Mentoring Tips and Tricks

Mentees

Every mentoring relationship is different and therefore do not feel obliged to follow the recommendations if it doesn’t suit your style of mentoring relationship. However, we still recommend you to read this page carefully, and check back or get in touch with NECTAR Team at mentoring.nectar@anu.edu.au if you have any further questions.

Your mentor might not have all the answers to your questions. If that’s the case, ask your mentor whether they can connect you with someone with experience in the given topic.

Remember that mentoring is a process and it requires effort from both sides in order to improve things. Your mentor will be there for you to guide you through the process, however, you need to be willing to put the effort in.

As a mentee of the NECTAR Mentoring program, you are expected to take the initiative to get and stay in touch with your mentor. If you will be away for a longer time, we recommend you to plan ahead a check-in meeting upon your return.

 Possible topics to talk about
  • Cv Check
  • Medium/long-term goal planning (2nd workshop topic)
  • Publishing
  • Grant applications
  • Work/life balance
  • Increasing visibility (3rd workshop)
  • Handling conflict in the workplace
  • Possible professional development workshops and training
  • Career planning
  • Transition to industry
  • Promotion
  • Job applications
  • Balancing teaching and research
Preparing for the first meeting

We recommend you to prepare for the first meeting ahead of time and arrive the meeting with a goal.

Unsure of how you can get the best out of your mentoring relationship or what is your priority? Then this can be the topic of your first meeting!

First meeting checklist

Remember that this first meeting is also for you to get to know your mentor, as much as for them to get to know you. Don’t be shy to ask questions about their career path, challenges, successes and failures. You can discuss the following during the first meeting:

  • Frequency, duration and form of your meetings (at a café? Office? Lunch walk?)
  • Preferred communication method?
  • Your expectations as a mentee, and your mentor's expectations
  • Agenda of the meetings?