What is a mentor?
A mentor is a GDC CGD certified member who is a practising professional. Mentors come from all areas of the profession including communication/graphic design, interactive design, environmental design, branding, publishing, education, advertising, research and marketing. Mentors work in Canada and abroad. As a mentor, you:
- Are passionate about your work
- Believe in the importance and value of mentorship
- Share success and relevant knowledge from a professional perspective
- Take on a leadership role by providing direction
- Provide invaluable insight, connections and resources
- Contribute to a lasting and meaningful experience
- Support, empower and identify opportunities
- Actively listen and respond, and encourage discussion
- Promote industry standards and ethical practice
- Are able to commit to a three-month mentorship
What is a mentee?
A mentee is a GDC member who is a current student or recent graduate (within 4 years) of a design program. Current students apply to the mentorship program through the National Scholarship Awards. Recent graduates can apply to the mentorship program at the end of the school year. As a mentee, you:
- Gain professional knowledge
- Learn how to grow your career
- Make connections and develop your network
- Share ideas and career aspirations
- Get feedback on your portfolio
- Ask questions
- Are able to commit to a three-month mentorship
Pairing Mentors with Mentees
Participants in the GDC mentorship program must complete a survey and identify areas of interest, preferences and commitment. Surveys for mentors and mentees are disseminated annually. Note: Not all applicants will be paired with a mentor.
- Mentors are given the opportunity to review mentee applications and choose their mentee, or be assigned a mentee based upon their preferences. The GDC National Education Committee will facilitate mentee assignments and work with mentors to find the best match.
- Once the mentees are chosen, the GDC will provide a profile of the mentee to the mentor, and the mentor may contact the mentee within one week of receiving the contact information.
- GDC will contact the chosen mentees and provide mentor contact information with instructions.
The first meeting: Be prepared!
Mentor Introduction
- Outline your professional experience
- Your career path and highlights
- Education
- Discuss why you chose to be a mentor
Mentee Introduction
- Provide your mentor with a résumé
- Education
- Outline your career aspirations
- Talk about your favourite projects
- Discuss what you hope to gain from the mentorship
Establishing Expectations
- Discuss contact times and frequency (3-month timeframe)
- Agree upon method of contact (skype, email, telephone, in-person) and anticipated response time to emails and/or phone calls (same day, within 3 days, a week…)
- Establish the level of preparation expected for each meeting
- Set boundaries and ground rules
- Discuss confidentiality
Ways mentors can support mentees:
1. Help emerging designers realize their potential
- Identify strengths (portfolio, résumé, presentation)
- Provide advice on creating a professional persona
- Share tips on employment, work and advancing a career
- Inspire confidence and motivate
2. Develop professional skills and industry knowledge
- Build on strengths
- Share experiences and insight
- Expand perceptions (framing, presenting, and abilities)
- Advising
3. Introduce opportunities for continued professional development.
- • Share resources
- • Instill lifelong learning (recommendations for workshops, training, internships, further post secondary education)
4. Instill the value of community
- Collaboration
- Networking
- Engage a sponsor (advocate for and promote your mentee)
- Connecting with peers (GDC, design events and conferences)
- Business relationships (clients and professional organizations)
5. Promote professional standards of practice and ethics
- Working with clients (expectations — proposals, contracts, invoicing)
- Value proposition
- Explain importance of following GDC Code of Ethics (e.g. standards of practice regarding spec and pro bono work)
Ways mentees can support mentors:
- Do your research. Find out about your mentor.
- Be prepared for meetings
- Be professional
- Be flexible
- Be respectful
- Be on time! Answer emails promptly.
Suggested topics for discussion:
- Portfolio
- Career aspiration
- Career challenges
- Time management
- What do you wish you learned in school?
- What skills are most important to you today?
- What skills are most important to a designer starting out?
- Self promotion strategies
- Business practices, estimating and billing
- Balancing career and life
- Financing
- How do you set up a studio?
- How do you get work?
