GUIDELINES FOR MENTORS

Thank you and welcome to the HRACRE Mentorship Program!

The HRACRE Mentorship Program provides college students, young professionals, and career transitioning individuals with additional resources for their continued success. Through this program you will be partnered with a college student, young professional, or career transitioning person to help develop strategies for their academic, professional, and social success. The program’s goal is your mentee’s personal growth and professional networking.

You will have a one-on-one relationship with your mentee, acting as their personal coach and career advisor, for as long as you both mutually agree. The typical duration of the mentorship is 4 to 6 months with a minimum of 2 interactions per month.

The responsibility of continuing and maintaining communication with your mentee is primarily theirs. Your role is reactionary: to check your texts, voice mail and email, and when you receive a query for help, to promptly respond.  This is not to say that you should never reach out to your mentee – but generally, it is the responsibility of the mentee to drive the relationship and to communicate their needs.  Remember though, that this may be intimidating for your mentee at first, or that they may be worried about disturbing you.  Assure them that you would not have volunteered for this role if you were not ready and willing to be available to them. Your mentee should feel free to ask you for advice other than professional. Your mentee can benefit from your experiences and knowledge.

After the first conversation and/or meeting, a regular communication cycle should be maintained. Agree upfront how often you will engage with each other and commit to regular communication according to your mutual agreement.  Although it is your mentee’s responsibility to contact you, it is likely that you will also reach out to your mentee on occasion. They will contact you to inquire about various issues, dilemmas and requests for advice.  You might contact them with articles, news and general inquiries you believe might be helpful for their well-being and professional growth.

Suggested Activities

Following is a wide array of activities and endeavors from which your mentee might benefit.

1. Especially if your mentee is a college student, ask to see a copy of their professional resume and cover letter. Review them and give feedback or forward them to your hiring manager for the same.
2. Encourage your mentee to participate in HRACRE functions and introduce them to other members of the organization.
3. Consider covering the cost of registration fees for HRACRE events.**Keep in mind that individuals under 21 are not allowed to attend any events where alcohol may be served.
4. Send your mentee relevant business articles that will broaden their perspective on the business world, as well as encourage them to read and (if affordable) subscribe to relevant business publications (whether print or digital).
5. Respond to mentee questions about current trends in CRE, professional practice, and other professional conduct/behavior.
6. Recommend resources for growth in experience and skill development.
7. Goal setting: Help the mentee set smart goals for the next steps in the mentee’s career.
8. Accountability – provide accountability for goals of the mentee. Check in on goal progress and offer suggestions to achieve.
9. Invite your mentee to shadow you, or an associate, for a few hours or for an entire day.Nothing is as eye-opening as reality.
10. Involve your mentee in community projects or endeavors in which you have a role.
11. When appropriate, invite your mentee to join you in a social activity where other professionals or clients are involved (e.g., an HRACRE event).
12. Give feedback on your mentee’s professional attitude, presence and conduct. Gently and constructively critique and suggest improvements on such things as handshake, smiling and articulation. Help build their self-confidence.
13. Assist in building the network of the mentee. Offer the names of colleagues to your mentee for the purpose of meeting, networking and further career discussions.Set up a casual meeting for a first introduction.
14. Discuss projects and developments in your company such as:
    
    • Technology and trends
    • Time management (business vs. community vs. personal time)
    • Globalization
    • Competition and marketing
    • Ethics in the workplace
    • Diversity
15. Encourage the development of leadership skills through volunteering on HRACRE committees. Benefits include:
    
    • Working as a passionate team member, unified by setting and achieving common goals
    • Learning to anticipate obstacles
    • Delegating and holding others accountable
    • Learning to accept feedback, sometimes critical
    • Getting practice with being organized, communicating effectively and listening to others
    • Taking risks and being brave; learning from disasters and triumphs
    • Learning how to navigate and work with different personalities
    
    

Download the Mentor Guidelines HERE