The Mentee's Guide: Making Mentoring Work for You

TALKING WITH POTENTIAL MENTORS

The criteria-based decision making model is a tool for identifying a mentor, but the tool for actually recruiting a mentor is you. Even when you have been assigned a mentor and you don’t have to do the work of actively recruiting someone, your initial conversation is important. The criteria you developed and their order of importance can inform your conversation and inquiry when you approach your mentor. Whatever your situation, you are essentially asking someone to make a big commitment of time and energy to guide you in your development. Katherine Klein, a professor of management at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, observes in Wharton’s online journal Knowledge@Wharton, “Once a mentor ...