using education to be proactive in a mentorship will give mentors and mentees what they both need.

Mentors should formally educate their mentees in their expectations and mentees should explore opportunities that are offered to apply for. Collaboration between mentors and mentors are not addressed. Mentees should also be formally educated to understand expectations and mentors should be putting a lot of effort to find the right mentees. Using education to be proactive in a mentorship will give mentors and mentees what they both need.

Evidence: What this is..

Evidence

Formal mentoring relationships offer many benefits to both the mentor and the mentee. Mentees should learn from the mentor and should grow in their career. Mentees should be proactive in their relationships with mentors, exploring opportunities that are offered.

Mentees should also be formally educated in understanding expectations and mentors should be putting in a lot of effort to find the right mentee.

Conclusion Mentoring is a powerful tool that mentors and mentees should mutually use to grow their careers. Mentors have formal expectations of their mentees, but are also understanding of any skill or knowledge gaps. Mentees should meet mentors with an active curiosity for their instruction. Mentors should be more proactive in researching appropriate mentees.

Formal mentoring provides many things for both the mentor and the mentee. Mentees have fairly formal expectations of their mentors, but understand that mentors have skill or knowledge gaps. Mentees should meet with mentors with active curiosity about the instruction they're providing. Mentors should be more proactive about researching proper mentors.

A formal mentoring relationship offers many benefits to both the mentor and the mentee. Mentees should learn from the mentor and should grow in their career. Mentees should be proactive in their relationships with mentors, exploring opportunities that are offered. Mentees should also be formally educated in understanding expectations and mentors should be putting in a lot of effort to find the right mentee. Mentors should formally educate their mentees in their expectations and mentees should explore opportunities that are offered to apply for. Collaboration between mentors and mentors are not addressed.

How to choose a mentor.

When seeking a mentor, it is important to consider what you hope to gain from the relationship. Some questions you may want to ask yourself include:

What are my goals?

What are my strengths and weaknesses?

What type of mentor do I need?

What is my budget?

Do I need a mentor in my field or industry?

Do I need a mentor who can help me professionally or personally?

Once you have considered these factors, it will be easier to identify potential mentors and begin the process of building a successful mentoring relationship.

A mentor can be beneficial in any way, so the type of people you choose should not be a factor in making your decision.

-What are my goals?

-What are my strengths and weaknesses?

-What type of mentor do I need?

-What is my budget?

-Do I need a mentor in my field or industry?

-Do I need a mentor who can help me professionally or personally?

In the end, the type of person you take as a mentor should be a preference, not a deciding factor.

-What are my goals?

-What are my strengths and weaknesses?

-What type of mentor do I need?

-What is my budget?

-Do I need a mentor in my field or industry?

-Do I need a mentor who can help me professionally or personally?

...All the while factoring the other necessary conditions.

This should not be a deciding factor. Considered important factors depending on needs.

A mentee typically has a younger age, hasn’t been with the company long, and needs coaching with either career-related topics or interpersonal issues.

A professional has skills or training or knowledge that a mentee values in a particular area.

A friend is a mentor in the truest form.

Often a professional with a mentee will insist on a formal contract which stipulates that the mentor will give the mentee a certain number of sessions or workshops or events or presentations with a certain level of time or intensity paid in full.

This is typically seen as the norm, but is that the case for all mentors?

No.

A mentor is typically anyone who holds the other "half of the sky."

So instead of looking for mentors based on examples or moving along the expectation of the contract, find the person who compliments your "half of the sky."

Finding mentors in one’s field or industry.

Mentors in the field of the mentee’s profession are typically considered “full-time mentors.” A full-time mentor typically is more knowledgeable on the nuances of the workplace and more on top of the latest trends in the field.

A mentor from within the field of their profession is more likely to be a professional mentor. A professional mentor may not necessarily have the more in-depth knowledge on how to navigate an office or a company, but their expertise may be a competitive advantage to a mentee in the workplace.

Finding a mentor in a different field or industry can be a utility player.

A professional from outside of the field or taking a mentee from one’s profession typically is positioned more as a personal mentor.

Including mentors who can help practice a profession.

If a mentee is looking for mentors specifically to go beyond the limits of his or her profession, a mentor from a differing occupational background may be a utility player. On the other hand, a mentee looking for a more personal-oriented relationship, a mentor from a different occupation may be a full-time mentor.

Some of the most important factors to consider when beginning a mentoring relationship include the individual's goals, strengths and weaknesses, and what may be the most beneficial type of mentor for that person.

An excellent way to find whether a potential mentor is correct for you is to ask yourself what your typical day-to-day would look like with them in it. A mentor should not be picked based on education level, profession, socioeconomic background, or geographic location. While these things may seem like typical factors when beginning a mentoring relationship, they should not be a determining factor and in the end you and the mentor should be a good fit in terms of one another's shared similar day-to-day. You should go for your typical day-to-day mirroring what you already know and want to improve.

Encourage people to build their personal brands.

Take all factors into account, including goals, strengths and weaknesses, and then identify potential mentors that are a good fit.

-What are my goals?

-What are my strengths and weaknesses?

-What type of mentor do I need?

-What is my budget?

-Do I need a mentor in my field or industry?

-Do I need a mentor who can help me professionally or personally?

A successful mentoring relationship involves two people that are different yet similar in some ways. Once you have found a potential mentor that may work well for you, remind yourself that this relationship should not be forced nor should it be too hands-off. Not first.

A successful mentoring relationship occurs when the mentee is open-minded and right for the mentor.

To find out more about our mentoring platform or book a demo

Peer Pioneers

Peer Pioneers

Mentoring Action Plan - Strategic Human Resource Management