• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Coronavirus and COVID-19
  • Shop OΔK
  • Find a Circle
  • Career Resources
  • Contact Us
Omicron Delta Kappa

Omicron Delta Kappa

  • Home
  • About OΔK
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
      • Founders’ Day
    • Fast Facts
    • Leadership
      • Board of Trustees
      • Emeriti Trustees
      • Student Advisory Board
      • Staff
    • Governance
      • 2021 Elections for Student and Faculty/Staff Trustees
      • Articles of Incorporation
      • National Bylaws
      • Governing Committees
      • Operating Committees
      • Omicron Delta Kappa Policies and Procedures
    • History of the Society
      • Our Founders
      • Toward a More Inclusive Society
      • Women in Omicron Delta Kappa
      • Former National Presidents and Board Chairs
      • Notable Members
      • Circle Installations
  • Members
    • Why Join Omicron Delta Kappa?
    • Qualifications for Membership
    • Apply for Membership
    • Member Benefits
    • Share Your News
    • Update Your Contact Info
    • Commitment to Diversity and Equal Opportunity
  • Programs
    • Listen Up OΔK Leaders!
    • Clay Leadership Development Grants
    • National Virtual Initiation Ceremony
    • National Leadership Conference
      • 2021 National Leadership Conference
      • Past National Conventions
    • National Day of Service
      • National Day of Service Report
      • National Day of Service Stories
    • Scholarships
    • National Leadership Awards
    • Stone Ethical Leadership Challenge
    • True Colors
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer to Help O∆K
      • Help Our Circles Thrive
      • Become a National Level Volunteer
      • Governance and Fundraising Volunteer Opportunities
    • News from Omicron Delta Kappa
    • Resources to Promote Leadership Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Glossary of Terms for Conversations About Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Social Justice
      • Circle Programming and Practices Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
    • O∆K Leadership Matters
    • Find Your Local Circle
    • Establish a New Circle
      • Extension Process
    • Read The Circle
    • Blog
    • OΔK Speakers Bureau
  • Circle Officers
    • Dates and Deadlines
    • New for 2020-21
    • Monthly Officer Updates Newsletter
    • Membership Management System
    • Recruitment and Selection
    • Initiation
    • Branding, Templates, and Downloads
    • Membership Fees
    • Recognition and Awards
    • Circle Reports and Forms
    • Webinars and Training
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
    • Give Now
    • Ways to Give
    • Planned Giving
      • Heritage Society
    • Gift Acceptance Policies
    • Endowment Information
    • National Day of Giving
  • Shop OΔK
  • Find a Circle
  • Career Resources
  • Contact Us

FAQs for Mentors

What is mentoring?
Mentors are advisors, initiators, and sources of knowledge. In this capacity, they discuss the mentees’ goals and the steps needed to achieve them. As initiators, they help the mentee to consider different viewpoints; encourage him or her to explore new goals or opportunities for development; or, identify underused abilities. As sources of knowledge, they provide information about relevant opportunities, training programs, electronic media, conferences, and professional organizations.

What should a mentor include in the profile?
When developing a profile as a mentor, it is important for you to include specific jobs, experiences, and accomplishments. When a mentee is searching for a mentor, those keywords are required identifying a professional who has the knowledge and skills the mentee is seeking.

Why should I be a mentor?
As a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, and as a leader in your own right, we believe it is good to give back to the new professionals starting out in their careers. In most cases, mentors have benefited from the advice, care, and dedication of more experienced professionals in their own careers. Mentoring gives you the chance to grow the leaders and honor the commitment of others in the past.

How do I select mentees?
In most cases, mentees have provided a detailed profile and have something in common with your experience. You should be seeking mentees who you believe you can assist and develop a meaningful relationship.

Remember, this is not one-sided. You should also expect to gain additional understanding about your career and success by helping someone who just starting out. When choosing from those who may contact, look for a protégé that can help expand both of your careers.

If my background is very different from my mentee, will that matter?
Not necessarily, but it should be considered.  Most mentor/mentee relationships in the professional world involve understanding and working in the same general field. However, many times a mentor can be someone from a completely different profession – a small business owner mentoring a medical student or a senior accountant mentoring a struggling musician. The most important aspect of the mentor/mentee relationship is whether the mentor can provide advice, knowledge, and empathy that is beneficial to the mentee.

How many mentees should I accept?
This is a decision only you can make, but we do not recommend accepting more than one mentee for at least the first six months. If you are a skilled mentor and have extensive time to give, then certainly you can choose to give more.  The mentor/mentee experience is rarely about the amount of time; it more focused on the quality of interaction.

What is the time commitment likely to be?
This is completely up to you, but you need to know this in advance. Usually, it is recommended that you set aside two to four hours a month. If you can only commit a few hours a month, make sure this is clear to start. We know things change but if you commit to a few hours a month, be prepared to stay with that at least through the first four to six months.

How do I respond to mentee requests I do not intend to accept?
As always, the best response is professional and without delay. Be honest and brief.  If you are already committed to a mentee, then explain your time commitment. If you do not believe it would be a good match, then share with the contact that someone with different experience may be better. It is most important that you respond quickly and definitively. It is never good to leave the contact without knowing if you have accepted the invitation.

How does a mentee find me?
ODK no longer offers the online matching system.  We will aid current ODK members who are seeking mentors by connecting them to seasoned professionals.  We will also encourage them to use social media, ODK events such as the National Leadership Conference, and personal contacts to identify someone who might aid them in their career development.

How do I start the conversation with a potential mentee?
The best way to start any conversation is by introducing yourself. Tell your mentee about yourself. Be succinct but provide enough detail so your mentee is learning about you.  From that introduction, you can ask the mentor to introduce him/herself. Now you each know a little bit about the other and the more important conversations get built from there.

How long is should I expect the relationship to last?
There is never a specific time frame.   The relationship lasts as long as both parties are both giving and receiving something of value.  It is best to talk about the expectations of how long you each anticipate the relationship lasting. That way, you each have benchmarks to consider as the relationship develops.  Some mentoring relationshisp last lifetimes.

Primary Sidebar

  • Career Resources
    • Resources for the Job Seeker
    • Advice About Internships
      • Be a Great Intern
      • Provide a Successful Internship
    • Mentoring Resources
      • FAQs for Mentors
      • FAQs for Protégés (Mentees)
      • Ten Tips for Mentees
      • Reasonable Expectations for Mentoring

Footer

Copyright © 2021. All Rights Reserved.
O∆K is a member of the Honor Society Caucus.

Omicron Delta Kappa National Headquarters
224 McLaughlin Street
Lexington, Virginia 24450-2002
1-877-ODK-NHDQ (635-6437)
[email protected]

Privacy Policy
Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Hazing Statements

Web Development by Charlottesville SEO Web Development, LLC

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram

This site uses cookies to maintain the highest quality performance. By using this site you consent to our privacy and cookies policy.