What is mentoring?
A process that involves a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helping to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person in their learning and development in order to formulate and achieve their goals. Mentoring occurs on an ongoing basis and may have either a formal or informal structure.
What are the benefits of mentoring?
- Develop new networks and contacts
- Identify areas for your professional growth
- Provides an opportunity for you to look more strategically at your career goals
- Helps you to find new ways to approach old problems
- Gain knowledge and improve your performance
- Increase your confidence and self-esteem
- Exposes you to new ideas and fields of thought
- You grow and mature as an individual
- By participating in mentoring you are contributing to the development of others
What are my responsibilities as a Mentor?
- To share your expertise and experience with your Mentee
- A regular time commitment each month with your Mentee
- Be objective, be helpful and be open minded during your mentoring conversations
-
Remember at times some conversations may be of a sensitive nature, so it is important to maintain confidentiality
- Introduce your mentee to some people in your network that may be of assistance
- Have your Mentee’s career goals and interests in mind – you are their sounding board
- Provide professional friendship – listen with empathy;
- The Mentee is the driver in the relationship and the Mentor is the guide
How am I matched with a Mentee?
When you signed up for the mentoring program you were asked how you would like to be matched with your mentee. You chose one of the following options:
- nominate a student I would like to mentor;
- be matched with a student with similar research interests; or
- I would be happy to have a student nominate me.
What are the responsibilities of my Mentee?
Your mentee will have a clear set of goals or career objectives that will be driving your mentoring relationship. Your Mentee is responsible for their own learning. They need to be organized and prepared when you meet. They need to be open to advice and feedback and they are responsible for arranging your meetings on at least a monthly basis.
What level of participation is required by me?
It is assumed that you will participate in the mentoring program for at least a 6 month period. You may wish end your mentoring relationship at the end of this initial 6 month period or continue the relationship for another 6 months. Alternatively, you may wish to have a different Mentee for another 6 month period. You should discuss your decision with your Mentee.
What support is available to me?
As part of the Mentoring@ACEMS program a Mentoring Seminar Series will also be launched to help you navigate your way through the mentoring process. The Mentoring Seminar Series will cover a range of topics that will be helpful to you whilst you are on your mentoring journey. The Mentoring Seminar Series topics are listed in the ACEMS Mentoring Plan which can be found on the ACEMS website. If you are unable to attend the Seminar Series each seminar will be recorded and the seminar presentation will be made available through the Resources Tab on the ACEMS Reportal.
ACEMS has a Project Officer looking after the day-to-day operations of the Mentoring@ACEMS program until the program is up and running. Alternatively, if required, please seek out the advice of a careers specialists on your university campus or talk to your supervisor or a fellow student if you need further advice or help with mentoring.
FAQs
What do I need to do as a Mentor?
You need to be able to listen and provide advice to your Mentee. Your job is to help your Mentee to develop further as a person and in their chosen career. You need to be a sounding board who will listen to their ideas and thoughts and provide feedback. You will need to share your experiences and your networks with them and to be supportive.
Is there a cost to participate?
No, the only cost is your time and energy - this program is voluntary. Note: you may incur incidental costs such as paying for coffee. These costs cannot be reimbursed by ACEMS.
What will we discuss?
At your initial first meeting you should establish some boundaries or ground rules of your mentoring relationship and your expectations with your Mentee. Your Mentee will state some objectives and career goals they wish to work towards or achieve during your mentoring relationship. At all the meetings that follow you can discuss your Mentee’s progress in relation to these goals and objectives. This is also a chance to discuss any problems that they may have encountered since you last met. You may also like to attend and then discuss the content of the Mentoring Seminar Series with your Mentee.