Dear Future Mentee,
How to Get The Most Out of a Mentorship
Most people seeking the Ladies that UX Seattle Mentorship Program wanted help identifying what could take them to a new level in pursuing their design aspirations. Career guidance. Skill development. Portfolio review. Someone to cheer them on and let them know they’ve been there too.
A mentor can be all of this and more. From my mentor I’ve gained more than I could have ever hoped for in advice, work examples, resources, opportunities to show and present my work, interview prep and project opportunities.
But sometimes when seeking out this relationship, you don’t necessarily know what knowledge you lack. And with that in mind, where do you even start? Then a call happens… and it feels awkward asking too general of questions.
I’ve been there too.
Like any other relationship, sometimes mentorships don’t work out — and that’s okay. To make sure you are getting the most out of your mentorship, here are 5 tips from our first cohort on how to succeed:
“Talk about communication preferences and frequency to set expectations from the very beginning.” — Lexus Avila
Part of the program outline was meeting frequency, but what wasn’t outlined was other forms of communication. I’ve had mentorships before where I didn’t talk about this right away, which led to me being nervous of reaching out with extra questions and like I was bothering my mentor. It helps both mentee and mentor to understand the expectations of one another and form a safe space for continued dialogue.
“Come prepared. Think of a progression for the types of questions you want to ask. Focus on topics that matter the most to you.” — Asher Sherman
Make sure you go into your meetings with questions! If you don’t lead the conversation, your mentor will, but they might not get to address the topics you care most about. Create an outline that lists topics and questions within them that you can reference.
“Go into seeing every moment as an opportunity to learn. Ask about hard and soft skills. Hold yourself accountable, your mentor is there to guide, but not to do it for you.” — Chanae Evans
Sometimes a mentor’s skillset doesn’t align perfectly with what the mentee is asking for. In these cases, know that there is still so much to be learned. Hard skills are important, but soft skills like communication, empathy and collaboration are too. And when it comes to skill development know that your mentor might be sending you resources, but accountability matters. Put the knowledge into practice.
“Don’t be afraid of showing your work to your mentor. Give visuals and guide the conversation. You know what you need best.” — Meltem Burcu Gurcay-Morris
Please, please, please show your work! Use this space to show what you’ve created or the research you’ve done and ask for feedback. If you’re wanting to try something new or improve upon a skill, do it. Practicing your presentation skills in this judgement-free environment is an amazing opportunity for growth.
“Take advantage of having someone who is watching you progress as motivation to pursue your dreams. Don’t be afraid to dream and divide that dream into actionable goals.” — Monica Posluszny
Remember your why for seeking this mentorship and create actionable (SMART) goals to follow up on throughout it. Your mentor’s investment can be a great motivation to show up for yourself each meeting and keep learning.
Finally, remember to show your appreciation for your mentor, the time they’re giving, and the role they play in your growth. One day you might return the favor for someone else.
Let us know if you have any tips you’d give future mentees for success 👇
