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A guide for mentees: Make It Count

How to use a term with an alumni mentor to reach one clear goal.

English

What this guide covers

What this guide covers

What this guide covers

Why a clear goal

A clear goal beats doing your best

Specific, demanding goals lift results more than a vague intention to try.

0.77 Effect of specific, hard goals over “do your best” on simple tasks
0.41 The same effect on complex tasks Locke & Latham, American Psychologist, 2002

A goal for the term

Pick one goal for this term

For a new field, a learning goal works better than a result you cannot yet plan.

  • Choose between two career paths by the end of term
  • Talk to three people in the field with your mentor’s help
  • Rewrite your CV for one role reviewed twice

An agenda before each meeting

Send a short agenda first

Two days before, write what changed, where you are stuck and one question.

  • Since last time one or two lines
  • Progress on my goal what is done
  • Where I am stuck one thing
  • My question the one that matters most

If-then plans

Turn advice into an if-then plan

Plans that name when and where you will act raise the odds you follow through.

94 Studies in which if-then plans had a medium to large effect on reaching goals Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006

Following up

Follow up within a day

Write what you took away, what you will try and when you will report back.

A mid-term review

Review the term halfway through

Halfway is the moment to change the goal, the rhythm or what you ask for.

  • Is the goal still the right one?
  • Are we meeting often enough?
  • What has helped most so far?
  • What should we try differently?

Doing it on Mentornity

Work with your mentor on Mentornity

Your profile, your mentor’s open slots and reminders keep the term on track.

Complete your profile

Your goals and interests help your mentor prepare.

Book your mentor’s open slots

Times show in your own time zone.

Fill in the meeting form

If your program uses one, it reopens with your saved answers.

Send your follow-up

Every message also reaches your mentor by email.

Turn on browser notifications

Bookings, changes and messages reach you at once.

Complete your profile

Your goals and interests help your mentor prepare.

Book your mentor’s open slots

Times show in your own time zone.

Fill in the meeting form

If your program uses one, it reopens with your saved answers.

Send your follow-up

Every message also reaches your mentor by email.

Turn on browser notifications

Bookings, changes and messages reach you at once.

Write your goal for the term

One sentence, with a date, and send it to your mentor before you first meet.

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