Ask A Mentor: Am I Ready to Ask for Help?

Written by Sandra Kleinsasser.

Dear Mentors,

I’ve decided to ask for a Mentor, but I feel like I need to get my act together first. What is expected of a Mentee and what are my responsibilities in the relationship?

–Nervous

You don’t need a lot of preparation to work with a mentor. Just a few minutes of thought and planning in advance of your meeting will ensure that you get the most out of your mentor’s time.

1. Decide whether there is a specific goal that you would like your mentor’s help in reaching. (There doesn’t have to be, but give it some thought ahead of time.)
2. Come prepared to give a brief background about yourself and your current status.
3. Be prepared with questions.
4. Bring supplies to take notes.

— Maura Thomas

One of the primary reasons for requesting a mentor is to seek help in getting your act together so you definitely don’t need to be organized first.

Often having a chance to brainstorm with a peer can assist you in piecing things together and deciding on a clear direction. The WCA mentor program also provides members with the opportunity to use each other’s networks to move forward career-wise.

The key factor to remember when asking someone to be your mentor is that she is volunteering because she cares about your future, so it’s important to be respectful of her time. If you’re meeting with her, be on time and keep her informed if plans change; complete any ‘homework’ she may give you in a timely manner, and be sure to let her know how you’re doing when your mentor period is over.

— Jane Baxter Lynn

Learn more

The WCA Career Services page has more information about mentorships, plus this handout just for mentees, Demystifying Mentorships for Mentees, from WCA.