Best Practices for the Mentee
Mentoring Relationship Expectations Template
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Provide your mentor with feedback. It can be very rewarding and satisfying to mentor and help a protégé to achieve his or her personal, professional, or educational goals. Mentors often don’t get feedback about the impact that they are having.
if you do follow a suggestion given by your mentor, then let him or her know how it worked out or what you did or what you learned
acknowledge the advice your mentor gave you and its impact on you
let them know about your accomplishments and how they have contributed to your success
let them know when you need help
share updates about successes, challenges, and milestones
if you’re comfortable, share updates about things not working in life and relationships
talk about your relationship
share examples of your work
celebrate life events together
Show your mentor respect for their time, interest, and expertise
call or email regularly to check in and update the prospective mentor on topics related to your initial meeting and your goals
show interest or enthusiasm in your mentor’s activities and interests
be an active listener and ask questions
schedule a regular meeting
share more about your career, academic, and/or personal goals
ask for advice, Maybe even take notes and follow-up with suggestions
General tips
provide mentor with up-to-date contact information, particularly if you move or change your email address or phone number
provide mentor with background information about you including your accomplishments, interests, hobbies, resources, life experiences, and challenges
send periodic emails to check in with their mentor
share updates
show up and be on time for meetings and end meetings on time, be respectful of their time
if an emergency comes up and you can’t meet, then let your mentor know in advance
be respectful of your mentor’s time, interest, and opinions
show gratitude and appreciation (say “thank you”) and ask about how they are doing
actively participate in decision-making, especially about how you will spend your time together let them know how they have helped you
talk through major decisions with them
