Settling In: The Researcher's Guide to Your University

5.5 The successful mentee

The mentee also has a very important responsibility in this relationship. The time a mentor spends in discussions and in furthering the mentee's interests needs to be repaid through commensurate effort on the part of the mentee. Some important characteristics of successful mentees include:

• Keen to learn, explore ideas, and seek guidance/feedback
• Willingness to explore areas of vulnerability and reflect on learning to date
• Responsibility for identifying, reviewing, and weighing options
• Desire to experiment, trial new processes and procedures, and to be adventurous
• Willingness to move into new areas of development if identified as desirable
• Willingness to give and receive honest feedback and to act on that advice, or duly reflect on it
• Strong commitment to self development and career goals, particularly in reviewing advice provided
• Honest, courteous, and respectful of the mentor's knowledge, skills, and reputation
• Willingness to communicate needs and expectations
• Willingness to listen, communicate, and share ideas without prejudice.

To benefit from a mentoring relationship, mentees can greatly assist by:

• Researching the mentor's strengths, knowledge, and potential contributions
• Clarifying the role to be played by the mentor and mentee
• Prioritising building a successful track record using the advice provided
• Recognising and acknowledging the mentor's contribution
• Taking the initiative in arranging meetings and other opportunities
• Attending meetings promptly
• Coming prepared for meetings
• Using the mentor's time effectively
• Always preparing materials and revisions and forwarding to the mentor ahead of time
• Identifying questions to be asked ahead of time
• Taking feedback graciously and build from it
• Capitalising on networking opportunities and the new professional networks/relationships which have been facilitated
• Taking responsibility for making contacts, maintaining contacts, and meeting commitments
• Considering how the mentor may gain from the contribution and relationship and seeking opportunities to enable those outcomes.