Setting goals will help to determine how long the relationship will last, give you benchmarks to show you’re on the right track, and enable your mentor to best assist you with their skills and experience. You need to consider both your long and short term objectives, and consider how these fit into the bigger picture of your career. It's important to know that once a match has been made, it's in your hands to organise meetings and work with your mentor to achieve your goals. 

Using the SMART method to set your objectives ensures that you are making a clear plan for how to achieve your goals, and can set regular check ins and benchmarks to reach. For example, if you
wanted guidance for switching to a different industry, here is how you could break down this goal.

1. Specific

Which industry do you want help moving into? Be specific, e.g. moving from investment banking to
private equity.

2. Measureable

How can you measure whether you have achieved this goal? E.g, your measurable goal could be
landing a position at equal seniority in your chosen industry. You can also set benchmark
measurable goals along the way, such as being invited to 3 interviews for these roles.

3. Attainable

Setting goals that are attainable and realistic help to maintain a healthy level of motivation and
sense of achievement. You’ll also need to consider the impact of your goals upon other aspects of
your life; for example, could you afford to take a salary change to achieve this goal? Who will you
need to consult with to assess this?

4. Relevant

Why is this goal important and relevant for you? For example, your relevant goal could be to
improve in a certain skill that is currently a weakness, or to provide you with experience that you will
need for your long-term career direction.

5. Timebound

How long will this goal take to achieve? You can set time-bound goals to help move you towards
your goal, for example, sending out 2 applications per day.

Template for Goal-Setting

Often, it may be a struggle to identify exactly what you want to achieve with mentoring. By setting specific goals, it will help to keep the you and mentor on track and accountable, and will set the structure for the pairing. Creating a template can  help you to decide on targets and note down weekly actions to help reach your goals.

Other Useful Links:

Code of Conduct for Mentee and Mentors

Best Practice Guide for Mentors

Giving back to your Community through Mentoring

A Guide for Mentees: How Mentoring can help you

How to be a Mentor