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Meeting your Mentee

What happens when I meet my mentee?

Each mentoring relationship will differ depending on the background of the mentor and the needs of the individual mentee.  The regulations and work practice of your organisation may also have an effect on what type of support you are able to offer.    

Below are some suggestions of activities that you could engage your mentee in, drawn from recent experiences of mentees and mentors;    

• Discussion of mentor’s career progression/development – Background information on how you got to where you are.  How did you develop? What choices did you make? 
• Discussion and reflection on mentees career choice(s) – to encourage mentee to research further and in a wider context 
• Help with CV enhancement – advice and tips on how to develop and improve the presentation etc. 
• Mock interview - a practice session is often a useful tool for enhancing future ability  
• E-mail advice and information – useful when unable to meet on a one-to-one basis
• Tour of organisation / premises – increases understanding of the politics of the organisation and how departments work in collaboration
• Work shadowing of mentor / colleagues – in order to expand mentees knowledge of associated roles
• Work experience placement – encourages in-depth research into career choice(s) and realities of job role(s)
• Meetings with colleagues - potential networking opportunities, sharing of ideas, develop good working practice and offers new perspectives
• Meetings with external clients – opportunity to develop business acumen and networking skills  
• Involvement in presentations to colleagues – enhances professional presentation techniques and experience
• Business lunches / networking events – chance to further develop business awareness
• Involvement in selection process / assessment centres - enhance understanding of recruitment process
• Working on developing confidence and assertiveness of the mentee  

Please note that the above is intended to provide a guide to help you consider how you might work with your mentee and is NOT intended to form a prescriptive list of things to do.    

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