RTC Mentor Guide

Welcome to the RTC Mentoring Program! We are grateful for any time and expertise you are willing to share with RTC women interested in making a career in tech. Knowing that our Mentee’s needs and timelines fluctuate throughout the year, we have purposefully designed a flexible program so that Mentor and Mentee can make decisions about timing, length of the relationship, and the structure of meetings that works for them. Please read this guide to learn more about the program, the role of Mentors, and basic tips to help ensure a successful relationship. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jade Barricelli at jbarricelli@rewritingthecode.org.

RTC Mentoring Program Overview

Throughout the year, Rewriting the Code Members have the opportunity to work with a Mentor for approximately 3-month increments. This is the minimum amount of time needed to create an impactful relationship. It offers a clear end that makes it easier for Mentor and Mentee to cut ties if the relationship is no longer beneficial. This is a recommendation, and the Mentor and Mentee will ultimately decide the length of any RTC Mentoring relationship. If a Mentee asks for a different length of time, we have instructed them to communicate that in their 1st message to you. Mentors and Mentees can decide together how often they will meet and for how long. RTC’s recommendation is to meet bi-weekly for 45-60 minutes. That is a total of 5-6 meetings per 3-month relationship. Considering the above recommendations, we estimate 2-3 hours per Mentee per month. Relationships can be in-person or virtual. This is up to the Mentor/Mentee’s location and preference. 

Additionally, Mentors can decide how many Mentees they would like to work with at any time. RTC automatically sets the maximum to three so that after you have approved three requests, you are automatically paused and unable to receive more requests. You may pause your account anytime if you prefer to accept only one or two Mentees at a time or wish to take time off altogether.

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring is a reciprocal and collaborative at-will relationship where one person shares their knowledge, skills, and experience to assist others in progressing in their own lives and careers. A Mentor serves as an objective sounding board and an experienced person whom the Mentee can look to as a role model and source of knowledge. The role of the Mentor is to assist Mentees in professional and personal development, prepare them for their job search, and guide them on their career path. It is NOT the Mentors role to get a Mentee a job, and Mentees should never go into a relationship with that expectation.

RTC Mentor’s Role and Expectations

The mentor’s role can include the following:

• Help the Mentee set developmental goals based on their current needs and promote their enrichment
• Transfer technical as well as formal and informal industry-related and career-focused knowledge 
• Review Mentee’s resume, coach on developing effective networking skills, practice interviewing skills, and provide feedback
• Identify resources and connections to help Mentees enhance personal development and career growth 
• Share your experiences!

Mentor expectations:

• Try to adhere to respond within 48 business hours 
• Maintain contact with Mentee and accommodate twice monthly meetings for the duration of the relationship (or as agreed to with your Mentee)
• Always behave professionally, both through actions and communication, when interacting with a Mentee
• Never ask a Mentee to meet in a private location like your home. All in-person meetings are expected to take place in a public space
• Notify RTC of any inappropriate behavior on the part of the Mentee 

You Submitted Your Request to Become an RTC Mentor. What Comes Next? 

• Activate your Team RTC Account: RTC will review your request, and once approved, you will receive an email to activate your teamRTC account so that you may have access to the platform. Follow the direction in the email to activate your account.
• Log into teamRTC: Log into your account and head over to the ‘Mentoring’ tab on the far right side of the menu. This will be the only tab you will have access to.
• Create Your Mentor Card: Click the ‘Apply to be Mentor’ button and complete the form. RTC will approve, and you will then see your Mentor card visible. 
• Upload Profile Image: Including an image could make you more approachable to potential Mentees. If you wish to include your photo, log into teamRTC.org, and click on the down arrow next to the round icon at the top right of your screen. Click on ‘My Profile‘ and the image card in the header of your profile to edit. Please note that the profiles are designed with students in mind, so feel free to fill any more out. Mentees should have enough information about you from your Mentor Card.
• Set your Notifications Settings: To avoid missed communications, you want to be alerted via email when a Mentee direct messages you in the system. Log into teamRTC.org, and click on the down arrow next to the round icon at the top right of your screen. Click on ‘My Settings‘ and ‘Notifications.’ Toggle on ‘Messages and contact from other members’. Click to activate notifications of ‘Private messages from members who wish to connect with you’.
• Wait for Mentee Request: When a potential Mentee requests mentorship from you, you will receive an automated email from us, at which time you should log into your account on teamRTC.org to view the request. From your Mentoring space, you can either accept or decline the request. If you accept and wish to only have one Mentee at a time, this would be a good time to toggle your Mentoring profile to pause, stopping any future Mentee requests. You can keep your profile active if you’d like to remain available for a second or third Mentee (3 is the maximum set by RTC at any given time). 
• Accept Request: Once you have accepted a request from a Mentee, the Mentee is instructed to reach out to you via teamRTC direct messaging within 48 hours to introduce themselves, share how they think you can help them, offer some days times to meet and share their email address so you can take your communications outside of the teamRTC platform if you wish. You will only receive a notification of this DM if you have adjusted your notification settings!
• Respond to Mentee DM: After you receive your Mentee’s intro DM, use their email address or teamRTC DM to respond with days/times, preferred meeting platform or mode, and your preferred mode of communication. Respond within 48 business hours.

Meetings with Your Mentee

Everyone’s needs at different periods will vary, and we understand that seasoned Mentors often have their own styles and frameworks. Mentors should feel empowered to do what works for their own style. If you are new to mentoring or need suggestions on how to frame your meetings, below are some suggestions on items to cover at a high level during your first, middle, and last meetings.

First Meeting: 

Your first meeting is important because you will not only be getting to know each other, but you will be setting the expectations and priorities for the relationship. We have told the Mentees to come prepared to discuss these important things:

• Build rapport. A mentoring conversation is short, and you have much to achieve within that time frame, but taking the first minute or so to break the ice sets a positive tone for the rest of the meeting. Building rapport helps you get to know the person a little better and gives you important clues into the person’s interests and perspectives. Write down at least four questions to help you get to know your Mentor better.
• Goals and how are those prioritized. Are you in most need to get help with your resume? Want to discuss the job search? Do you want to know more about your Mentor’s experience in a certain role or discipline? Do you want to discuss what her experience has been like as a woman in tech? Make a list and prioritize before your first meeting! Share with your Mentor so she can understand and anticipate future conversations.
• How often should you meet, when, and how? Discussing these questions is important to decide what works for both of your schedules. Meeting every other week is a good place to start the conversation, although you might agree to a different schedule based on your needs and the Mentor’s availability.
• Length of Relationship. It is important to discuss this from the beginning. RTC recommends Mentors and Mentees commit to 3 months at a time. This allows an easy end if the relationship is not a good fit or your goals have been achieved. It is also a good point to evaluate the relationship and decide if you’d like to ask the Mentor to continue with you for another three months. 

Ongoing Meetings Framework Recommendation:

• Establish rapport and ask for a progress update
• Mentoring conversation or activity focused on Mentee’s goal/developmental area
• During the final few minutes, summarize the discussion and review any action items that you or the Mentee have agreed to during the conversation.
• Decide on the next meeting, if not already planned

Last Meeting:

The three-month mark is where the relationship is expected to end but can potentially be continued for another quarter, depending on the Mentee’s needs and Mentor’s availability and willingness. Here are some items to discuss during this meeting:

• Acknowledge the three-month mark, debrief mentoring relationship by discussing key learnings and sharing feedback
• Celebrate Mentee successes over the past three months
• Discuss a plan for further development.
• Be open to discussing the mentoring relationships next phase. For example, your Mentee may ask for your continued Mentorship for the next quarter. Consider her goals and how you think you can best help her. If you no longer believe it’s a good fit, help her to identify the strengths/background she should look for in a future Mentor. Connect her with people you think could help her when possible.

Ending a Relationship:

At the conclusion of each relationship, be sure to ‘end the relationship’ in the teamRTC platform so that you can receive a new Mentee request. Similarly, take yourself off pause if you have paused your account. You can find where to do this by going to your mentoring space. 

Top 10 Tips for Mentors

• Be fully present. Mentoring requires excellent listening and your full attention. Set aside your daily challenges and pressures during a Mentoring session so that you can devote your full attention to your Mentee. Whether the Mentoring session is in-person, virtual, by telephone, or via email, this means making yourself unavailable to others during the Mentoring conversation. Not allowing interruptions will make your mentoring quality significantly more effective and productive for both of you. 
• Take time to make a personal connection at the start of the session. One of the pleasures of a Mentoring relationship is the sense of connection between two people. Before launching into the focus area for the day, spend a few minutes making a personal connection. “Small talk” often helps people relax and prepare for a deeper conversation. 
• Share the conversation rather than do all the talking. Sometimes, Mentors mistakenly believe their job is mainly to impart wisdom and expertise. If you find yourself talking at length, with little interruption or dialogue with your Mentee, stop yourself and reorganize the conversation by asking questions about the Mentee. Watch out for the tendency to “download” when someone asks the question you’ve been waiting all your life to answer!
• Listen with curiosity, not judgment. Be conscious of your own listening and strive for deep listening coming from your own curiosity rather than problem-solving. You will find that your Mentee faces issues that you have also faced. However, each person is unique and comes to their present moment from a different path. Listen to learn more about the person. If you find yourself judging the Mentee, self-correct by reminding yourself to simply “follow your curiosity” to learn more. 
• Ask direct questions to focus the session. Mentoring sessions often go all too quickly. To focus the session, ask simple and straightforward questions at the beginning of the session to ensure that the conversation is focused on the topics that are “top of mind” for the Mentee today. For example, ask, “What would you like to talk about today?” or “I’d love a quick update, and then let’s choose a topic for today’s session.”
• Try not to interrupt. Unless there is a need to manage time or focus on the dialogue. 
• Give helpful feedback. Provide constructive feedback that is specific, descriptive, and nonjudgemental.
• Tell your story. People often learn best through storytelling. If you have experiences related to the challenges your Mentee faces, check with the Mentee to see if she would like you to share the story of your experience. Make sure to focus on the aspects of your experience that are most pertinent. Telling your story should take no more than 10 minutes of a Mentoring session, though it may lead to a rich discussion that links directly to the Mentee’s situation. Try not to preach!
• Follow through on your commitments. Inevitably, you will find yourself volunteering the title of a book, a referral to one of your contacts, to review or pass on a resume or some other small service to your Mentee. Make a note of your promise and make it a priority to follow through. Dropping the ball can lead to confusion and mistrust in the relationship. Make commitments carefully, being realistic about what you can offer and when you can deliver it. You should ask your Mentee to prompt your follow-up with an email after the session. 
• Set and honor boundaries. Mentoring relationships work best when each person knows what to expect – and what not to expect. Establish how the Mentoring relationship will be set up during the first session. How frequently will you meet? Decide on the best form of communication (email, phone, text, etc.). How long will the conversations last? May the Mentee contact you by email or telephone in between Mentoring sessions? Be clear about how you would like it to work. Attention here early on prevents misunderstandings later on.