- Commit to being a mentor and be reliable
- Set clear, honest and realistic expectations for you and your mentee
- Project a professional image your mentee can look up to
- Promote your mentee’s understanding of the relationship between rigorous, relevant education and employment success
- Set high performance standards
- Help your mentee develop the skills and knowledge base necessary to make appropriate and informed career decisions
- Learn as much as you can about your mentee, their goals and the world they live in
- Provide an attitude and overall environment of positivity
- Encourage your mentee to think about long and short-term goals
- Share your own life experiences and professional struggles
- Provide exposure to different perspectives on various issues
- Coach your mentee on time management, problem solving and effective communication
- Be a role model and teach by example
- Talk to your mentee about work etiquette, accountability and ethics
- Invest time in nurturing and guiding your mentee and be consistent
- Help mentees identify reliable sources of information and aid (academic and financial)
- Introduce mentee to key people and help them network
- Keep an open line of communication with your mentee
- Keep conversations confidential and private