Info for Mentors
Benefits
- A reinforced sense of belonging to the McGill community
- An opportunity to acquaint yourself with upcoming talent
- Creation of networking opportunities for McGill students
Eligibility
- McGill alumni who completed their undergraduate, graduate or doctoral studies at McGill University
Role of the Mentor
A mentor provides advice, support and offers guidance to their mentees. A mentor should strive to:
- Listen: Listen-actively and patiently to the mentee’s concerns, questions and thoughts.
- Share experiences: Both positive and negative so the mentee can get a realistic view of that particular career path.
- Gives constructive feedback: Share what you noticed about the mentee’s comments, offer advice and challenge your mentee to make decisions so they may become an independent problem solver.
Testimonials
“Being a mentor for the McGill Mentor Program has been extremely rewarding for me as a professional. In my meetings with mentees, I try to understand what they like about science and what their personality is like, to try to help them make ideal career choices. I try to introduce them to other mentors in parallel or complementary fields or to put them in touch with young scientists just starting out so that they can develop and expand their network of contacts. I tell them that often in life and business, it is not what you know but who you know. A healthy network of contacts is essential to making good career choices and for career advancement.” — Katia, PhD (Pharmacology) 1993
“I first decided to join the McGill Mentor Program as I way to get involved as an alumni but the experience by far exceeded my expectations. Having the opportunity to mentor a future graduate in helping them find their career path has been one of the most rewarding experiences since I have started my career. Not only that but it has even allowed me to establish a great connection!” — Micheline BCom 2008
Info for Mentees
Benefits
- The opportunity to clarify your career goals
- Network with experienced professionals
- Receive valuable advice on professional development
- Exposure to the work place
Eligibility
- Only open to current McGill students completing undergraduate, graduate or doctorate degree
- School of Continuing Studies students who have opted into Student Services: Student Services Fee
Role of the Mentee
The role of the students needs to be proactive. It is imperative that the student:
- Establishes good communication: Initiate contact with your mentor and clarify to yourself and your mentor where you are in your career and specify what your goals are for the duration of the program.
- Leads an active role: maintain contact with your mentor and be prompt in responding. It is important that you do your own research, develop questions for your mentor, and follow the mentor’s suggested advice.
- Maintains a professional etiquette: Respect the Mentor’s time and contribution to the program, keep their personal information confidential and use proper business etiquette.
Testimonials
“My mentorship with my mentor is my second one with CaPS, and it has been a rewarding journey. My mentor and I share a lot of common interests, and his experience in starting his own business is invaluable for me. I will definitely apply to McGill Mentor program next year!” — Ellery BSc 2017
“The McGill Mentor program provides students the opportunity to develop relationships with mentors who genuinely care about their professional development. The information and experiences my mentor has shared with me have undoubtedly made me more prepared for the professional world.” — Nathaniel BA 2017
“McGill Mentor Program is one of the most valuable experiences I had from McGill. I feel I was lucky enough to get involved in the program before I left McGill and luckier that I was matched up with such a wonderful mentor. My mentor answered all the questions that I had and was kind enough to offer to meet in person to help me to further understand the industry. She always replied my emails on the same day with in-depth insight. I really thank her for her guidance, encouragement and advices and I appreciate this opportunity offered by CaPS. “ — Tingling BASc 2014
Mentoring Guide for Mentees
10 Steps to a Successful Mentoring Relationship
Step 1: Self-Assessment and preparation of your CV or biography sheet
One of the most important things in having a successful relationship with your mentor is being prepared and knowing what it is that you would like to get out of it. In order to be prepared, you should attend an online CV workshop at or a Coffee with a Career Advisor online Drop-in. To book a virtual appointment with a Career Advisor, please call (514) 398-3304, email careers.caps [at] mcgill.ca or book online through myFuture. On-site bookings are not available at this moment.
Step 2: Application Process and Online Video Training
After you fill in the online application and request for a mentor, you will be sent an email containing required steps you need to complete to get matched with your mentor. The online video training allows students to learn about and prepare for the mentoring match at their own pace. Once you’ve completed all the steps, you will be matched and you will be given your mentor’s contact information, as well as additional valuable information about the program.
Step 3: Preparation (become informed)
Before you contact your mentor, it is important to be prepared: Research the company/organization for which the mentor works, and find out a little more information about his/her position and the industry in general. You can do your research on the Internet, or come in to the CaPS office and take advantage of our Career Library.
Once you have completed your research, begin thinking about what kinds of question you would like to ask your mentor. A list of suggested questions can be viewed in the section titled "Questions to ask your mentor".
Step 4: First contact
Your first contact with your mentor should be made by e-mail. When you email your mentor, you should attach a copy of your CV and a short biography. Let your mentor know who you are, what you are studying, and what your goals are.
In order to properly initiate your match, you must either CC your introductory e-mail to the McGill Mentor Coordinator (mentor.caps [at] mcgill.ca), or e-mail the coordinator a short confirmation that you have contacted your mentor. You have two weeks from the day you receive the contact information to get in touch with your mentor or your match can be terminated and your mentor could be matched with another student.
Step 5: First meeting
Reach out to your mentor by phone or email. Ask for their availability to help you in arranging a virtual appointment. Ask them to suggest the most appropriate day and time of day. This is an opportunity for you to explore a career field of interest, practice professionalism, and work towards some personal or career-orientated goals with guidance. Your mentor is meant to be more than someone who will answer a list of questions, they are there to help you make decisions and prepare for the future.
Step 6: Follow-ups
At the two month mark, the Mentor Coordinator will send you and your mentor a follow-up e-mail. It is important that you respond to these e-mails promptly; this will allow the Coordinator to keep the program running as smoothly as possible. If you ever have a question or any concerns you can always reach us at mentor.caps [at] mcgill.ca. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Step 7: Future meetings/contacts
It is important to be in contact with your mentor regularly. It is common for students to initiate contact with a mentor and then lose interest; this kind of irregular communication will leave a bad impression with the mentor. How often you contact the mentor depends on both yours and his/her schedule. Be sure to ask the mentor about his/her availability as soon as possible.
Step 8: Ending the match
Matches last 2 months. After this period, the match will be completed and the Mentor Coordinator will notify you and your mentor. You may keep in contact with your mentor at his/her discretion, but CaPS will not monitor future communications. Two months is the maximum length of time for a match, but you may choose to end it at any time. Please contact the Mentor Coordinator to notify him/her when you wish to complete your match. He/she can then match your mentor with another student, and if desired, re-match you with a new mentor.
Step 9: Student Feedback Form
Upon completion of the match, you will be sent a link to a short Student Evaluation From. Feedback from both the mentor and the student allows us to continually improve our program, so please fill out the form as honestly as possible.
Step 10: Thank you Email
Your mentor is a professional with limited time, and has volunteered to help you in your career search. Though not required, it is recommended that you send your mentor a short thank you email upon completion of the match. It will reflect well upon your personal, and professional image!
Suggested Questions to Ask Your Mentor
The keys to a successful mentoring relationship are your enthusiasm, preparation and ability to communicate clearly. Before you meet your mentor, think about the type of information which would be helpful for you. The following questions are meant to help you get started.
About your mentor’s career path/training
- What kind of education/training do you have?
- What was your experience at McGill like?
- How did your time at McGill prepare you for your career? Are your studies at all related to your career?
- How did you manage the transition from school to work?
- How did you get your first job post-graduation?
- What has your career path been like to date? Is it representative of most people in this kind of position?
- How important is a graduate degree, designation, or additional certificate in this field?
- Are you a member of any professional orders or associations? Which ones do you feel are the most important to belong to?
- What are the future prospects like in this field? What trends do you see developing over the next few years?
- If you could change any aspects of your career, what would you change?
About their current position and responsibilities
- How did you obtain your current position?
- What are your primary job responsibilities?
- What does a typical day/week in your job look like?
- What do you enjoy the most about your job? The least?
- What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
- What kind of professional development opportunities are available?
- Are there many opportunities for advancement in this position/organization?
- Who are the people who usually excel in this field/position? What personal qualities do you need to succeed?
About working conditions
- How many hours do you work in an average week?
- How much autonomy do you have in terms of what you focus on at work?
- What kind of supervision did you have when you were starting out? Currently?
- How is your performance evaluated?
- How much flexibility do you have in terms of dress, hours, vacation or job location?
Relating to your current situation and future goals
- What advice would you like to have heard when you were starting out?
- How would you recommend I “try out” this line of work while I am still in school?
- Do you have any recommendations with regards to useful courses to take or extracurricular activities to be involved with?
- Are there any other fields or jobs you would suggest I research/explore?
- How do people find out about job openings in this field? Are they advertised? If so, where?
- When should I start applying for positions and forwarding my resume?
- How is a typical job interview in this industry conducted?
- Is there anyone else in this field you would recommend I talk to? When I call them, may I mention that you referred me?