Outlook: Newsletter of the Society of Behavorial Medicine

Winter 2022

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Tips for Finding and Working with a Mentor as a Trainee and Early Career Researcher

Karena Leo, PhD; Normarie Torres Blasco, PhD & Matthew Schooler, PsyD, HSPP; Palliative Care SIG

Finding and establishing a relationship with a good mentor is an important aspect of our professional and career development; however, this can be a long and difficult process at times. In this article, we compiled our top tips for finding, establishing, and maintaining successful mentorship relationships.  

Tip #1. Develop and evaluate your own goals.

Develop your own individual career and professional development plan. This step will help identify your goals and areas of growth so that you can identify a suitable mentor.

Tip #2. Consider fit when choosing a mentor.

Fit is an important factor when finding and establishing a mentoring relationship. Consider fit in terms of your short-term and long-term goals, professional development, content expertise, and personality.

Tip #3. Network to find mentors.

Ideas for networking include attending conferences, joining special interest groups (SIGs), taking up appropriate career-level leadership positions (e.g., student representative/co-leader for a SIG),  as well as getting involved in state or local organizations of interest.

Tip #4. Meet and have a conversation with your potential mentor, if possible.

Try to have an initial conversation with your potential mentor to discuss the goals of mentorship as well as your own goals and objectives. This is also the time to discuss mentoring needs and mentorship approaches (e.g., do you need a more hands off or hands on approach). Consider asking a potential mentor if there is a way you can contribute to a particular project when establishing the mentorship relationship.

Example questions to consider:

  • What expectations do you have for a mentee in a mentor-mentee relationship?
    • What skills are you looking for in a mentee?
  • What goals do you have as me as a mentee?
  • How could getting involved with one of your projects facilitate a mentor-mentee relationship?
  • How much time can you commit to being a mentor?
    • Meeting weekly, monthly, etc.
  • What type of readings, assignments, etc. do you have for a mentor/mentee relationship?
  • What has worked and what has not worked in previous mentor/mentee relationships?

Tip #5. Ask for and be open to feedback from your mentor.

A good mentor will provide you with constructive feedback. Be open to feedback and create a plan with your mentor to address feedback and create steps to make the changes required.

Tip #6. Connection through mentorship.

Ask your current mentor or find a mentor who is willing to facilitate connection and collaboration with other professionals in your field, and who can collaborate in the development of new projects.

Tip #7. Have multiple mentors.

Have multiple mentors for your different goals and areas of growth. Various mentors can complement your primary mentor and provide mentorship in their areas of expertise. Additionally, consider mentors outside of the primary research sphere such as mentors for financial literacy (e.g., navigating salary negotiations, managing debt, paying loans, investing).

Tip #8. Commit time and effort to establishing and maintaining the mentorship relationship.  

As with all relationships and collaborations, this takes time and effort. Keep in touch with your favorite professors and research/clinical advisors, as well as potential mentors. Maintain these relationships even if potential mentors may not have the time to mentor you at this time, they may have time in the future or be able to facilitate connections and collaborations.

Tip #9. Be proactive and be kind to yourself.

Finding a good mentor is a process and can be difficult at times. Check-in with yourself during the process and evaluate the results. For example, if it is not a good fit with a potential mentor, start the process again and do not give up. It is important to find a mentor that can advocate for and empower you.

These tips to finding and establishing a relationship with a mentor are not comprehensive. However, we hope they will provide a helpful start and we wish you the best of luck in this process.

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