This guidance is applicable for any mentoring relationship, but especially long-term (at least 6 months) mentoring. Those taking part in the Matched Mentoring Scheme should find this useful.

All mentors and mentees selected for Matched Mentoring are invited to a workshop prior to starting their mentoring relationship. During the workshop, we aim to answer any queries, and to prepare you for your first mentoring session (Stages 1-3). 

All alumni mentors are invited to join our biannual Mentoring Skills Workshops, hosted by mentoring specialist Miranda Coates. Skills workshops will be tailored towards the needs of those who register. The Alumni Office will share invitations to workshops when they are running. Details will also be published on our events page. 

Key stages of developing a successful mentoring relationship

The first mentoring session is where Mentor and Mentee (1) get to know one another, (2) set goals for mentoring, and (3) put together an informal agreement and plan of action (template agreement). If during your first meeting you don’t feel like your mentoring match is the right one, don’t be afraid to politely say so up front with a clear reason why.

1. Get to know each other

2. Set mentoring goals and expectations

3. Develop a mentoring agreement and action plan

4. Conduct the mentoring sessions

5. Evaluate your relationship

All IDS Alumni Network Mentoring & Advice Programme Mentors are automatically members of the Mentors Group where you can find links to all of our useful resources, articles and details of upcoming skills workshops.

All who are interested in accessing the IDS Alumni Network Mentoring & Advice Programme can find find links to all our useful information on the Mentoring & Advice page.