Frequently Asked Questions
| Q. How do I apply for a Mentor? A. You should spend some time thinking about your needs before applying for a Mentor. Apply via the application form and ask questions of your Mentor to ensure that you are matched with someone whom you respect and has been where you want to be. Q. What do we do? A. It is important to clarify where you will meet, when, for how long and why. It is important to get to know each other a little and negotiate how you will relate and what you want the outcomes for the relationship to be. Q. How often should we be in contact? A. This varies with the needs of the Mentee and the extend of the Mentor’s input. Initially you could set up short meetings or conversations quite frequently to get off to a good start and later meet less regularly or more frequently as required. Mentors, especially, should remember the importance of follow-up meetings. Q. What if the relationship is non-productive? A. Despite the best intentions, incompatibilities may occur and it is no longer possible to maintain the working relationship. The relationship depends on trust and honesty, so both parties need to be honest and acknowledge that the relationship isn’t what the expected. Either party encouraged to end the relationship on a ‘no fault’ basis. If a Mentee decided to end the relationship, you are encouraged to remember that it is likely that you will encounter your Mentor (or colleagues of your Mentor later on in life, so it is important to leave a good impression – always remember to say thank you. If a Mentor decided to end the relationship, they should be aware of the impact this may have on their Mentee and ensure that the Mentee does not feel responsible. Q. How long does the relationship last? A. The relationship lasts as long as both parties agree it. Q. How many people can one person Mentor? A. There is no rule as to how many one can Mentor, as each Mentor must decide how much time they can commit to mentoring. It is suggested that the Mentor makes an assessment about what is realistic for them. Q. What is the time commitment? A. The amount of time varies depending on the needs, expectations, and desires of the Mentee and Mentor. We highly recommend that both parties discuss their expectations at the beginning, and one of the most important factors is time. Some commitments at certain times that would make you unavailable? When it is ok to call? The greatest time commitment will generally be at the beginning of the connection, as the focus is on getting to know each other and on building the relationship. Q. Are mentoring connections confidential? A. In order to foster open and honest communication, the Mentee must be able to trust the Mentor not to disclose their discussions with others. Examples include helping to identify developmental activities and prevent problems associated with differing needs, perspectives and priorities. Q. Do mentoring connections between people in different locations work? A. It is possible to communicate with a Mentor by e-mail and telephone. Naturally, because it can be harder this way, these matches can be more difficult to maintain. Click to go to: The ACT Mentoring Program |
