text: Mentor FAQs -- University of Arizona Career Services
  Alumni→ Networking→ Mentor FAQs
  What do I do if I can't be a mentor anymore? We all have busy lives and sometimes things come up that force us to change our schedules or commitments. The best way to end a mentoring relationship, under these circumstances, is to honestly explain the situation to your mentee. It's best for everyone involved if the mentor is upfront and the mentee isn't left feeling abandoned, or like they did something wrong. We want the student to feel encouraged to re-access the network and look for another mentor. How can I help my mentee, if special needs arise? Sometiimes, issues and concerns can come up that we don't feel equipped to properly address. We don't want any of our mentors to feel uncomfortable or without support. In all situations, we encourage our mentors to keep sensitive information about their mentees confidential, unless instances arise where you feel that students can be a danger to themselves or others. For your reference, here is a list of some on campus resources to where you may refer your student mentee: Advising Resource Center (Academic Advising) (520) 626-8667 Campus Health Service (Counseling and Psychological Services, General Medicine, Nutrition, Women's Health, etc.) (520) 621-6490 Campus Safety (Hazing, Sexual Assault, SafeRide/Walk, Campus Police, etc.) Career Services (520) 621-2588 Disability Resource Center (520) 621-3268 Student Legal Services Think Tank (Academic Tutoring) (520) 626-0530 If you feel the need to discuss your concerns with a Career Services staff member, please feel free to email us at careerservices@arizona.edu How do I know if my mentoring relationship is going well? The mentoring relationship is a unique one, in that the beginning stages can be awkward as two people are getting to know one another, but were paired in an untraditional way. Sometimes it takes a while to feel through unfamiliar personalities, but that shouldn't automatically raise a red flag. Two good signs of progress are reception and initiation. We hope that the students are open to gestures that you make; but we also hope that they initiate communication as well. In certain cases mentoring will not evolve into a relationship. We appreciate all levels of assistance that our mentors can give, even if it's just one piece of advice or pointing a student in the right direction. How long am I expected to be a mentor? There are many answers to this question. Some mentoring relationships last the academic year, while some can last a lifetime. Again, some mentors will only meet with a student once. Some mentors will have more than one mentee, or have a new one each year. Every relationship is unique; with its own expectations, preferences and natural lifespan. However long your mentoring relationship lasts, our goal is to provide an enriching experience for mentees, as well as mentors. What type of information should I share? Here is a list of some of the popular topics of discussion:
  How did you decide on a major/career? Tell me about your job interview experiences. Did your course of study prepare you for your career? What are the responsibilities and skills of your job? What would you look for in a potential employee? What do you recommend should be my next steps? What do you like and not like about your job? Company? What are some things that you would have done differently? You can also participate in Mock Interviews with your mentee. Contact Us Search Wildcat JobLink | Hire A Wildcat! Campus Links | Accessibility Privacy Policy | Help Center Technical Support © 2004-2013 The University of Arizona Career Services