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Finding a mentor can seem like the hardest part of the process, but when your first meeting arrives, you find out that you aren’t sure what to do next.
What should you ask your mentor? Who sets the agenda? Should your mentor decide your career moves? Is it okay to disagree with their advice?
A strong mentoring relationship helps newcomers understand workplace culture, build skills, gain confidence, and meet new people. Mentors can also support you through challenges or connect you with opportunities that match your goals.
Just because you have a mentor doesn't mean that any of these things will take place. Good mentoring isn't something a mentor gives while the mentee merely sits and listens; it's a relationship that is developed by both people, so you, too, have a part to play.
A good mentee brings questions, discusses what they want to learn, and helps turn broad goals into specific ones to work on with their mentor. They set up meetings, prepare agendas, follow through on agreed actions, and reflect on their progress. They also listen thoughtfully.
Your mentor’s experience can be helpful, but it does not have to shape your life completely. You can appreciate their advice and still decide if it fits your values, situation, or idea of success. The goal is to use the relationship to become more confident and intentional about your own path.
Learning should go both ways. Share your professional experience, cultural knowledge, skills, and perspective with your mentor. A good mentoring relationship values what both people bring.
If you want to learn more about how mentoring supports careers and workplaces, check out Mentor Canada’s Workplace and Career Mentoring webinar. It offers helpful insights on building strong mentoring programs across Canada.
You can also get ready for your mentoring relationship with The Foundations of Mentoring: A Practical Guide for Mentees below. The toolkit explains what mentors can and cannot do, how to set up your first meeting, and the habits that help you get the most from mentoring.