Thank you to everyone who has agreed to be a mentor on our Women in Journalism scheme – we all believe that we need more women in senior roles in the media, making a success of freelancing or self-employment.

For both mentor and mentee. Please:

● Get in touch with each other as soon possible via the email addresses in your introductory email.
● Have at least four uninterrupted conversations for at least half an hour over the year. If you both agree to be in contact more often, go for it!
● Agree on three goals/tasks for the mentee to complete before your next meeting and then discuss what progress has been made.
● At the end of each meeting, arrange the next one so you don’t have to faff around finding a date during the intervening period.

For mentees

● If you don’t hear from your mentor you may need to email once or twice, try phoning the desk/department they work on, or DM-ing them via social media. Please remember how precious the time of a more senior female journalist might be. Please let WiJ know via wijmentors@gmail.com if you have still not made contact with your mentor a month after you are e-introduced.
● They are not there to get you a job, or edit your copy, but to give general advice about how you might progress.
● You need to take responsibility for your development, don’t expect a magic quick fix – we recommend you go to each meeting with a list of questions/talking points.
● Be receptive to your mentor’s advice and their point of view – even if it’s not what you want to hear!
● Be flexible and take initiative; seek your mentor’s advice when needed to make the most of the relationship.
● Be willing to try new things and to consider different ways of getting where you want to be in light of your mentor’s insight.
● Always make notes from your meetings with your mentor and agree on next steps.
● Please please please do NOT set a date for a meeting and then not turn up. This does nothing for your reputation and may deprive others of the mentor’s support. If the relationship is not working out for whatever reason, please email wijmentors@gmail.com to let us know and we will try to help..

For mentors

● Please contact or reply to your mentee if they have contacted you.
within two weeks of being introduced.
● Work with your mentee to set realistic goals that will help them progress.
● Be clear about expectations and boundaries – your mentee shouldn’t expect you to find her a job or to edit her copy (though looking over a job application or CV can be helpful). You are there as a sounding board, to offer suggestions based on your experiences. Ask probing open-ended questions. It’s a good idea to ask where they want to end up eventually. Try and find out what they are most concerned about. Also, be generous with your contacts and advice – if you know someone who might be able to help.
● Be honest about the failures/struggles that you faced/still face in your career – your insight is invaluable.
● Pass on knowledge, experience and guidance on topics and issues your mentee raises.
● Keep your mentee informed of opportunities you hear about.
● Stand back from the issues your mentee raises but work together on them; you’re there to provide insightful but objective feedback.
● Take notes after each meeting so you can remember what they told you last time, and the goals that were set.
● Take an interest in their progress and watch their career in between meetings – send encouraging emails or comment on their social media if they get a splash/promotion etc.

The best mentor/mentee relationships end up in enduring friendships. The idea of the scheme is that we foster making connections and helping each other out.

Good luck!

Hilly Janes, WiJ head of mentoring