Successful Mentoring Programs

• Mentees should prepare by clearly articulating their career development needs.



• Both pairs formed arbitrarily and pairs formed by choice have worked well.



• Some degree of professional or personal overlap enhances the mentoring relationship; pairs that are too close or too distant are not as successful.



• It is useful to draw up a brief written agreement that defines the broad parameters of the mentoring relationship (including time commitment, or termination of the agreement by either party).



• Pairs that establish clear objectives and meet regularly (at least once a month) are most successful.



• Clear objectives, such as writing a grant proposal, lend to the relationship's success in that the mentee can solicit advice and the mentor can offer support.