Guest Post: How to Approach a Mentor

[Note: This week’s blog post is from my AuthorAID colleague Ravi Murugesan. Thank you, Ravi! —Barbara]

Greetings from Oxford! I joined the AuthorAID project at INASP as Training Coordinator last month.

In this post I’ll share some ideas on how mentees on the AuthorAID website can approach mentors.

The first step is to find a mentor. You can search by location or research interests. You need to log in to the system (create an account if you haven’t done so) to send a message to the mentor.

Once you’ve found a mentor you wish you to work with, consider sending a message briefly but specifically explaining your needs. For example, you may want someone to review parts of a paper you’re writing for publication. Or you may be seeking basic advice on research writing as you begin a research project. Try to include such information in your first message.

Consider also including your e-mail address in the message so the mentor can quickly write to you. Otherwise, the mentor will have to log in to the system, find your profile, and send you a reply. This could delay the response.

If the mentor shows possible interest, you may need to exchange a few e-mails about your situation and needs until the mentor feels comfortable about mentoring you. Once that agreement is reached, try to arrange a time to talk by phone or Skype. Talking is more personal and sometimes more effective than e-mailing. In just one conversation, you and your mentor may be able to make significant progress in the mentoring relationship.

What if the mentor doesn’t reply? I suggest waiting for about a week before deciding whether to write again or contact another mentor. Your potential mentor could be a busy researcher or professional, and perhaps you’ve written when he or she is travelling or otherwise not available.

Finally, if your mentor decides not to enter a mentoring relationship, you can contact another mentor.

All the best in your research endeavors!