HOME > Mentoring: How to be a mentee
Qualities of a mentee
“As a potential protege, you play a vital role in making a mentoring relationship work. A protege must be willing to be mentored, show a desire to learn, and a demeanor that suggests receptivity to being directed and advised. A protege must also be responsive to the mentor and must -- to some extent -- work within the mentor's needs as well their own.Lee et al 2007)
“Your supervisor does not necessarily know what form of mentoring will work best for you. It is up to you to do your best to communicate effectively with your supervisor. Lee et al 2007)
“Characteristics to look for in potential mentors include experience in areas relevant to the trainee's personal and career development, an interest in the trainee and his or her career, a willingness to make the time to meet with the trainee, and an ability to provide the trainee with useful advice, not a rigid set of demands. In addition, an ideal mentoring relationship depends on the compatibility of the personalities of the mentor and the trainee. Assessing such qualities and the interpersonal skills of the prospective mentor is much more difficult than gauging someone's success as a researcher. However, because research is defined by personal as well as professional relationships, these qualities are as important as any other criteria in identifying a supervisor, thesis adviser, or mentor.” (RCR)
Group mentoring resources: “The Mentoring Co.” “Mentoring circles”
Other Resources on mentoring:
Nature 447, 791-797 (14 June 2007) | doi:10.1038/447791a, Nature's guide for mentors, Adrian Lee, Carina Dennis & Philip Campbell http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v447/n7146/full/447791a.html This resource compiles and organizes information on what comprises a good mentor based on the nominations for Nature's mentoring awards. An excellent read for an aspiring mentor.
http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/mentor/1.html This is a general discussion of what a mentor is and does.
http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/rcr/rcr_mentoring/introduction/ This site walks you through an online mentoring training program.