Questions to consider about nomination or support letters
Consider the following when you writing a nomination or support letter, which may be whatever length you need to express your answers. If you are providing support for a candidate but were not their mentee, comments on your observation regarding any question would be appreciated.
- At the beginning, did the two of you establish a written plan including goals to be met under the direction or guidance of your mentor?
- Did you establish at the beginning how often and/or when you would meet on a routine basis?
- Did/do the two of you meet regularly?
- How frequently did/do you meet with your partner?
- Did you determine at the beginning of the relationship, guidelines by which to evaluate the success of the relationship?
- Have/did you complete the goals planned?
- Were/are you happy with the frequency of meetings?
- How did you connect with and/or establish your mentoring partnership?
- Why did it begin?
- Were/are you interested in your mentor's research areas and techniques?
- Is your mentor academically successful? (Publications, grants, committees, active research, patient referrals)
- Was/is your mentor easy to approach and talk with?
- Were/are you happy with the style of mentoring in your relationship?
- Did/is the relationship meeting your expectations?
- Did/do you receive regular feedback and constructive criticism?
- Did/does your mentor facilitate your participation in professional activities outside of the institution (regional, state, national organizations)?
- Does/did your mentor involve you in networking? ... Are/were you invited to informal gatherings of people from work?
- Did/does your mentor act as your advocate within the department or division?
- Did/does your mentor encourage you to submit grant applications, help you develop research ideas and push you to write manuscripts?
- Did/does your mentor connect you to other senior professionals who could "fill in the gaps" in areas where he or she might be less skilled?
- Did/does your mentor observe you in a teaching/research/patient care/whatever situation and provided feedback on these critical skills?
- Did/does your mentor exhibit integrity?
- Does/did your mentor hold you to high standards?
- Did/do you find your partnership challenging?
- List specific examples of activities you and your mentor did together.
- Did/does your mentor advise and encourage you with respect to your independent goals?
- As the result of your mentoring relationship, how has your knowledge base, skills, techniques, or methods changed?
- What is the most beneficial change you identified in yourself as a result of your mentorship?
- What type of feed back or other assistance did/does your mentor provide that seemed to help most?
- As the result of your mentoring relationship, how are you "as a person" different?
- Is there something you plan to do or have found yourself doing more as the result of the relationship?
The Mentor-Mentee Relationship
- What were/are two of the most beneficial development activities you did/ do?
- What do you value MOST about the relationship?
- In what way(s), if any, could this mentoring partnership have been/be more effective?
- I would make the following recommendation(s) to other mentor-mentee pairs.
In Conclusion: What is one main reason why you feel your mentor deserves this award over all the other candidates?
Dec 01, 2011