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MENTEE GUIDE
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EMMENTEEMENTEEMENTEE
MENTEE GUIDE | 1
MENTEE GUIDE
Welcome to the HR Certification Institute’s Certification Mentor Program, and thank you
for your interest in becoming a mentee. As a mentee our goal is to provide you with an
enriching and invaluable experience that exceeds your expectations.
Throughout our Certification Mentor Program, we will provide you with resources, support
and the information you will need to assist you in facilitating your mentoring relationship.
In this guide, we offer advice and tips on how to begin the relationship, what will be
expected of you, advice on communicating online and how to work with your mentor.
Please remember that we are here to assist you during your time as a mentee in our
Certification Mentor Program. We look forward to learning more about what you gain from
participating in our program.
Sincerely,
The HR Certification Institute
MENTEE GUIDE | 2
MENTEE ExPECTATIoNS AND REqUIREMENTS
Mentees are expected to:
• Demonstrateinitiativeandthedesiretolearn
• CommunicateclearlytheirneedsandexpectedoutcomesofparticipatingintheCertificationMentorProgram
• Workwithinthetimeframegiventomeetthoseneedsandexpectedoutcomes
• Bereceptivetofeedbackandconstructivecriticism
• Providetheirmentorswithfeedbackthatwillassisttheminbettercoachingmentees
• Drivethementoringrelationship
Mentees are not expected to:
• Besubmissive
• Looktoyourmentorforanswerstoeveryquestionyoumayhave
• Achievegoalsimmediately
• Becomeapersonalfriendtoyourmentor
• Seekadvicefromyourmentorregardingpersonalissuesorproblems
Mentee requirements:
• AdheretoCertificationMentorProgrampoliciesandprocedures
• Completeprogramtraining
• Committotheprogramatleastthreehoursperweek
• Createaplanofactionforhowyouandyourmentoraregoingtomeetyourneedsandreachagreed-upongoals
• Adheretomentoringrelationshipagreementbetweenmentorandmentee
• Completerequiredprogramactivities
• Adheretoprogramworkflow
• Creategoalandclosureplan
• Reviewoutcomeoftherelationshipwithmentoratclosure
MENTEE GUIDE | 3
MENTEE’S ovERAll GoAl IN THE CERTIfICATIoN MENToR PRoGRAMAsamenteeintheHRCertificationInstitute’sCertificationMentorProgram,youaretoworkwithyourmentorincreatingstrategiesforsuccessinachievingcertification,aswellasdefineyourcareerpathandprofessionalgoals.AsanHRprofessionalseekingtoearnyourcertification,youunderstandthevalueandheightsthatonecanachieveintheprofessionwithacertification.Youareparticipatingtogainabetterunderstandingofthatvaluefromyourmentor.
Mentee’s overall task to accomplish this goal is to work with your mentor to answer these questions:
• WhydoIwanttobecomecertified?
• WhatdoIexpecttoaccomplishinmycareerafterbecomingcertified?
• WhydidIselectthecertificationthatIattemptedtoachieve?
• DoesmycurrentHRrolealigntothebodyofknowledgeofthecertificationIattemptedtoachieve?
• DidIselectthecorrectcertificationtoachieve?
• HowdidIstudyandprepareforthecertificationexam?
• WhydidIselectthatmethod?
• HowelsecouldIhavestudiedandpreparedforthecertificationexam?
• AmIreadytoearnmyHRcertification?
• AlongwithearninganHRcertification,whatadditionalactionscanItaketoaccomplishmycareergoals?
Whenyoubegintocreategoalstoaccomplishduringyourtimewithyourmentor,youwanttoensurethattheoutcomewillassistyouinansweringthequestionsabove.Attheendofthementoringrelationship,you’llwanttohavemetyourgoalsandansweredthesequestions.
MENTEE GUIDE | 4
ARE YoU MENTEE READY?Whatdoesamenteelooklike?Amenteeisanindividualwhoislookingforwaystoachievemorethanwhathe/shealreadyhasaccomplished.Menteesarereadyandwillingtolearnfromsomeonewhohasaccomplishedasuccessleveltheydesire.Theycanbemale,female,young,olderorthesameageastheirmentors.Menteescanhaveanylevelofprofessionalexperienceandarewillingtotakeonmorechallengingtasks.
Should I be a mentee?
• AmIateamplayer?
• AmIpreparedtobreakoutofmyroutine?
• AmIabletoconfrontmyownshortcomings?
• DoIknowhowtolisten?
• AmIaself-starter?
• DoIhavethetimetocommit,andamIwillingtomaketime?
• AmIopentoguidance?
• DootherstrustmeanddoI,inturn,trustthem?
Ifyouansweredyestomostofthesequestions,thenyoumorethanlikelyhavewhatittakestobeamentee.
A good mentee:
• Hasapositiveattitude
• Wantstolearnandisabletoacceptfeedback
• Knowshowtolistenandtakeresponsibility
• Isambitiousbutrealistic
• Welcomeshelpandispreparedtoputmentor’sadviceintoaction
• Isappreciativeofthehelpofferedbythementor
• Iswillingtocommittoamentoringrelationship
Mentoringcallsforamutualunderstandingandrespectfordifferentpersonalities,culturesandbackgrounds.Successesinmentoringrelationshipsarebasedongoodorganization,documentationandfollowup.
Who Leads the Mentoring Relationship?You,asthementee,setthestage:youdeterminegoalsandcreatetheatmosphereforthetypeofmentoringrelationshipyouwillhaveforthenextsixmonths.Asthementee,youwillletyourmentorknowwhatyouneedfromtherelationship.Themoreinitiativeyoutake,themoreproductivetherelationshipwillbe.Asthementee,youdothe“driving”ofthementoringrelationship,andyourmentoristheretoguideandassistyoualongtheway.
MENTEE GUIDE | 5
THE fIRST MEETINGFirstimpressionslastforever.Thefirstmeetingisthemostimportantmeetingofthementoringrelationship.Thisisthetimewhenbothmentorandmenteebeginbuildingtrustandrapportwithoneanother.Thementeemustperceivethementorassomeonewhoinstillsconfidenceandprofessionalrespect,andthiswillbedeterminedinthatfirstmeeting.Whenmentorandmenteefirstconnect,itisbesttodiscussthefirstmeeting.Determinethebesttime,meansofcommunicationand,mostimportantly,whatwillbediscussed.Weareencouragingmentorstocreateanagendatoensurethatalltopicsthatwereagreedupongetcoveredandthattimespentisutilizedeffectively.Youmayalsowanttogointothefirstmentoringsessionwithnotesaboutwhatyouwanttoaccomplishincaseyourmentorhasn’tpreparedanagenda.Also,keepinmindthatthefirstmeetingshouldbetheonlyoneforwhichyourmentoristhemaindriver.Afterthefirstmeeting,youshouldsetthetopicandagendaforeachmentoringsession.
What to SayThisistheperfectoccasionforicebreakers.Anyideasoractivitiesyoucanbringtothemeetingtofacilitatediscussionwithyourmentorishelpful.Youmayfeelintimidatedornervousbecauseyourmentorisinapositionyouadmireanddesiretoachieve.Thebestwaytocombatthosefeelingsistobepreparedforeverymeetingyouhavewithyourmentor.Thinkaboutwhatyouwanttoaskyourmentoraheadoftime.
Here are some tips that should be kept in mind for all meetings:
• Askopen-endedquestions(makeyourmentorgiveyoumorethanyesornoasananswer)
• Don’tjustquestion,haveaconversation
• Summarizeanyagreed-upontaskstobecompletedbeforethenextmeeting
• Beclearaboutyourgoals
• Putyourthoughtsintowords
MENTEE GUIDE | 6
Questions to ask your mentor:
• Tellmealittleaboutyourself
» Whatisyourroleatwork?(askformorebackgroundonprofileinformationrelatedtoworkandaddmorespecificssuchascompany,industry,supervisionresponsibility,currentprojects)
» Whatrolesdoyouhaveinyourpersonallife?(husband/wife,children,pets,volunteeractivities)
» Whatareyourinterestsandhobbies?
• ExpandonwhyyouwantedtobeamentorintheCertificationMentorProgram
• Tellmealittleaboutwhattypeofteacheryouare
• Whatdoyouexpectfrommeasyourmentee?
• WhatwereyourcareergoalswhenyoufirstbecameanHRprofessional?
• HowhasHRcertificationassistedyouinreachingyourgoals?
Becertaintosharetheanswerstothesesamequestionsaboutyourselfwithyourmentor.Includethecertificationsyouwishtoholdandwhyyoudecideditisbesttoearnthoseparticularcredentials.Thefirstmeetingalsocanbeagoodtimetobegindiscussinghowyouwouldliketostructurethementoringrelationship.Determinethebestmeetingtimesandfrequency,themeansofcommunicationwithwhichyouarebothmostcomfortable,howfeedbackshouldbepresentedandanyparametersorguidelinesyoubothwanttoputontherelationship(timesnottocall,amountoftimeexpectedtoreceivearesponsetoanemail,etc.).
Iftimeallows,begintotalkaboutthegoalsyouwouldliketosetforthesix-monthrelationship.Ifyouhavenotthoughtaboutthatyet,setitasanactionitemforthenextmeetingsothatyoubothgetthemostoutofthetimeyouarecommittingtothementoringrelationship.Tocloseoutthefirstmeeting,discussthenextmeetingdateandtimeandcreateanagendatogetherontopicstobeaddressed.
MENToRING RElATIoNSHIP ENGAGEMENTToassistinkeepingyourmentoringrelationshipmoving,wehavebuiltinmandatoryactivitiestoconductwithyourmentor.Asmentionedintheprogramhandbook,thereisaworkflowthattheseactivitiesshouldfollow.Pleasedonotrelyontheseactivitiesalone.Bringyourpastmentoring,work,volunteer,classroomandotherexperiencestotherelationshiptoenhanceitforyourself.Thisisyouropportunitytobeaspongeandlearnfromyourmentoranddevelopnewgoalsandinsightsfromtherelationship.Comereadytoenhanceyourknowledge,getonacareerpathtowardgreatersuccessandsetacourseforpreparationandsuccessfulcompletionoftheHRcertificationexam.
MENTEE GUIDE | 7
Activities included in program workflow:
• Let’sWorkTogether(guideusedtohelpdefinethetermsofthementoringrelationship)
• SettingtheBar(setgoalsandactionplanforaccomplishinggoals)
• TimetoSayGoodbye(createclosure/exitplan)
• MentoringRelationshipAgreement
• HowDidIScore?(reviewyourscorereportfromcertificationexam(s)taken)
• HowamIDoing?(progressreports–checkinonhowmentorandmenteearedoingwiththegoalsthatwereset)
• HowAreWeDoing?(3surveysgiventhroughoutthesix-monthrelationshiptolearnhowtheprogramisgoingforyouandyourmentor)
• PrepareforHRCertification(reviewofthestudymethodsandmaterialsavailabletoHRprofessionalstoprepareforexam)
• WhenIGrowUp(careerweekdiscussions)
Thegoalofeachactivityistoensurethatbothyouandyourmentorhavethesameunderstandingofwhatneedstotakeplaceduringyourtimetogether.Settinggoalsassistswithprovidingatargetfortherelationship.Withbothparticipantsheadinginthesamedirection,thereisaclearunderstandingofwhereyouaregoingasateam.Creatingaplanofactionhelpsyouclearlystatehowyouaregoingtogetthereandthemeansof“transportation”youwillusetogettoyourfinaldestination.Havingaclosure/exitplanensuresthatyouandyourmentorpausetolookbackatyourtimetogethertoascertainwhetherthereareanyaspectsoftherelationshipthatweremissed.Italsoallowsyoutoensurethatallyourexpectationshavebeenmet.Whenyouincludealltheseelements,inadditiontodefiningyourrelationshipinanagreementbetweenyouandyourmentor,thisshowsyouhaveamutualunderstandingandcommitmenttothementoringrelationship.
Helpful activities
• Readnewsletterssharedbyyourmentor
• Connectwithnetworksthatyourmentorhasintroducedtoyou
• Gotorelevantconferences,seminarsorworkshopssuggestedbyyourmentor
• MeetwithyourmentorafterattendinganyeventrelatedtoyourcareerortheHRprofessiontodebrief
• SharewithyourmentoranyHReventsthatyoubothmaybeabletoattend
• Researchfurthereducationortraininginkeyareasofinterest
MENTEE GUIDE | 8
Keepinmindthattheaboveactivitiesarejustaframeworkforyouandyourmentor.Youbothmustdeterminehowbesttoworktogether;whenitistimetomoveontothenextactivity;whatadditionalactivitiescouldbeincluded;andhowbesttocommunicate,coachandlearntogether.
Itisalsoyourjobasthementeetocommunicateabouttheeffectivenessoftheactivitiesyouareengaginginwithyourmentor.Astherelationshipprogresses,youshouldfindyourselftakingonmoreresponsibilitywithinthementoringrelationshipaswellasonthejob.Yourconfidencelevelshouldbeincreasing,andyoushouldbefeelingmorecapable.Ifthreemonthsintotherelationship,youarenotfeelingmoreconfident,sharethiswithyourmentor.
Assessing the RelationshipThereareseveralplaceswithintheworkflowwherementorandmenteeareaskedtotakealookatthecurrentstateofthementoringrelationship.Usethistimetoreflectandreviewwhathastakenplaceintherelationshipthusfar.Amentorrelationshipassessmentcanincludereviewingandrevisinggoals,defininganyareaofimprovementtherelationshipmayneedandlookingoverwhathasbeenaccomplished.
FeedbackItiscriticaltothementoringrelationshipthatbothyouandyourmentoragreeonhowtogiveandreceivefeedback.Menteesshouldmakecertaintobeclearincommunicatinghowyouwantyourmentortoprovidefeedback,thetypeoffeedbackthatisexpectedandhowfollowuptothefeedbackisdelivered.Thisincludestheforumusedtocommunicatefeedback,thetoneandattitudefeedbackisdeliveredinandthepresentationoffeedback.Thisunderstandingshouldbedefinedfromthebeginningoftherelationship.
Feedback tips
• Donotbecomedefensivewhenfeedbackisgiven:yourmentorisheretohelp
• Communicateiffeedbackisnotgiveninthemanneragreedupon
• Validateanyimprovementsmadebasedonthefeedbackyoureceived
• Remembertogiveyourmentorfeedbackaswell
MENTEE GUIDE | 9
MENToRING oNlINEOneofthebiggestadvantagesincreatingavirtualmentoringprogramisthatitoffersgreateropportunitiesforreachingmoreparticipants.TheHRCertificationInstitutehasmorethan120,000certifiedHRprofessionalsinmorethan80countries.Asyoucansee,wecouldnotletbordersbethebarriertoformingaperfectmentorandmenteematch.However,wedorealizethatconnectingonlineremovestheopportunityformentorandmenteetoconnectfacetoface,particularlyifmilesofroadstandbetweenthem.Inthissection,wewilladdresswaystoeffectivelyconnectwithyourmentor,nomatterthedistancebetweenyou.
Hereareafewthingstokeepinmind:Thesameguidelinesforatraditionalmentoringprogramapplyhere.Everythingyouwoulddoasamenteeinatraditionalsettingworksinavirtualsetting.Whennecessaryandpossible,connectwithyourmentorviaphone.Thishelpstocreatethe“real”factorofyourvirtualrelationship.Makeuseofvideoconferencingtools,suchasSkype,toheightenthepersonalconnectionbetweenyouandyourmentor.
Say What You MeanTocommunicatewellonlineisconsideredanarttomaster.Therearetimesthatemailsoronlinemessagesaresentandthemessageisnotreceivedinthemanneritwasintended.Itisimportanttothinkthroughthegoalofyourmessage.Askyourselfwhatyouwantthereceivertogainfromreadingyourmessage.Beforesending,re-readwhatyouhavewrittenoutloud.Makecertainthatyourmessagesaysexactlywhatisintended.
When writing emails or any other electronic messages keep in mind:
• Ahastilywrittenemailcanbeinterpretedasdisinterest
• Disinterestalsocanbeconveyedthroughincorrectgrammar,incompletesentencesandnumerousspellingmistakes
• Cuteemailsymbolsdonotreplacegoodwritingandcanaidinmisinterpretationofmessage
Non-verbalcuesweighheavilyinavirtualenvironment.Youwanttosendtherightmessagewitheveryinteractionyouhavewithyourmentor.
There are a few things you can do to help:
• Keepyourmeetingsandbeontime
• Combineconnectingbyemailwithphonecallsorvideoconferences
MENTEE GUIDE | 10
• Useactivelisteningskillstoassessthementoringrelationshipregularly
• Ifpossible,meetinperson(thiscanoccurifthereisaconferencebothyouandyourmentorwillbeattending,aneventyoubothhappentoparticipateinorifyouarecloselylocatedtooneanother)
BRINGING THE RElATIoNSHIP To A CloSEYouwanttoendyourmentoringrelationshipproperly.Itisimportanttowrapuptherelationshipinsteadofabruptlystoppingtheconnections.Spendsometimeafewweeksbeforetheendofthesixmonthsreviewingyourclosure/exitplan.Spendtimetogetherlookingatwhereyoucurrentlyareintherelationshipandensuringthatgoalshavebeencompleted.Makeanynecessaryadjustmentstoensurethatallexpectationsaremetandthatbothyouandyourmentoraresatisfiedwiththeresults.
Thisisalsoagreattimetodiscusswhatyoubothlearnedthroughoutyourtimetogether.Whatdoyouandyourmentorbothplantotakeawayfromyourconnection?Reviewwithyourmentorthenextstepsyoushouldtake.Discussareasforcontinuedfocusandanyactionsforengagementorfollowup.Exploretogetherwhatthefuturehastoofferyou.
Lastly,discussanyongoingtermsoftherelationship.Youandyourmentorcandecidetokeepintouchoncetheofficialrelationshipiscomplete.Thisdecisionmustbemadetogether.Ifbothmentorandmenteewouldliketocontinueamentoringrelationship,besuretotalkaboutwhatthatwilllooklike.Youwouldwanttoagreeonfrequencyofcontact,forumsusedtomakecontact,whatwillcontinuetobeworkedonandifyouwanttodesignateanendingtimetotherelationship.
CelebrateEndingamentoringrelationshipisatimetocelebrate.Lookingbackatallthathasbeenaccomplished,learnedandgainedfromtherelationshiparemomentstopraise.Comeupwithhowyouwanttoacknowledgeallthatyouandyourmentorhavedonetogether.
Suggestions for celebrating
• Sendmentora“thankyou”notewithcommentsyouwishtoshareabouttheexperience
• Sendmentorane-cardandincludeallthemilestonesreachedduringthementoringrelationship
• HavecakeandicecreamoverSkype
• Sendasmall“thankyou”tokentoyourmentor
MENTEE GUIDE | 11
ENDING THE RElATIoNSHIP EARlYYoumayfindthatthereisaneedtoendtherelationshipsoonerthanexpected.Anunexpectedeventmayoccurinthepersonalorprofessionallifeofthementorormentee,theprogrammaybetakingmoretimethanoneorbothofyouexpectedoryouandyourmentormaydiscoveryouarenotthebestfit.
Here are some signs that it could be time to move on:
• Thereareotherdemandsinyourlifethataredistractingyoufromcommittingtotheprogramcompletely
• Therehavebeennumeroustimeswheremiscommunicationbecomesanobstacletoprogressinthementoringrelationship
• Duringmeetingswiththementor,youbecomeboredand/orannoyed
• Whenitseemsthatyouandyourmentorhavenothingtodiscuss
• Thereareproblemsinthementoringrelationship,buttheyhaveneverbeenaddressed
Wesuggestthatyouevaluateyourselfbeforeendingtherelationship.Mentoringisapartnership,andittakestwopeopletomakeitsuccessful.Askyourself,whatrolehaveIplayedintheaspectoftherelationshipthatisnotworking?Also,takethetimetothinkthroughhowyoumayimproveonyourownperformance.
Onceyouhavediscoveredwhatyoucandobetter,reachouttoyourmentorandtalkthroughyourdiscovery.Askyourmentortodothesameselfevaluation.Finally,talkabouthowyoubothcanmoveforwardtoimprovetherelationship.Ifyoufindthatimprovementwillnothelptherelationship,reachouttotheprogram’sadministratorforthenextstepstowardendingtherelationshipearly.Thisshouldbethelaststep.
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Thank you again for your time and becoming a mentor in our Certification Mentor Program.
We hope you find the tips and suggestions helpful. lastly, remember to include fun in your
mentoring experience!
Do not hesitate to contact us at any point and time with questions.