Mentee: Definition and Role in Mentor-Mentee Relationship

A mentee is a person who receives advice, training, or guidance from a more experienced or skilled mentor. A mentee will often have specific skills or competencies they want to learn from their mentor, and the mentor may spend a designated amount of time tutoring or teaching them. Typically a mentor and mentee will establish goals together and meet regularly to practice or learn new skills throughout the mentoring program.

While a mentee is often a younger or more inexperienced person just beginning their career, a mentor is a person experienced in a particular field or business who shares the benefits of that experience with the mentee. The role of a mentor is usually to help mentees set up an action plan to achieve specific career goals, though a mentor can provide guidance on personal development goals. A good mentor acts as a guide, adviser, and role model who sticks with the mentee through a stage of the less experienced person’s development process. The mentor’s role is to help the mentee set realistic expectations for their career development and provide them with the tools and skills they need to succeed.

Your mentorship experience can be a critical part of your professional growth. Leverage the following tips to hone your mentor-mentee relationship and achieve your professional development goals:

1. 1. Look for the right mentor. When looking for a mentor, be aware that you’re asking someone to assume a serious responsibility. Once you’ve found a potential mentor, interview them and define the obligation in a way that’s comfortable for both of you. Before you commit, research them and take chemistry into account. A mentor-mentee relationship can last a long time, so it's important that a mentee feel good about the mentor from the outset.
2. 2. Have goals as a mentee. Write down three specific skills you’d like to learn from someone with more experience. Talk with your mentor and set deadlines for when you would like to reach your goals or action items that you would like to have completed by a certain date.
3. 3. Have the right attitude. Go into your mentorship program with a positive attitude, and be ready to learn and be challenged. Your mentor may push you out of your comfort zone to learn new skills, and you may have to do some self-reflection as you change and learn during your mentoring relationship. Embrace the opportunity to learn new leadership skills and communication skills like active listening and how to give honest feedback.
4. 4. Use your time wisely. Plan to meet with your mentor on a regular basis and remember to check on your progress with your specific goals. Put their constructive feedback into practice throughout the mentoring process. Remember that ignoring your mentor’s advice and being late to meetings wastes their time, which is not a respectful way to treat someone who imparts their wisdom onto you.

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