Professional Network:
UMBC Mentoring Program

How to make the best use of ProNet

Mentor/Mentee Best Practices:

• Once the mentor receives your email indicating interest, they should be contacting you within five to seven business days.
• When connecting with your mentor, be sure to establish specific goals and expectations together with your mentor.
• We ask that you keep the relationship career and academically focused.
• Hold realistic expectations of the mentor/mentee relationship. Keep in mind that the goal of the Professional Network is to help you make connections with professionals in your area of interest, hone your networking skills, and explore career options.
• You and your mentor can determine your own level and amount of contact. Connections may be made by email, face-to-face, at Career Services Center’s and Alumni Services’ sponsored events, campus events, or by phone. If the contacts are made by phone, please consider who is responsible for placing and paying for the phone calls (especially if it is long distance).
• Communicate honestly, but respectfully with your mentor.
• Make periodic contact with your mentor. Touch base with your mentor every now and then and let him/her know how you doing; share your latest accomplishments or information that may be of interest.
• Keep scheduled appointments and meetings.  Arrive on time and inform your mentor right away if, for any reason, you are not able to keep your appointment. Reschedule if you are busy – it’s always better than a “no-show” or an extremely late appointment, but please try to limit the number of times you reschedule.
• When meeting face-to-face, please meet only in an appropriate and accessible space for both you and your mentor. We strongly recommend participating in campus-sponsored events with your mentor. See the section on “Additional Engagement Opportunities” for suggestions.
• Be patient.  Remember that your mentor is busy.  You may not receive a response right away. If you haven’t heard back in a couple of weeks, you can try contacting that person a second time. It is possible that your mentor could have over committed. After a second try and no response, it may be time to return to the UMBCworks Professional Network mentor list to select a new mentor.

Thank your Mentor for His/Her Time:

Whenever someone offers guidance or support, we must always remember to thank them. Sending a follow-up note of appreciation goes a long way; forgetting can seem ungrateful and disrespectful. Effective networking depends on the ability to create connections with people. Effective networking requires follow-through.

After meeting or exchanging emails with a mentor, send a quick email thanking your mentor for his/her time. Summarize any action items you and your mentor have agreed upon (e.g., calling your mentor’s assistant to schedule a site visit).

The thank-you note can be an email or a handwritten card. A handwritten card adds another special touch.  Sending thank-you notes is more than a professional courtesy; it’s a wise business practice and can help to build and maintain your relationship with your mentor(s).

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Continue reading: Additional Engagement Opportunities & Resources