Making the most of your mentoring
How you can help your mentor to help you!
Having a mentor is valuable because of the knowledge they have and understanding of their career and the world. They will use their own experience to share insights and knowledge about what you might expect.
The success of your mentoring partnership strongly relies on you – you will take away what you put into the experience!
- Do some research about your mentor and the company they work for. You may be able to find them on LinkedIn and get an idea of what they do to help you ask better questions.
- Be prepared for every meeting you go to with your mentor as this will help you save time and make the most from the partnership. If you would find it helpful, create a schedule with your mentor of what you will cover in each session.
- Focus on the relationship you are building, not its long-term outcomes. You must appreciate that your mentor is not going to hand you a job but will help you to realise your greatest attributes and the skills you need to develop to become a successful professional in your graduate life.
- Be direct and ask questions. Set the mentoring agenda and make the most of this opportunity. No question is too small!
- Actively listen and be appreciative of your mentor. They volunteer as part of Thrive to help as much as they can. Use their experience to your advantage.
- Update your mentor on your progress toward the goals you have set together. They would like to know how you are getting on and how they can help you further.