Academic Adviser
It is often the case that the initial mentor/trainee relationship starts when students go to a faculty or staff member to seek academic advising.
The initial role of the academic adviser is to guide students in choosing courses and programs. If students have finalized their academic and career goals, the adviser can ensure that all university requirements are met.
If the students are still exploring career possibilities, the adviser can provide information about possible careers in the field, as well as graduate programs and degrees. In addition, it is important to assess the students potential for success in the chosen fields. This includes judging their confidence levels and degrees of motivation, as well as potential and abilities.
In general, it is important for the mentor/adviser to build a supportive environment as the students choose and then pursues their fields of study. This includes making the students aware of such opportunities as internships and cooperative education options.
Research Director
When students join a faculty member’s research group, an excellent opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship presents itself.
One of the important initial decisions both mentor and trainees need to make is the choice of project. It is important that the mentor help trainees choose projects that match the trainees' potential and previous experience. Also, the expected duration of the project should match as much as possible the trainees' anticipated stay at the institution.
As mentor and trainees collaborate on the research project, the mentor has many opportunities to build useful skills in the trainees. These include organization, record keeping, and written and oral communication abilities. In particular, the mentor has a unique opportunity to introduce trainees to appropriate forms of writing and communicating in the chosen field, whether it is writing reports and journal articles or presenting results to the university or discipline community. The research mentor often has the greatest influence in shaping the professional communication skills that will serve the trainees for the duration of their careers.
Another important role for the mentor is to assess the trainees' progress. Mentor and trainees should agree on both short- and long-term goals, and it is the mentor’s responsibility to monitor the trainees' progress in completing the goals. It is essential for the mentor to be able to identify and resolve problems as they arise. The trainees' lack of suitable progress may be due to motivation, insufficient previous knowledge and/or academic skills, or problems with time management and efficiency. The mentor can address these by providing suggestions, modeling behaviors that lead to productive use of time, or modifying goals and timelines as appropriate.
As the trainees near their goals, it is important for the mentor to encourage them to move on. The more productive and successful the trainees become, the greater the impact their departure will have on the research group and the mentor. It is imperative, however, for the mentor to remember that the goal is to train and educate the trainees, not to obtain research data. The same principle applies whether the trainees are ready to graduate or are merely at an appropriate point to switch to a different group or project.
Guide to the Disciplinary Culture
A mentor is invaluable in helping trainees navigate the culture of the particular discipline or profession. The mentor can help them understand the state-of-the-art disciplinary knowledge and the discipline’s fundamental, current research questions, so that trainees can eventually develop their own research programs. The mentor can also show trainees how the discipline or profession views its world and the methodology used to ask and answer questions.
The mentor can guide trainees in helping to build professional networks, through personal contacts and participation at professional meetings. The mentor can also be instrumental in finding new mentors as trainees move to the next institution or position.
Role Model
A mentor can provide the image of a practicing professional who functions in a real-world context. A mentor can provide trainees with concrete illustrations of how to surmount professional and personal obstacles and be successful.
A mentor needs to communicate enthusiasm and excitement about the profession or field. He or she can show and explain to trainees aspects of the job the trainees are not likely to be exposed to. It is also important for mentors to show how they have been able to balance career and personal life, so that trainees will know that it is possible to integrate personal life with professional life. It is important for the mentor to discuss personal choices and ideals.
Being a caring individual is a very important trait for a mentor and is one that goes to the heart of the relationship. A mentor needs to be a good listener, one who is willing to help the trainees find solutions for professional and personal problems.
Sponsor and Supporter of the Trainees' Careers
A good mentor/trainee relationship is a long-term connection. It is often the case that mentor and trainees keep in touch after the trainees leave the mentor’s institution. The mentor can still be useful by providing contacts for job searches.
Writing letters on behalf of trainees is a particularly important mentor responsibility, since usually the mentor is in the best position to speak about the trainees’ qualities and accomplishments. The mentor should personalize the letters, explaining what makes the trainees unique and/or a good fit for the positions they are applying for and using specific examples from past mentor/trainee interactions. In writing letters of recommendation, the mentor should be truthful and honest in assessing trainees’ strengths and weaknesses. If the mentor has reservations about the trainees’ abilities or likelihood of success, the mentor should discuss these issues with the trainees before writing the letter.
In the long term, the mentor is always in a good position to submit nominations on behalf of trainees for awards and fellowships, as well as for membership in professional associations.
