GENERAL
What is Mentor Matching?
The ACN Mentor Match Program reflects our commitment to you and your professional development and to supporting all nurses to realise and reach your full leadership potential and achieve success in your career progression. As an exclusive membership benefit, this program offers networking and career development opportunities to help you find, connect seek advice and share experience with others.
It is an online tool – including a searchable database – that facilitates the establishment of mentoring relationships. It is user-driven, allowing registered mentees and coachees to search among registered mentors and coaches using specified criteria to find individuals whose experience and expertise match areas in which they wish to be mentored and coached. Likewise, registered mentors/coaches can search for and identify potential mentees/coachees.
Is there a fee associated with using the ACN Mentor Match Program?
The ACN Mentor Match Program is a benefit of membership and is available only to members. There is no extra charge to use this resource.
How are mentors/coaches and mentees/coachees matched?
Members must first register as a mentor/coach, mentee/coachee or both. During the registration process, members will select preferences for various criteria (including registration types and areas of expertise) to establish their personal criteria.
A registered mentee/coachee will visit the “Find a mentor/coach” page and fill in their search criteria to search for possible mentors/coaches. The mentee/coachee will click the names of the potential mentors/coaches to view their profiles. Once the mentee/coachee has decided on a mentor/coach, they will click on the Mentor badge (seen below the registered Mentor's profile picture) to request that person as their mentor/coach. An email will be sent to the mentor/coach alerting them that they have been requested to be a mentor/coach. The mentor/coach will be able to accept or decline the request.
A registered mentor/coach will visit the “Find a mentee/coachee” page and fill in their search criteria to search for possible mentees/coachees. The mentor/coach will click the names of the potential mentees/coachees to view their profiles. Once the mentor/coach has decided on a mentee/coachee, they will click on the Mentee badge (seen below the registered Mentee's profile picture) to request that person as their mentee/coachee. An email will be sent to the mentee/coachee alerting them that they have been requested to be a mentee/coachee. The mentee/coachee will be able to accept or decline the request.
FOR MENTORS
How do I become a mentor/coach?
If you are a member, click here to register as a mentor/coach. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your member profile.
Who are the mentees/coachees?
Mentees/coachees are other members who need you to help support their careers.
Can I have more than one mentee/coachee?
While there is no limit to the number of mentoring/coaching relationships you can establish, we recommend that you be judicious in selecting only mentees/coachees who are most suited to learn from your expertise and experience. You can limit the number of mentee/coachee requests you are willing to accept on the Mentoring registration page.
How do I find mentees/coachees?
Once you have registered as a Mentor, go to the "Find a mentee/coachee" page and select the criteria you want to use for your mentee/coachee search. Click on the mentees/coachees' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Mentee badge (seen below the Mentee's profile image) to send the mentee/coachee an email request.
How will I know if a mentee/coachee has selected me as their mentor/coach?
You will receive an email from the mentee/coachee requesting you to be their mentor/coach. You will be prompted to accept or reject the request.
Is it okay to reject a request?
Yes, but there should be a good reason to do so. We encourage you to at least have an initial conversation to explore whether the relationship would be mutually fulfilling. If a potential mentee/coachee has misinterpreted information in your profile, you may find him/her to be an inappropriate match. If you want to decline a request, go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and check the “decline” button next to the specific request.
What if I’m going to be on vacation or unavailable for a period of time?
Go to the "Mentor Enrollment" page, click the “Mentor Status” link then click on the check-box next to “Temporarily Not Participating.” Doing this will indicate that you are not accepting any mentee/coachee requests at the moment, and your profile will not be included in a mentee/coachee’s search for a mentor/coach. It is your responsibility to communicate your availability to your existing mentees/coachees.
How do I end a relationship?
If the mentoring/coaching relationship is complete, go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
If the relationship isn't working out, please kindly discuss your decision to end the relationship with your mentee/coachee. Go to the "My Mentoring Relationships" page and mark the relationship as “completed.”
What are the expectations for participating mentors/coaches?
We expect that you will fulfil your commitment to developing at least one mentoring/coaching relationship. We expect you to respond to initial requests from mentees/coachees in a timely manner, and that you communicate with your mentees/coachees as agreed upon by both you and your mentees/mentors.
How much time will I need to invest as a mentor/coach?
We recommend that you and your mentees/coachees agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship. Keep in mind that mentoring/coaching doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of your time. Even brief phone calls or e-mail exchanges with you can make a big difference to your mentees/coachees. The annual meeting also offers a convenient venue for getting together with your mentees/coachees over coffee or lunch.
What benefits do I receive from the organisation if I participate as a mentor/coach in the program?
All mentors/coaches are volunteers. As an active program participant, you will receive an online ribbon and badge identifying you as a Mentor.
FOR MENTEES
How do I become a mentee/coachee?
If you are a member, click here to register as a mentee/coachee. You will be instructed to choose your preferences for various demographics and also to complete your member profile.
Who are the mentors/coaches?
Mentors/coaches are other experts and experienced members who have volunteered their time to support other members' careers.
Can I have more than one mentor/coaches?
While there is no limit to the number of mentoring/coaching relationships you can establish, we recommend that you be judicious in selecting only mentors/coaches who are most suited to your mentoring needs. Please keep in mind that mentors/coaches have limited time to offer and may have other mentoring/coaching relationships.
How do I find a mentor/coach?
Once you have registered as a mentee/coachee, go the the "Find a mentor/coach" page and select the criteria you want to use for your mentor/coach search. Click on the mentors/coaches' names to view their profiles. Once you have found a good match, click on the Mentor badge (seen below the Mentor's profile image) to send the mentor/coach an email request.
What should I do if I don’t hear from the mentor/coach I requested?
If you don’t hear from the mentor/coach within one or two weeks, feel free to contact them using the contact information found on their profile page.
What if the mentor/coach isn’t the right “fit” for my needs?
Sometimes, regardless of the information provided, mentors/coaches and mentees/coachees don’t always "fit." If this happens, we suggest that you discuss your decision honestly and kindly with your mentor/coach; thank them for their time then start a new mentor/coach search.
Where can I meet with my mentor?
It is up to you and your mentor/coach to decide how, when and where you want to pursue your mentoring/coaching relationship. It is likely that most of your communication will occur by phone or electronically. The annual meeting offers a great opportunity to meet in person.
How long does the mentoring/coaching relationship last?
We recommend that you and your mentor/coach agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship.