Guidance for Mentees

Some mentoring can occur naturally in the workplace, but usually it needs some formal management to ensure that it happens. The success of mentoring depends on the quality of the working relationship developed between yourself and your mentor. Your commitment and enthusiasm are vital to making the relationship a success.

Your mentor will arrange your first meeting. At this meeting, your mentor will try to clarify with you the level and nature of the advice and support that you think you will need and that your mentor feels able to provide. This can be reviewed and revised at later stages.

As a mentee you should be prepared to

• learn from examples
• learn from mistakes
• listen and be listened to
• be supported and encouraged
• share critical knowledge
• learn how things work within the University
• develop in self confidence and awareness
• be assisted with career development
• be challenged

This is not an exhaustive list and each mentoring relationship will be unique.

Do not worry about asking "naïve" questions about the University and do not expect your mentor to know all the answers. They should however be able to point you in the right direction for further information and advice.

It is a good idea to keep a record of your meetings, noting what has been discussed and agreed, and the objectives for your next meeting.