Frequently asked questions

A mentee is a proactive, committed and goal-oriented staff member who is willing to ask questions and allow their mentor to support them. A mentee must take responsibility for their own learning and development, define goals for their career and invest time and effort into realising these ambitions.

Mentors can help you navigate your career path by:

• providing exclusive insight into your chosen career path
• increasing your awareness of organisational values, expectations and business areas
• identifying the skills and experience desired in specific roles 
• increasing your professional network
• providing perspective on different scenarios and opportunities within different areas of the university
• providing tips for making the transition to executive professional levels
• helping with strategies if you are feeling stuck
• connecting you with opportunities in your future area.
   

A mentor is a unique role. Mentors can adopt various postures, including as coaches, advisers or counsellors; they can share advice and career insights to help guide you on the path to success. If you are feeling stuck, or would like some clarity, your mentor can help you develop the knowledge and skills necessary to get you where you want to go. Mentors should not be thought of as job opportunities but rather a friendly supporter to help you with the suggestions and strategies to support you to achieve your goals.  

Becoming a mentor can be a rewarding and mutually beneficial experience. The experience can leave you with personal satisfaction from contributing to the success of a fellow employee at the University by helping to personally shape their lives.

1. Develop and enhance your leadership skills. 
2. Understand and appreciate cultural differences. 
3. Improve your communication skills. 
4. Advance your own career through leading and assisting others.
5. Learn new perspectives. 
6. Gain personal satisfaction. 
    

An effective mentor has the following characteristics:

• desire to share information, expertise and experience 
• ability to recognise and encourage the mentee's potential
• willingness to invest time and effort in the mentoring relationship
• ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• commitment to assisting the mentee in their decision-making processes by listening, sharing and providing advice
• Helping guide the mentee with actionable strategies to achieve career goals.
   

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The power of the mentor believing in the mentee's ability and encouraging the mentee to do what they think they cannot do.

The power of the mentor listening to the mentee.

The power of receiving truth in the form of constructive feedback.

The mentee and mentor will be encouraged to meet regularly to discuss and review the mentees' identified projects or goals.

A minimum engagement requirement also exists for this program:

• attend all facilitated Mentoring Program workshops. Those who do not attend, may be excluded from the program.
• prepare for and participate in at least four meetings with your mentor over the duration of the program
• set goals for the program and negotiate activities to attain those goals
• clearly communicate your expectations and boundaries with your mentor
• keep a reflection journal after each meeting is recommended
• provide program feedback and evaluation
• provide a written testimonial at the conclusion of the program
• be willing to act as a mentor in future years.

The WPDN Mentoring Program is supported with funding provided by the University of Adelaide.

All sessions are free of charge and enable you to develop your skills and get more out of the mentoring program. We recommend that you obtain the support of your line manager prior to applying for the program to ensure they support you to taking the time to attend mandatory program workshops and meet with your mentor. 

Trust is critical for both mentor and mentee. Whatever information shared during your mentoring relationship is confidential on both sides.

This is a "mentee driven" program - it is the mentee's responsibility to make and maintain contact with their mentor. The best outcomes are those where the mentee has demonstrated the ability to initiate and maintain the mentor relationship.

If you have identified or found your own mentor, please provide details in our registration form. We cannot guarantee that this will be accommodated. However, we will do our best to match preferences, within reason.

If you wish to be matched with a mentor by the WPDN, this will be based on shared career or work experience and academic background. We require as much details as possible around your preferred career direction to ensure we can find you the best match possible.

Whilst every effort will be made to find a perfect match for you, please note if you are accepted into the program we are unable to guarantee you will be matched. This is a complex process and we are not always able to find an appropriate match for each mentee. 
 

Any relationship requires closure. At your final meeting, you should discuss how and in what capacity your relationship may continue – e.g. only in a mentoring capacity or as professional contacts. 

If you require help or have any questions during the course of the program, please contact the WPDN Mentoring Program Coordinators at any time.