Before meeting your mentor or mentee, it's essential to be prepared. Send your resume and a few paragraphs about your work and personal history to give your mentor an idea of what you would like to focus on. Ask for their contact information and, if appropriate, the contact information of your assistant. Exchange professional stories to build trust and establish a good relationship.
In the agenda, include specific points that you would like your mentor or mentee to address. When it comes to the meeting itself, make sure you make the most of this valuable opportunity. Remember that the first meeting is usually less content-focused and more about getting to know each other; your mentor or mentee may want to know more about you as a person and what motivates you. Depending on time constraints, you may not be able to address specific mentoring topics in your first meeting.
However, be prepared with at least one general topic that you would like to discuss. To help you prepare as best as possible for your first mentor meeting, we've included a sample agenda below. For trainees, these could be questions about the mentor's experiences in leadership roles or about how they overcame particular challenges in their field. This may seem counterintuitive, but it works; when you set the bar low, you're much more likely to achieve your goals and meet your mentor or mentee. It's important to share information about who you are and what you're looking for in a mentoring relationship, but try to focus on your counterpart as well. With powerful progress tracking features and customizable templates, Together makes it easy to manage mentoring programs of any size. To make the most of your first mentor meeting, it's important to come prepared with an agenda that outlines the topics you'd like to discuss.
Additionally, be sure to ask questions that will help you get to know your mentor or mentee better. This will help build trust and establish a strong relationship between the two of you. Finally, don't forget to take notes during the meeting so that you can refer back to them later. Your first mentor meeting is an important opportunity for both parties involved. By taking the time to prepare beforehand and asking thoughtful questions during the meeting, you can ensure that both parties get the most out of this valuable experience.
