Before your first session

• Send your resume and a few brief paragraphs that describe your work and personal history to your Mentor, along with a word of thanks for volunteering to be your mentor.

• Request your Mentor’s contact information. Ask for their preferred method of contact (phone, Skype, Google Hangout, etc).

• Read up on your Mentor. Google your Mentor to read any news, published work, or announcements that are publicly available.

• Consider your answers to the following questions:

  • What are you expecting from your mentor and this process?

  • Do you like someone who will push you or someone who is just prepared to listen and offer advice from time to time?

  • Do you want someone to use as a resource (i.e. to help with introductions and networking)?

  • Do you want someone whom you can look to as a role model?

  • What are three mayor takeaways you hope to gain from this process?

 

For your first (and subsequent) sessions​

• Get a journal or notebook which can be used exclusively for taking notes during your mentoring sessions.

• Follow up immediately after the first session with a note of thanks.

• Follow up immediately after the mentoring session with any actions to which you have agreed. Don’t delay, as it is more likely to slip your mind as days pass.

• Confirm the date and time of your next mentoring session.

• Send an email one to two days prior to confirm that the Mentor is still “on” for the next session.

• Give advance notice to the Mentor if you are running late or must cancel or postpone a session.