Tips for Mentees (students)

1. Lead with a Learning Mindset

Throughout your career, you’ll meet people who can help shape your growth—whether they work in your field, hold a title you aspire to, or bring a completely different perspective. No matter who they are, approach every mentorship experience with curiosity and a willingness to learn.

2. Build Your Toolkit

Think of mentorship as an opportunity to grow your skills—not just check a box. Work with your mentor to identify new abilities you’d like to build and areas where you want to improve. Some useful skills to focus on include:

• Conflict resolution and communication

• Interviewing and relationship building

• Budgeting and financial planning

• Listening, mindfulness, and emotional awareness

• Navigating department goals and workflow

• Giving and receiving feedback

• Communicating with empathy

Your mentor can help you sharpen the tools you'll use throughout your career.

3. Be Engaged

This program is for you—make the most of it! Here are a few ways to stay actively involved:

• Come prepared with questions or goals

• Ask for feedback and career guidance

• Explore early career decision-making

• Talk through how to navigate institutional structures, professional settings, and politics

• Discuss how you’re shaping your professional identity

The more you invest, the more you'll gain.

4. Practice Active Listening

Mentoring is a two-way relationship. Show up engaged, on time, and open-minded. Understand that your mentor is volunteering their time—and also wants to see you succeed.

To get the most out of each conversation, practice active listening:

• Acknowledge: Show you're listening with eye contact, head nods, or brief comments (“I see,” “Go on,” etc.).

• Ask Questions: Use open-ended questions to dig deeper—what, how, why, when?

• Paraphrase & Summarize: Repeat back what you’ve heard to confirm understanding.

• Empathize: Use language that shows understanding (“That must be frustrating...”)

• Reflect: Pay attention to tone and body language, not just words. If something seems off, gently check in (“You seem unsure—want to talk that through?”)

These communication skills will serve you well in any role.

5. Enjoy the Experience

You’ll be paired with a mentor who’s genuinely excited to support you. Take this opportunity to build a meaningful connection, ask questions, and enjoy the process of growing into the professional you want to become.