Make the most of your time as a graduate student by connecting with a mentor who can offer you guidance and inspiration. Here are seven tips for a successful mentor/mentee relationship:

 

Establish clear needs and objectives

• Why do you need a mentor? Are you looking for someone to guide you through your studies, provide career support or give you advice on personal development (such as developing your public speaking skills)?
• What do you hope to get from your mentor (frequency of meetings, type of support, etc.)?

 

Explore your options at Polytechnique

• Your research supervisor can act as a mentor, but there might be another faculty member who you naturally connect with.
• Are you involved in a student association or committee? These groups often organize networking events where you can meet potential mentors.

 

Leverage professional platforms

• Do you use LinkedIn, ResearchGate or Academos? If so, look for people who have already graduated from your program and started working in the field. They may be willing to tell you about how they got their career off the ground.

 

Attend conferences and research events

• At scientific activities, do you make a point of introducing yourself to people who inspire you? Ask presenters questions and get a conversation going with them. Informal connections can sometimes lead to mentoring relationships.

 

Look for diverse mentors

• What types of people could guide you on your professional journey? An academic mentor might help you advance your research. A professional working in an industrial setting or consultancy could share insights on what awaits you after you graduate. A personal mentor could help you achieve your development goals.

 

Be intentional and respectful

• How do you ask someone to be your mentor? The key is to be clear. For instance, you could send them a short and professional email. Be sure to mention why you find their background inspiring.

 

Mentorat Québec (in French only), Elo Mentorat and the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec can be valuable resources to consult.

This article was inspired by the following video (in French only)