Frequently Asked
Questions |
Cost |
| 1. How much do I have to pay to participate in the program? The TBI mentorship program is free. However, to be considered for matching with a mentor, protégés must be active TBI members. To join TBI, click here: http://www.ontbi.org/HowToJoin |
Website |
| 2. Can I update my profile/application online? Yes. You can sign in and change your profile as often as you want prior to the application deadline for the given quarter. 3. Who can I contact with website problems? If there are problems with the website, please e-mail tbimentoring@ontbi.org. |
Commitment |
| 4. What is the time commitment for the program? Both the mentor and protégé should be willing to set aside time for the relationship, however the program is designed to be flexible depending on the needs of the individuals. The committee recommends meeting at least once a month and continuing the relationship for 6 months to a year. |
About Mentoring |
| 5. What are the responsibilities of the mentor/protégé? The responsibilities of the mentor are: › Maintain privacy and confidentiality › Listen to the needs of the protégé(s) and share related personal experiences › Be available for regular meetings › Discuss the protégé's goals, challenges and progress › Provide constructive feedback, support and encouragement › Commitment to a three month time period › Facilitate career planning and goal setting › Complete the program evaluation The responsibilities of the protégé are: › Maintain privacy and confidentiality › Proactively contact the mentor and come to meetings with questions, issues, and discussion topics › Interact with the mentor on a regular basis; schedule and attend in-person meetings as a way to build a stronger relationship › Provide the mentor with advanced notice of meetings › Complete the program evaluation › Listen to your mentor and be open to constructive feedback › Respect the mentor's time › Be cognizant of what the mentor hopes to gain from the experience 6. Do I need mentorship experience to be a mentor? While previous experience is an asset, it is not needed to become a mentor. There is training information in the Guidebook, and a training session will be held at the meet and greet. 7. Do I need to be in the same field as the protégé to mentor him/her? No. A protégé may be looking to expand his/her knowledge in different areas of interest. 8. Will the protégé(s) be expecting help to find jobs? No. The purpose of the TBI Mentorship Program is not to place people in jobs.Instead, mentors should be prepared to provide guidance and advice on different career paths. It is strongly recommended that protégés seeking job search leads or assistance only should not participate in this program. 9. What happens during mentoring? Is there a specific agenda? It is up to the mentor/protégé pair to determine a specific agenda for each partnership. However, there are guidelines on how to approach the mentorship program. Please refer to Section 3.0 of the Guidebook for more information. 10. What does it take to be a good mentor? Protégé? Some of the qualities of a good mentor include: strong communication and coaching skills; a willingness to share experiences; able to build trust; and a desire to help others. A good protégé should be: motivated; have a desire to learn and better themselves; be open to feedback; be committed to putting time and effort into the partnership. For more information, plesae see the mentor and protégé sections in the Guidebook. |
Eligibility |
| 11. Who can be a mentor? Protégé? A mentor can be any professional within the biotechnology and life sciences industry, or in a field that services that industry. They should have at least 3 years of professional work experience, or a greater aount of experience than the protégé. Protégés can be any TBI member who has a desire to further develop their career and is interested in professional development (and not job searches only). Note that protégés must be active TBI members to be considered for matching (http://www.ontbi.org/HowToJoin). |
Program Details |
| 12. What do I do after I register? Following registration, there will be a waiting period until you are matched. Once you have been notified of your match by e-mail, you can accept the match, attend the "Meet and Greet", read the Guidebook, prepare for the meetings, and finally appreciate the mentorship experience. 13. How is the matching done? The matching will be done by the mentorship program committee based on the information entered in the application profile. To improve your chances of being matched, please be as specific as possible about your interests and objectives for participation. Selecting all options may reduce your chances of being matched. 14. When will I be matched? As long as you are not already matched, you will be considered for matching in the upcoming round, which is held every three months. For the next matching deadline, see the Calendar tab. Every effort will be made to match all participants, but this depends on the availability and sustainability of potential matches. Please note that the TBI Mentorship Program cannot guaranteee that a match can be made. Participants are encouraged to remain in the program for the next round of matching if they are not matched, as they will be prioritized in the next round. 15. How will I be notified of my match and program events? You will be emailed with your match. Program events are listed in the Calendar tab. 16. Are there any requirements to complete the program? Although the program duration and time commitment are flexible, participants will be recognized for completing six hours of face-to-face meetings. 17. Is there any training/guidance provided? Program information and training for both mentors and protégés can be found in the Guidebook. There will be training sessions at the meet and greet events. |
Networking |
| 18. Will I be able to meet other mentors and protégés? Yes. You will have a chance to interact and network with other participants at the meet and greet events held quarterly. |