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University of Nebraska Medical Center

Become a Faculty Mentee

Becoming a mentee gives you access to personalized guidance and support that can help you grow faster in your UNMC career. Mentors offer career advice tailored to your goals and share valuable insights about your field. They are trusted sounding boards who can help boost your confidence, increase your job satisfaction, and prepare you for future leadership roles. These relationships can be formal or informal, short-term or lifelong, and having a network of mentors means you benefit from a range of perspectives. Becoming a mentee is a powerful step towards elevating your career and expanding your opportunities.

Benefits for Mentees

There are many benefits to being a mentee. Your mentor can provide advice on how to: 

  • Prepare for promotion and tenure
  • Improve patient satisfaction
  • Prevent burnout and sustain enthusiasm
  • Navigate organizational culture
  • Tackle academic and personal challenges
  • Sharpen scholarship and grant writing
  • Build confidence in teaching, research and care
  • Explore opportunities at UNMC and beyond

The mentoring process is a two-way street where each individual has their own role. The mentee's role includes:

  • Establishing clear goals and expectations based on your needs
  • Providing agendas in advance of each meeting
  • Maintaining confidentiality so you can discuss sensitive issues
  • Following through with recommendations and measuring outcomes

Goals can include both professional and personal development, such as:

  • Rank advancement within 6 years
  • Consistent federal research funding
  • Leadership roles in regional or national organizations
  • Successful balance between work, outside pursuits and family
Use the self-assessment form to help determine your goals.

Having a written agreement between you and your mentor can avoid future conflicts. One of the first things the two of you should discuss is the time commitment involved and each of your expectations.

It is also important to include confidentiality as part of the mentoring agreement. This will allow you to seek counsel and discuss sensitive issues, especially those involving fellow faculty members or leaders. You should confirm there will be no direct feedback to your department chair or other leadership. Review an example of a mentoring agreement.

During the mentoring relationship, both of you need to bring up any concerns about the process or the learning activities as soon as they develop. You should also periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the relationship, and make adjustments as needed before problems become too severe to overcome.

However, if both of you agree your mentoring relationship is not advancing, you should still end on a positive note and express your appreciation for the time spent.

You may have a more successful mentoring experience if you choose someone with the same clinical, educational or research interests, personal characteristics or background. 

Email Faculty Affairs or browse our Mentor Directory to find a mentor.

View Mentor Directory

 

Ready to become a mentee? Fill out the form below.

Mentee Intake Form