Ten suggestions for cultivating an effective mentor-mentee relationship:
- Be compassionate, inquisitive, and supportive of each other.
- Listen attentively to each other and set clear boundaries so the mentoring experience is not a type of tutoring or training but instead a productive and respectful friendship.
- Have clear goals to accomplish through being involved in the peer mentoring program.
- Be proactive in contacting each other and arrange a time for meetups based on mentor/ mentee needs basis and in a way that works for both sides.
- Attend the academic and social events organized by ETAP DocS and look for ways to collaborate and support each other.
- Both mentors and mentees enter the program open to learning new things.
- Avoid assumptions about cultures, politics, identities, or affiliations.
- Maintain confidentiality in what is discussed between mentors and mentees.
- Focus on the mentee’s agenda and their values (Advice-giving is permissible but not as a first resort, instead ask questions about personal goals, interests, and values).
- While the topics of conversations during the mentor-mentee meetings are up to you and your preferences, the following topics/aspects can be conversation starters: (1) increase or improve communication with an adviser; (2) share renowned conferences and calls for papers (if mentors and mentees are in the same field); (3) tips on networking with faculty members in and outside the department; (4) mental health care/Ph.D. work-life balance; (5) time management advice; (6) academic/industrial job search; (7) publication mentorship (proofreading & critique); (8) tips on the grant application and writing.
