MENTEE GUIDE

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EMMENTEEMENTEEMENTEE

MENTEE GUIDE | 1

MENTEE GUIDE

Welcome to the HR Certification Institute’s Certification Mentor Program, and thank you

for your interest in becoming a mentee. As a mentee our goal is to provide you with an

enriching and invaluable experience that exceeds your expectations.

Throughout our Certification Mentor Program, we will provide you with resources, support

and the information you will need to assist you in facilitating your mentoring relationship.

In this guide, we offer advice and tips on how to begin the relationship, what will be

expected of you, advice on communicating online and how to work with your mentor.

Please remember that we are here to assist you during your time as a mentee in our

Certification Mentor Program. We look forward to learning more about what you gain from

participating in our program.

Sincerely,

The HR Certification Institute

MENTEE GUIDE | 2

MENTEE ExPECTATIoNS AND REqUIREMENTS

Mentees are expected to:

• Demonstrateinitiativeandthedesiretolearn

• CommunicateclearlytheirneedsandexpectedoutcomesofparticipatingintheCertificationMentorProgram

• Workwithinthetimeframegiventomeetthoseneedsandexpectedoutcomes

• Bereceptivetofeedbackandconstructivecriticism

• Providetheirmentorswithfeedbackthatwillassisttheminbettercoachingmentees

• Drivethementoringrelationship

Mentees are not expected to:

• Besubmissive

• Looktoyourmentorforanswerstoeveryquestionyoumayhave

• Achievegoalsimmediately

• Becomeapersonalfriendtoyourmentor

• Seekadvicefromyourmentorregardingpersonalissuesorproblems

Mentee requirements:

• AdheretoCertificationMentorProgrampoliciesandprocedures

• Completeprogramtraining

• Committotheprogramatleastthreehoursperweek

• Createaplanofactionforhowyouandyourmentoraregoingtomeetyourneedsandreachagreed-upongoals

• Adheretomentoringrelationshipagreementbetweenmentorandmentee

• Completerequiredprogramactivities

• Adheretoprogramworkflow

• Creategoalandclosureplan

• Reviewoutcomeoftherelationshipwithmentoratclosure

MENTEE GUIDE | 3

MENTEE’S ovERAll GoAl IN THE CERTIfICATIoN MENToR PRoGRAMAsamenteeintheHRCertificationInstitute’sCertificationMentorProgram,youaretoworkwithyourmentorincreatingstrategiesforsuccessinachievingcertification,aswellasdefineyourcareerpathandprofessionalgoals.AsanHRprofessionalseekingtoearnyourcertification,youunderstandthevalueandheightsthatonecanachieveintheprofessionwithacertification.Youareparticipatingtogainabetterunderstandingofthatvaluefromyourmentor.

Mentee’s overall task to accomplish this goal is to work with your mentor to answer these questions:

• WhydoIwanttobecomecertified?

• WhatdoIexpecttoaccomplishinmycareerafterbecomingcertified?

• WhydidIselectthecertificationthatIattemptedtoachieve?

• DoesmycurrentHRrolealigntothebodyofknowledgeofthecertificationIattemptedtoachieve?

• DidIselectthecorrectcertificationtoachieve?

• HowdidIstudyandprepareforthecertificationexam?

• WhydidIselectthatmethod?

• HowelsecouldIhavestudiedandpreparedforthecertificationexam?

• AmIreadytoearnmyHRcertification?

• AlongwithearninganHRcertification,whatadditionalactionscanItaketoaccomplishmycareergoals?

Whenyoubegintocreategoalstoaccomplishduringyourtimewithyourmentor,youwanttoensurethattheoutcomewillassistyouinansweringthequestionsabove.Attheendofthementoringrelationship,you’llwanttohavemetyourgoalsandansweredthesequestions.

MENTEE GUIDE | 4

ARE YoU MENTEE READY?Whatdoesamenteelooklike?Amenteeisanindividualwhoislookingforwaystoachievemorethanwhathe/shealreadyhasaccomplished.Menteesarereadyandwillingtolearnfromsomeonewhohasaccomplishedasuccessleveltheydesire.Theycanbemale,female,young,olderorthesameageastheirmentors.Menteescanhaveanylevelofprofessionalexperienceandarewillingtotakeonmorechallengingtasks.

Should I be a mentee?

• AmIateamplayer?

• AmIpreparedtobreakoutofmyroutine?

• AmIabletoconfrontmyownshortcomings?

• DoIknowhowtolisten?

• AmIaself-starter?

• DoIhavethetimetocommit,andamIwillingtomaketime?

• AmIopentoguidance?

• DootherstrustmeanddoI,inturn,trustthem?

Ifyouansweredyestomostofthesequestions,thenyoumorethanlikelyhavewhatittakestobeamentee.

A good mentee:

• Hasapositiveattitude

• Wantstolearnandisabletoacceptfeedback

• Knowshowtolistenandtakeresponsibility

• Isambitiousbutrealistic

• Welcomeshelpandispreparedtoputmentor’sadviceintoaction

• Isappreciativeofthehelpofferedbythementor

• Iswillingtocommittoamentoringrelationship

Mentoringcallsforamutualunderstandingandrespectfordifferentpersonalities,culturesandbackgrounds.Successesinmentoringrelationshipsarebasedongoodorganization,documentationandfollowup.

Who Leads the Mentoring Relationship?You,asthementee,setthestage:youdeterminegoalsandcreatetheatmosphereforthetypeofmentoringrelationshipyouwillhaveforthenextsixmonths.Asthementee,youwillletyourmentorknowwhatyouneedfromtherelationship.Themoreinitiativeyoutake,themoreproductivetherelationshipwillbe.Asthementee,youdothe“driving”ofthementoringrelationship,andyourmentoristheretoguideandassistyoualongtheway.

MENTEE GUIDE | 5

THE fIRST MEETINGFirstimpressionslastforever.Thefirstmeetingisthemostimportantmeetingofthementoringrelationship.Thisisthetimewhenbothmentorandmenteebeginbuildingtrustandrapportwithoneanother.Thementeemustperceivethementorassomeonewhoinstillsconfidenceandprofessionalrespect,andthiswillbedeterminedinthatfirstmeeting.Whenmentorandmenteefirstconnect,itisbesttodiscussthefirstmeeting.Determinethebesttime,meansofcommunicationand,mostimportantly,whatwillbediscussed.Weareencouragingmentorstocreateanagendatoensurethatalltopicsthatwereagreedupongetcoveredandthattimespentisutilizedeffectively.Youmayalsowanttogointothefirstmentoringsessionwithnotesaboutwhatyouwanttoaccomplishincaseyourmentorhasn’tpreparedanagenda.Also,keepinmindthatthefirstmeetingshouldbetheonlyoneforwhichyourmentoristhemaindriver.Afterthefirstmeeting,youshouldsetthetopicandagendaforeachmentoringsession.

What to SayThisistheperfectoccasionforicebreakers.Anyideasoractivitiesyoucanbringtothemeetingtofacilitatediscussionwithyourmentorishelpful.Youmayfeelintimidatedornervousbecauseyourmentorisinapositionyouadmireanddesiretoachieve.Thebestwaytocombatthosefeelingsistobepreparedforeverymeetingyouhavewithyourmentor.Thinkaboutwhatyouwanttoaskyourmentoraheadoftime.

Here are some tips that should be kept in mind for all meetings:

• Askopen-endedquestions(makeyourmentorgiveyoumorethanyesornoasananswer)

• Don’tjustquestion,haveaconversation

• Summarizeanyagreed-upontaskstobecompletedbeforethenextmeeting

• Beclearaboutyourgoals

• Putyourthoughtsintowords

MENTEE GUIDE | 6

Questions to ask your mentor:

• Tellmealittleaboutyourself

» Whatisyourroleatwork?(askformorebackgroundonprofileinformationrelatedtoworkandaddmorespecificssuchascompany,industry,supervisionresponsibility,currentprojects)

» Whatrolesdoyouhaveinyourpersonallife?(husband/wife,children,pets,volunteeractivities)

» Whatareyourinterestsandhobbies?

• ExpandonwhyyouwantedtobeamentorintheCertificationMentorProgram

• Tellmealittleaboutwhattypeofteacheryouare

• Whatdoyouexpectfrommeasyourmentee?

• WhatwereyourcareergoalswhenyoufirstbecameanHRprofessional?

• HowhasHRcertificationassistedyouinreachingyourgoals?

Becertaintosharetheanswerstothesesamequestionsaboutyourselfwithyourmentor.Includethecertificationsyouwishtoholdandwhyyoudecideditisbesttoearnthoseparticularcredentials.Thefirstmeetingalsocanbeagoodtimetobegindiscussinghowyouwouldliketostructurethementoringrelationship.Determinethebestmeetingtimesandfrequency,themeansofcommunicationwithwhichyouarebothmostcomfortable,howfeedbackshouldbepresentedandanyparametersorguidelinesyoubothwanttoputontherelationship(timesnottocall,amountoftimeexpectedtoreceivearesponsetoanemail,etc.).

Iftimeallows,begintotalkaboutthegoalsyouwouldliketosetforthesix-monthrelationship.Ifyouhavenotthoughtaboutthatyet,setitasanactionitemforthenextmeetingsothatyoubothgetthemostoutofthetimeyouarecommittingtothementoringrelationship.Tocloseoutthefirstmeeting,discussthenextmeetingdateandtimeandcreateanagendatogetherontopicstobeaddressed.

MENToRING RElATIoNSHIP ENGAGEMENTToassistinkeepingyourmentoringrelationshipmoving,wehavebuiltinmandatoryactivitiestoconductwithyourmentor.Asmentionedintheprogramhandbook,thereisaworkflowthattheseactivitiesshouldfollow.Pleasedonotrelyontheseactivitiesalone.Bringyourpastmentoring,work,volunteer,classroomandotherexperiencestotherelationshiptoenhanceitforyourself.Thisisyouropportunitytobeaspongeandlearnfromyourmentoranddevelopnewgoalsandinsightsfromtherelationship.Comereadytoenhanceyourknowledge,getonacareerpathtowardgreatersuccessandsetacourseforpreparationandsuccessfulcompletionoftheHRcertificationexam.

MENTEE GUIDE | 7

Activities included in program workflow:

• Let’sWorkTogether(guideusedtohelpdefinethetermsofthementoringrelationship)

• SettingtheBar(setgoalsandactionplanforaccomplishinggoals)

• TimetoSayGoodbye(createclosure/exitplan)

• MentoringRelationshipAgreement

• HowDidIScore?(reviewyourscorereportfromcertificationexam(s)taken)

• HowamIDoing?(progressreports–checkinonhowmentorandmenteearedoingwiththegoalsthatwereset)

• HowAreWeDoing?(3surveysgiventhroughoutthesix-monthrelationshiptolearnhowtheprogramisgoingforyouandyourmentor)

• PrepareforHRCertification(reviewofthestudymethodsandmaterialsavailabletoHRprofessionalstoprepareforexam)

• WhenIGrowUp(careerweekdiscussions)

Thegoalofeachactivityistoensurethatbothyouandyourmentorhavethesameunderstandingofwhatneedstotakeplaceduringyourtimetogether.Settinggoalsassistswithprovidingatargetfortherelationship.Withbothparticipantsheadinginthesamedirection,thereisaclearunderstandingofwhereyouaregoingasateam.Creatingaplanofactionhelpsyouclearlystatehowyouaregoingtogetthereandthemeansof“transportation”youwillusetogettoyourfinaldestination.Havingaclosure/exitplanensuresthatyouandyourmentorpausetolookbackatyourtimetogethertoascertainwhetherthereareanyaspectsoftherelationshipthatweremissed.Italsoallowsyoutoensurethatallyourexpectationshavebeenmet.Whenyouincludealltheseelements,inadditiontodefiningyourrelationshipinanagreementbetweenyouandyourmentor,thisshowsyouhaveamutualunderstandingandcommitmenttothementoringrelationship.

Helpful activities

• Readnewsletterssharedbyyourmentor

• Connectwithnetworksthatyourmentorhasintroducedtoyou

• Gotorelevantconferences,seminarsorworkshopssuggestedbyyourmentor

• MeetwithyourmentorafterattendinganyeventrelatedtoyourcareerortheHRprofessiontodebrief

• SharewithyourmentoranyHReventsthatyoubothmaybeabletoattend

• Researchfurthereducationortraininginkeyareasofinterest

MENTEE GUIDE | 8

Keepinmindthattheaboveactivitiesarejustaframeworkforyouandyourmentor.Youbothmustdeterminehowbesttoworktogether;whenitistimetomoveontothenextactivity;whatadditionalactivitiescouldbeincluded;andhowbesttocommunicate,coachandlearntogether.

Itisalsoyourjobasthementeetocommunicateabouttheeffectivenessoftheactivitiesyouareengaginginwithyourmentor.Astherelationshipprogresses,youshouldfindyourselftakingonmoreresponsibilitywithinthementoringrelationshipaswellasonthejob.Yourconfidencelevelshouldbeincreasing,andyoushouldbefeelingmorecapable.Ifthreemonthsintotherelationship,youarenotfeelingmoreconfident,sharethiswithyourmentor.

Assessing the RelationshipThereareseveralplaceswithintheworkflowwherementorandmenteeareaskedtotakealookatthecurrentstateofthementoringrelationship.Usethistimetoreflectandreviewwhathastakenplaceintherelationshipthusfar.Amentorrelationshipassessmentcanincludereviewingandrevisinggoals,defininganyareaofimprovementtherelationshipmayneedandlookingoverwhathasbeenaccomplished.

FeedbackItiscriticaltothementoringrelationshipthatbothyouandyourmentoragreeonhowtogiveandreceivefeedback.Menteesshouldmakecertaintobeclearincommunicatinghowyouwantyourmentortoprovidefeedback,thetypeoffeedbackthatisexpectedandhowfollowuptothefeedbackisdelivered.Thisincludestheforumusedtocommunicatefeedback,thetoneandattitudefeedbackisdeliveredinandthepresentationoffeedback.Thisunderstandingshouldbedefinedfromthebeginningoftherelationship.

Feedback tips

• Donotbecomedefensivewhenfeedbackisgiven:yourmentorisheretohelp

• Communicateiffeedbackisnotgiveninthemanneragreedupon

• Validateanyimprovementsmadebasedonthefeedbackyoureceived

• Remembertogiveyourmentorfeedbackaswell

MENTEE GUIDE | 9

MENToRING oNlINEOneofthebiggestadvantagesincreatingavirtualmentoringprogramisthatitoffersgreateropportunitiesforreachingmoreparticipants.TheHRCertificationInstitutehasmorethan120,000certifiedHRprofessionalsinmorethan80countries.Asyoucansee,wecouldnotletbordersbethebarriertoformingaperfectmentorandmenteematch.However,wedorealizethatconnectingonlineremovestheopportunityformentorandmenteetoconnectfacetoface,particularlyifmilesofroadstandbetweenthem.Inthissection,wewilladdresswaystoeffectivelyconnectwithyourmentor,nomatterthedistancebetweenyou.

Hereareafewthingstokeepinmind:Thesameguidelinesforatraditionalmentoringprogramapplyhere.Everythingyouwoulddoasamenteeinatraditionalsettingworksinavirtualsetting.Whennecessaryandpossible,connectwithyourmentorviaphone.Thishelpstocreatethe“real”factorofyourvirtualrelationship.Makeuseofvideoconferencingtools,suchasSkype,toheightenthepersonalconnectionbetweenyouandyourmentor.

Say What You MeanTocommunicatewellonlineisconsideredanarttomaster.Therearetimesthatemailsoronlinemessagesaresentandthemessageisnotreceivedinthemanneritwasintended.Itisimportanttothinkthroughthegoalofyourmessage.Askyourselfwhatyouwantthereceivertogainfromreadingyourmessage.Beforesending,re-readwhatyouhavewrittenoutloud.Makecertainthatyourmessagesaysexactlywhatisintended.

When writing emails or any other electronic messages keep in mind:

• Ahastilywrittenemailcanbeinterpretedasdisinterest

• Disinterestalsocanbeconveyedthroughincorrectgrammar,incompletesentencesandnumerousspellingmistakes

• Cuteemailsymbolsdonotreplacegoodwritingandcanaidinmisinterpretationofmessage

Non-verbalcuesweighheavilyinavirtualenvironment.Youwanttosendtherightmessagewitheveryinteractionyouhavewithyourmentor.

There are a few things you can do to help:

• Keepyourmeetingsandbeontime

• Combineconnectingbyemailwithphonecallsorvideoconferences

MENTEE GUIDE | 10

• Useactivelisteningskillstoassessthementoringrelationshipregularly

• Ifpossible,meetinperson(thiscanoccurifthereisaconferencebothyouandyourmentorwillbeattending,aneventyoubothhappentoparticipateinorifyouarecloselylocatedtooneanother)

BRINGING THE RElATIoNSHIP To A CloSEYouwanttoendyourmentoringrelationshipproperly.Itisimportanttowrapuptherelationshipinsteadofabruptlystoppingtheconnections.Spendsometimeafewweeksbeforetheendofthesixmonthsreviewingyourclosure/exitplan.Spendtimetogetherlookingatwhereyoucurrentlyareintherelationshipandensuringthatgoalshavebeencompleted.Makeanynecessaryadjustmentstoensurethatallexpectationsaremetandthatbothyouandyourmentoraresatisfiedwiththeresults.

Thisisalsoagreattimetodiscusswhatyoubothlearnedthroughoutyourtimetogether.Whatdoyouandyourmentorbothplantotakeawayfromyourconnection?Reviewwithyourmentorthenextstepsyoushouldtake.Discussareasforcontinuedfocusandanyactionsforengagementorfollowup.Exploretogetherwhatthefuturehastoofferyou.

Lastly,discussanyongoingtermsoftherelationship.Youandyourmentorcandecidetokeepintouchoncetheofficialrelationshipiscomplete.Thisdecisionmustbemadetogether.Ifbothmentorandmenteewouldliketocontinueamentoringrelationship,besuretotalkaboutwhatthatwilllooklike.Youwouldwanttoagreeonfrequencyofcontact,forumsusedtomakecontact,whatwillcontinuetobeworkedonandifyouwanttodesignateanendingtimetotherelationship.

CelebrateEndingamentoringrelationshipisatimetocelebrate.Lookingbackatallthathasbeenaccomplished,learnedandgainedfromtherelationshiparemomentstopraise.Comeupwithhowyouwanttoacknowledgeallthatyouandyourmentorhavedonetogether.

Suggestions for celebrating

• Sendmentora“thankyou”notewithcommentsyouwishtoshareabouttheexperience

• Sendmentorane-cardandincludeallthemilestonesreachedduringthementoringrelationship

• HavecakeandicecreamoverSkype

• Sendasmall“thankyou”tokentoyourmentor

MENTEE GUIDE | 11

ENDING THE RElATIoNSHIP EARlYYoumayfindthatthereisaneedtoendtherelationshipsoonerthanexpected.Anunexpectedeventmayoccurinthepersonalorprofessionallifeofthementorormentee,theprogrammaybetakingmoretimethanoneorbothofyouexpectedoryouandyourmentormaydiscoveryouarenotthebestfit.

Here are some signs that it could be time to move on:

• Thereareotherdemandsinyourlifethataredistractingyoufromcommittingtotheprogramcompletely

• Therehavebeennumeroustimeswheremiscommunicationbecomesanobstacletoprogressinthementoringrelationship

• Duringmeetingswiththementor,youbecomeboredand/orannoyed

• Whenitseemsthatyouandyourmentorhavenothingtodiscuss

• Thereareproblemsinthementoringrelationship,buttheyhaveneverbeenaddressed

Wesuggestthatyouevaluateyourselfbeforeendingtherelationship.Mentoringisapartnership,andittakestwopeopletomakeitsuccessful.Askyourself,whatrolehaveIplayedintheaspectoftherelationshipthatisnotworking?Also,takethetimetothinkthroughhowyoumayimproveonyourownperformance.

Onceyouhavediscoveredwhatyoucandobetter,reachouttoyourmentorandtalkthroughyourdiscovery.Askyourmentortodothesameselfevaluation.Finally,talkabouthowyoubothcanmoveforwardtoimprovetherelationship.Ifyoufindthatimprovementwillnothelptherelationship,reachouttotheprogram’sadministratorforthenextstepstowardendingtherelationshipearly.Thisshouldbethelaststep.

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Thank you again for your time and becoming a mentor in our Certification Mentor Program.

We hope you find the tips and suggestions helpful. lastly, remember to include fun in your

mentoring experience!

Do not hesitate to contact us at any point and time with questions.