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The WICT Network: Midwest Mentoring Program is designed to provide career and personal development opportunities for women in the telecommunications industry. While the program is a one-on-one pairing model, other models such as several mentees to a mentor or several mentors to a mentee may be utilized. This program is in place to support both mentees and mentors in achieving goals. Participation in the mentoring program is not an assurance of promotional opportunities. However, it provides an excellent framework for career development.

Mentoring Program Objectives/Goals

The mentoring program is designed to help bring self-awareness of professional and personal skills and talents that may be undeveloped at this time. The mentor helps bring these talents to life, or in some cases helps the individual decide on realistic expectations, next steps and/or potential opportunities.

The program is designed with the following goals in mind:

1. Provide the opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship that will inspire personal and professional success.
2. Allow the mentee to gain broader perspectives about her field of choice, values, norms, expectations, and behaviors, and enhance the ability to make productive career decisions.
3. Enhance professional networking opportunities for mentors and mentees.
4. Increase morale and job satisfaction.
5. Aid in retention of employees in the industry.

Program Information

• The mentee is paired with a mentor based on specific criteria (goal, experience, etc.) by the mentoring chair/committee.
• The program is designed to be strictly voluntary.
• The program design is based on a one-on-one pairing model.
• The mentoring relationship is primarily mentee driven.
• Qualified mentors are those who have a strong belief in the merits of a mentoring relationship. Mentors should be effective communicators capable of delivering balanced feedback.
• Qualified mentees are those who are proactive in the pursuit of their career development.
• Roles, responsibilities, and expectations should be clearly defined by both parties at the start of the relationship.
• Mentees will not be paired with their supervisors.
• The program is designed for women mentees. Men and women are both eligible to participate as mentors.

Mentors and mentees are first required to complete an application forms. All information will be kept confidential and used to match mentors to mentees with similar interests, and where a mentor can offer guidance in the mentee’s areas of need.

The mentor and mentee can develop their own schedule of meetings. It is recommended that meetings should take place at least once per month. Phone calls and email consultation can take place more frequently, depending upon the mutual needs of the parties involved.

The mentoring chair will consult with the mentor and mentee to assess and support the development and status of the relationship.

The mentoring relationship is assumed to last 1 year, however, this can be extended upon agreement of both parties.