IEEE Mentoring - Long Distance Mentoring

When most people hear of mentoring, they expect the mentoring partners will be geographically close so they can meet "face-to-face" many times during their relationship.  In taking advantage of today's fast-paced global communications, IEEE takes mentoring further by offering the opportunity to have mentoring partnerships among IEEE members throughout the world.  Large geographic distances should not hinder the beginning of a mentoring partnership.

When mentees begin their search for a mentor, they may find the perfect mentor located far from their geographic location.  Although this can be a challenge, it does not need to be a major obstacle to an effective mentoring relationship. Review the list below to help you decide if a long distance mentoring relationship is right for you.

Tips for Long Distance Mentoring

• A long distance mentoring partnership may take more time and effort, so make sure the mentor you are selecting is for the right reason (career path, technical competencies, management experience, professional/educational background and industry knowledge, etc.) and not just because s/he is in another country you may want to move to for a career position.

• Will you take time to experience the variety of culture within the profession and industry and your mentoring partner?  Will you need to learn something new?

• Ask yourself the question: "Would you be satisfied if you were unable to meet your mentoring partner face-to-face?"

• If travel opportunities exist/develop for one or both of the partners, would you be able to arrange extra time to visit the location of your mentoring partner?

• Make special effort to schedule your mentoring meetings at a convenient time and be diligent in keeping to the schedule. Utilize an agenda and focus on one or two topics at each meeting to stay on track with your action/development plans.